Australia
February 11, 2008
In a first for Australia, five
major summer crop industries have agreed to hold a combined
conference to provide growers with tailored information geared
to their farming systems.
The Australian Summer Grains Conference 2010 will bring
together participants in the sorghum, maize,
sunflower, soybean, and mung bean industries
and will be held 12-15 July 2010 on the Gold Coast.
Summer crops are an important part of any farming system,
providing disease breaks, significant income and nutrient
fixation which can help to cut the ever-increasing cost of
fertilisers.
The Grains Research and
Development Corporation (GRDC) supports all five industries
with research into new varieties, pest and disease control, and
better management practices.
Dr Bob Henzell, a well known identity in the sorghum arena, has
been appointed as the conference coordinator, with an organising
committee of representatives from each industry and the GRDC.
“In the past, each has had a national conference of its own. The
decision to combine these five conferences into a single event
will benefit industry people who each have tight time schedules.
It will also improve the cost effectiveness of monies provided
via sponsorships.
“By pulling them together, the conference will be a
one-stop-shop for information on the different summer crops
involved, to help make a decision on how to run their farming
system.”
The conference will have an international key note speaker, and
a trade exhibition as well as presentations on aspects of each
industry, such as the latest research.
“Queensland and northern NSW are the major areas where these
summer crops are grown at the moment, so it makes sense to have
the conference in the region.
“However, I’m sure growers from across the country will be
interested in hearing about the benefits – and some of the
challenges – of growing sorghum, maize, sunflowers, soybeans,
and mung beans,” Dr Henzell said. |
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