Issue No. 18/ WINTER 2015

Jujubes ripe for development full story pg. 10-12

AGRICULTURE’S FIVE MEGATRENDS pg. 4

NEW RESEARCH TO HELP BOOST THE AUSSIE SEAWEED INDUSTRY pg. 3

A WEBSITE TO HELP FARMERS DIVERSIFY pg. 7

FINALISTS OF 2015 RIRDC RURAL WOMEN’S AWARD ANNOUNCED pg. 9

Message from the Managing Director ................. 2

Nutrition and safety data to help the Aussie seaweed industry grow ................................ 3

Welcome to the ‘mega’ future .................................. 4

New biosecurity project to protect flourishing truffle industry ........................................... 5

The Farm Dog Project ....................................................5

New resources help beekeepers access public lands ......................................................... 6

New RIRDC staff ............................................................... 6

For diversity, click here ................................................. 7

New ‘crop’ of Horizon Scholars named ...............8

Nick keen to breed resilience into grain ............ 8

Women leaders vie for award................................... 9

Jujubes ripe for development ............................... 10

Saving pasture seed for the future ...................... 13

Tony Byrne Memorial Scholarship recipient: Matt Wilson ................................................. 13

Hobby beekeepers benefit from new resource ......................................................... 14

Strong results from RIRDC stakeholder survey ........................................................ 14

Rice cashes in on research ....................................... 15

New publications ....................................... Back cover

Message from the Managing Director

Helping new and emerging industries develop and prosper through R&D is a unique and important role fulfilled by RIRDC.

There are several outstanding examples of industries that RIRDC has helped develop into genuine world leaders through useful, targeted R&D. The canola industry, the olive industry, and the rice industry are just a few examples of once-small industries that have grown and continue to prosper.

This edition of Diversity features another emerging industry with huge potential – the Chinese jujube.

The jujube is also known as the Chinese date and is the size of an apricot and looks like a miniature apple. It also tastes like an apple but has the texture of a crunchy pear and a unique sweet flavour.

The Chinese jujube is one of the most important fruit crops in China and has been commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine and as food for thousands of years. It is widely grown in China with cultivation records going back over 3,000 years and is also found in neighbouring countries in South-East Asia.

While there is potential for the export of fresh jujubes to South-East Asia, the volume of fruit produced in Australia at the moment is still quite small - demand for fruit outweighs supply on the local market. The bulk of jujube growers are in Western Australia but they are also grown on a few properties in Victoria and South Australia.

RIRDC has invested previously in a project to develop a best practice manual for jujube growers on producing, grading, storage and marketing to help promote awareness of the fruit and to identify potential markets in South East Asia for the supply of fresh and processed fruit provide and market information.

A new RIRDC-funded R&D project will address increasing production, developing quality parameters as well as broadening markets for the jujube industry. A thorough economic review of the industry will also be done which will provide the economic information to facilitate investment in the industry and to assist in the creation of a positive prospectus to encourage the planting of jujubes, as well as increase investment in the planting of jujube stock.

This edition of Diversity also includes stories on another couple of exciting industries with potential for growth – the seaweed and truffle industries. The Australian seaweed industry has huge potential with a variety of end uses and the truffle industry is quite well established in Australia but is undertaking new R&D that could help it continue to grow and prosper both in domestic and international markets.

Inside we also introduce the seven state winners of the 2015 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award, all of whom are in the running to take out the national title in September, as well as profiling the 13 new Horizon Scholars for 2015.

We also take a look at the five agricultural megatrends and what they mean for Australia, catch up on the latest on the RIRDC-funded working dog project, and provide an update on the www.farmdiversity.com.au website.

Enjoy the read.

Craig Burns Managing Director, RIRDC

2

RURAL DIVERSITYIssue No. 18 / WINTER 2015

Nutrition and safety data to help the Aussie seaweed industry growSeaweed sucks up CO2, feeds fish and people, provides essential dietary trace elements and has ever-expanding uses in industrial and pharmaceutical products. It also creates jobs, sometimes for entire communities.

While Australia is a latecomer to the global seaweed market, already worth more than $6 billion a year and growing, RIRDC is supporting efforts to ensure local producers are well prepared and well co-ordinated when they launch.

These efforts include a detailed analysis of the distinguishing nutritional and safety features of Australia’s unique seaweed species and best practice production guidelines.

It will be a valuable marketing tool for the industry, according to researcher and producer Dr Pia Winberg, who is leading the project. She says no other seaweed-producing country has undertaken this level of analysis of their production systems or their seaweeds.

This market preparation is just one of several seaweed-related projects RIRDC has supported during the past decade. Others include support for the Seaweed Australia network to link researchers, producers, processors and end users, ensuring producers grow what the market actually wants.

RIRDC sponsored an international algae symposium in Sydney last year, at which Dr Winberg played a key role.

“Population growth in Asia and the influence of Asian cuisine in Western countries is a small part of the growing demand for seaweed,” Dr Winberg says.

“Others include as a feed component for the aquaculture industry and as a supplement to address human nutritional deficiencies:

seaweed includes several important trace elements including iron and iodine.”

Dr Winberg says one of the first major industrial-scale seaweed production initiatives was in China in the 1940s and addressed iodine deficiencies that contributed to developmental difficulties in children. However, too much iodine can also be a problem. One of the largest food safety class actions in Australia related to excessive levels of iodine from a seaweed product called Kombu in soymilk. Levels in a single serve of soymilk were alleged to be 50 times the recommended daily allowance.

Dr Winberg says this case highlights the importance of understanding the nutritional make-up and safe use of seaweeds, particularly in food products. For instance, has the seaweed been grown in marine waters with high levels of heavy metals, which have been absorbed by the seaweed? How much of a particular seaweed species, and particular seaweed-based product is safe to consume?

She says the Australian project will be a first step in developing national and international food safety standards for seaweed, which has so far flown under the radar.

Her project, which began in June 2015, will prepare foundational information for safe production and use of Australian seaweeds. This will give Australian producers a powerful marketing tool to launch their product into premium markets.

The project is expected to take 18 months and will be conducted in conjunction with researchers and producers in NSW, South Australia and Tasmania, working with both land-based and marine production systems.

From an environmental and regional development perspective, seaweed production offers opportunities to integrate itself with industries that produce carbon dioxide, as algae absorbs large quantities of CO

2.

Dr Winberg says seaweed culture in China has been shown to reduce water acidification, even in large bays, providing a buffer against the global increase in ocean acidity caused by increased levels of CO2.

Her business, Venus Shell Systems Pty Ltd, is based at Shoalhaven, where it helps to offset waste production for a nearby industrial partner. She says seaweed production, once it is in full swing on a regional scale, offers an alternative industry that helps preserve natural resources by reducing the impact of waste production from other industries. And, using land-based seaweed production systems means locations are not limited to the coast.

More information: Pia Winberg, pia@venusshellsystems.com.au

Seaweed absorbs CO2, provides essential dietary trace elements and is used in industrial and pharmaceutical products. RIRDC is supporting efforts to ensure Australian seaweed producers are well prepared to join the global seaweed market, which is currently worth $6 billion per year and is growing strongly.

Population growth in Asia and the influence of Asian cuisine in Western

countries is a small part of the growing demand for seaweed

3

Welcome to the ‘mega’ futureSignificant change at global, national and local scales will affect Australia’s rural industries in the coming decades, creating opportunities and challenges for small and large farm businesses.

New ‘foresighting’ research by RIRDC and CSIRO is looking at what these changes will be and how we might be able to plan for them.

The research report titled ‘Rural Industry Futures – Megatrends impacting Australian agriculture over the coming 20 years’ will be released mid-June. A taster of the research outcomes has been presented at the ABARES Outlook 2015 conference and in two regional workshops held in Wagga Wagga, NSW, and Cairns, Queensland.

The research identified five megatrends:

• A hungrier world: Population growth will drive demand for food and fibre

• A bumpier ride: Globalisation, climate change and environmental change will reshape the risk profile for agriculture

• A wealthier world: A new middle class will increase food consumption, diversify diets and eat more protein

• Transformative technologies: Advances in digital technology, genetic science and synthetics will change the way food and fibre products are made and transported

• Choosy customers: Information-empowered customers of the future will have expectations for health, provenance, sustainability and ethics

One of the report’s authors is Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, a principal scientist at CSIRO working in the area of strategic foresight. He says that by identifying likely trends, the risks and opportunities can also be developed to help agriculture identify how to position itself to thrive in the face of these changes.

“The effectiveness with which Australian agriculture captures the opportunities and avoids the risks largely comes down to innovation,” Dr Hajkowicz says.

“Each of the trends is not independent. They all interact. Think of choosy customers. It is very closely aligned with transformative technologies.”

According to Dr Hajkowicz, the value in understanding and identifying a megatrend early can be borne out by the example of the digitisation megatrend and its impact on the Kodak photographic company.

“It was a long time coming and then bang, everything was digitised and Kodak found it too late to respond and disappeared,” he says.

“If we start with agriculture being more informed we decrease the chances of finding out about a megatrend too late.”

RIRDC Business Development Manager Vicki Woodburn says RIRDC commissioned research to establish the longer-term horizon to help the rural industry sector shape policy direction, decision-making and industry investment.

“RIRDC initiated this project to help industry, governments and research organisations better plan and invest in the sector,” she says.

“Prior to the project, people in industry and government who we consulted said that they were pretty confident they can see what trends will impact in the next five to 10 years, but after that it became less clear and they were not sure what might be coming.

“However, there is a need to put actions in place now for that period to make sure we are not missing opportunities in Australian agriculture, and that we are aware of the risks. A perfect example of where this report would be of value is in education. Are we teaching future agriculturalists the things they will need to know? How do we use education to minimise the risks of these trends?”

The work lays a foundation for further ‘foresighting’ research that RIRDC intends to undertake.

“We will be looking to partner with different industries, research organisations and governments to continuously scan the future, undertake scenarios for different possible futures and commission further understanding of particular trends that might be coming,” Ms Woodburn says.

More information: Vicki Woodburn, RIRDC Business Development Manager, 02 6271 4124 vicki.woodburn@rirdc.gov.au

Stefan Hajkowicz, CSIRO, stefan.hajkowicz@csiro.au

A hungrier world

A wealthier worldA bumpier rideand enviromental change will

reshape the risk profilefor agriculture

drive global demand for food and fibre

A new middle income class will

diversify diets and eat more protein

Transformativetechnologies

Advances in digital technology,

will change the way food andfiber products are made

and transported

Choosy customersconsumers of the future will

provenance, sustainability and ethics

The five agricultural megatrends

The effectiveness with which Australian agriculture captures

the opportunities and avoids the risks largely comes down

to innovation”

4

RURAL DIVERSITYIssue No. 18 / WINTER 2015

The Farm Dog Project Those with working dog experience know that there is a wealth of valuable genetic material among elite herding dogs, but some are also concerned that certain valuable traits are not as common as they once were.

RIRDC, along with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Working Kelpie Council of Australia, is funding research through the University of Sydney to measure and record behavioural and health attributes in working dogs.

By creating a database of Australian and international herding dogs and their temperaments and herding traits, working dog societies will be able to learn more about how these traits are passed on from parents to progeny, and investigate which gene sequences are responsible for the valuable behaviours.

Professor Paul McGreevy is leading the study.

“By collecting information on the important traits of thousands of working dogs, we can calculate the heritability of the traits,” he says. “Heritability is a very important property of traits, as it expresses the extent to which relatives will resemble each other and reveals the merits of a selective breeding program. This is the first step in calculating estimated breeding values.”

Professor McGreevy says that by comparing this trait information with genetic material, the research team could identify regions of the canine genome that may contribute to these behaviours.

“This is the first step in developing genetic tests for valuable traits that could, one day, assist with the selection of breeding dogs from a very early age,” he says.

Interested owners and breeders of working kelpies aged six months or older can rate their dogs’ behaviour and personality via a short online form, the Herding Dog Assessment. Participants are also asked whether they would be willing to provide a DNA sample from their dog. Those who consent will be sent a simple cheek swab kit and a reply paid envelope.

The research team wants information about elite, average and poor-performing dogs, and is particularly interested in similarities and differences of related dogs. The information collected will not be connected with owners’ or breeders’ names and will not be made public.

The Herding Dog Assessment can be found here: http://goo.gl/forms/okgjDPY2gp

More information: Professor Paul McGreevy, 02 9351 2810, paul.mcgreevy@sydney.edu.au

New biosecurity project to protect flourishing truffle industryA new RIRDC-funded project aims to develop management options for pests and diseases in the expanding Australian truffle industry.

The project, Pests and diseases of truffles and their host trees in Australia, will be led by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) in collaboration with the Manjimup Truffle and Wine Company – who already have an impressive history of research in this area – and will include researchers and development officers from universities and industry.

The Australian Truffle Growers Association (ATGA) and the Truffle Producers of Western Australia (TPWA) have both pledged financial support.

More than three-quarters of Australia’s eight-tonne annual truffle production is exported.

Australia’s freedom from many exotic pests provides the truffle industry with significant advantages. Production is reliant on both the purity of the truffle fungus and the health of the trees with which they establish a symbiotic relationship.

Because truffles are a relatively new industry in Australia, much of the knowledge about pests and diseases has been anecdotal and shared informally. Identification and management of pests and diseases has not been well understood.

The RIRDC truffle project will examine industry practices. It will extend beyond threats to the truffle to identify threats to the range of host trees that support truffle growth.

This process will allow the industry to prepare for exotic pests and better prioritise available resources.

Developing an industry biosecurity plan will provide a framework for biosecurity activities at the national level.

The identification of high priority pests will assist with a range of biosecurity activities such as surveillance, grower awareness programs, and the development of diagnostic protocols, contingency plans and on-farm best practice biosecurity measures.

Truffle production is reliant on both the purity of the truffle fungus and the health of the trees.

Professor Paul McGreevy from the University of Sydney is leading the research into genotyping working dogs.

About trufflesTruffles are the ‘fruit’ of fungi that live in the soil in association with the roots of several tree species, including hazelnuts and oaks.

Traditionally, they are harvested from natural woodlands, however the French black truffle or Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) on which the Australian truffle industry is predominantly based can be cultivated. The trees must be inoculated with selected strains of the fungi before being planted out into orchards (or truffières).

To prevent bacterial contamination, inoculation must be done on germinating seeds. Seeds are collected from hazelnuts and oaks in autumn and inoculated with spores. Inoculated trees are ready for planting after about 14 months.

Truffles grow best in well-drained alkaline soils with healthy calcium levels. It takes 4-6 years after planting before the first truffles are likely to be harvested.

Specially trained dogs are used to locate the truffles, which are found singly and mainly just below the soil surface.

More information: RIRDC Senior Program Manager – Plant Industries, John de Majnik, 02 6271 4138, john.demajnik@rirdc.gov.au

5

New resources help beekeepers access public landsA new series of fact sheets will help beekeepers access public lands in a complex regulatory environment.

Australia’s bees are a migratory species. Commercial beekeepers follow the seasonal eucalypt, angophora and corymbia blossom through the country’s forests and across state lines to produce 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes of honey each year, worth $88 million.

More than 70 per cent of Australia’s honey is produced from flowers on public lands and one of the major challenges facing industry is the complexity of requirements to gain access to those areas.

There are many types of public land tenure in Australia, each allowing different levels of access for commercial beekeepers. The land types and access requirements frequently differ between states and are administered by a number of government agencies.

To help beekeepers better understand the complex regulatory environment, a series of fact sheets and a report have been developed as part of the Honey Bee and Pollination RD&E Program, jointly funded by RIRDC and Horticulture Innovation Australia.

The fact sheets are produced for each state and territory and outline the registration, permit and licensing requirements for beekeepers seeking access to public lands, as well as the requirements for movement of hives and equipment between states.

The report provides an overview of beekeepers’ access across public land tenures and evaluates whether the management objectives for each land type

are compatible with access for commercial beekeepers. That compatibility varies according to the legislative basis of the land, prescribed conservation status, existing management plans and competing land uses.

“Beekeepers face an increasingly complex and challenging environment when negotiating access to these resources, so this project was designed to provide greater knowledge of the policies that affect beekeeping,” explains beekeeper and spokesman for the Program’s Advisory Panel, James Kershaw.

Their continued access to public land is important to more than commercial honey production. Apiarists are a pivotal part of Australia’s horticulture industry, which relies on the pollination services beekeepers provide to produce fruit and vegetable crops worth $4-6 billion each year.

Enabling bees to collect pollen and nectar from a diverse range of flowers available on public land is key to keeping hives healthy, according to Mr Kershaw, particularly in the hive build-up periods before and after pollination.

“Access to an array of native plant species is crucial to maintaining colony vigour, as beekeepers must relocate their hives according to both the flowering times of particular species and seasonal conditions,” Mr Kershaw says.

“If the bees are not in good health, it’s harder to put their pollination services to work, and many horticultural and agricultural products rely on European honey bee pollination.”

The fact sheets and report can be accessed at: www.rirdc.gov.au/research-programs/animal-industries/honeybee

More information: RIRDC Senior Program Manager, Animal Industries, Dave Alden, 02 6271 4128, dave.alden@rirdc.gov.au

VICTORIA FACT SHEETCompatibility of management objectives on public lands and beekeeping

IntroductionThe Australian beekeeping industry is an important agricultural industry with an estimated gross value of $88 million (2012-13 estimate). Beekeepers also provide indirect benefits to the broader agricultural economy through the provision of pollination services valued between $4-6 billion. The true value of beekeeping in maintaining the health and resilience of broader the Australian agricultural economy is therefore significant, extending well beyond its direct economic contribution.

Importance of public lands

Public lands provide important seasonal floral resources for Australia’s migrating beekeepers. With one third of Australia’s native forests located on public lands, and an additional 40% on crown leased land, access to these areas underpins production for the industry. Forests and woodlands provide up to 80% of pollen and nectar resources, with between 70-90% of honey production across south east and south west Australia reliant on the flowering tree and understory resources of forested areas, primarily located on public lands. Floristic diversity on public land is not only important for honey production, but also provides a means to build up hives prior to and post pollination. The continued productivity and viability of the beekeeping industry is therefore contingent upon maintaining flexible and ongoing access to apiary sites located on public lands. This is particularly important in drought periods or following floods or fires, where beekeepers require additional flexibility to find alternative food resources for the survival of their bees.

Importance of migration

In order to optimise production across seasons, it is necessary for beekeepers to migrate hives across landscapes when seeking the most productive sources of pollen and nectar. Hive migration will be planned to coincide with peaks in flowering of key plants, typically occurring over a two to four month period. Production is predominantly from eucalypt, angophora and corymbia tree species, although acacias, banksias and other species are also important. Variability in Australian weather conditions affect budding and flower patterns of flora and consequently pollen and nectar levels, requiring beekeepers to maintain their production through a constant state of migration.

Migration across public land

Migrating hives between different public land tenures can present significant challenges for beekeepers, because each type of tenure will have different management objectives and licencing requirements. Migrating hives interstate is even more complicated because comparable land tenures, such as ‘National Park’, may not have the same management objectives or licencing requirements in different States, due to differing State/Territory legislation. Ensuring that interstate migration satisfies the relevant state biosecurity procedures and approval requirements is another factor that complicates migration for apiarists.

Figure 1 summarises the public land tenures for each Australian State and Territory.

In pursuing the dynamic floral resources required to maintain honey production, apiarists face an increasingly complex and challenging environment when negotiating access to the range of public land tenures, on which these resources occur. It is therefore important that apiarists have a current knowledge of the policies that affect beekeeping across the Australian States and Territories so that they can plan future migration activities effectively. This factsheet summarises the key public land tenures and associated management objectives in relation to beekeeping for Victoria.

Area of public lands in Australia and Victoria

Public land is a significant land tenure across Australia’s States and Territories. Approximately 63% of Australia’s land mass (484,067,824 hectares) is classed as public land.In VIC public land accounts for approximately 35% of all land (8 million hectares).

| Page 1

To help beekeepers better understand the complex regulatory environment, a series of state-based fact sheets have been developed, which outline the registration, permit and licensing requirements for beekeepers seeking access to public lands, as well as the requirements for movement of hives and equipment between states.

New RIRDC StaffJennifer Medway – Investing in People Manager

The RIRDC team recently welcomed Jennifer Medway as Program Manager for the Corporation’s Investing in People program.

Jennifer will be responsible for the management of RIRDC’s two flagship programs — the RIRDC Rural Women’s Award and the Horizon Scholarship — along with other capacity-building initiatives.

She joins RIRDC with a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience working in the Australian rural sector.

Previously, Jennifer was a Senior Policy Officer at the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry where she was responsible for the administration of the $1.2 million Pathways for Participation Strategy, which involved

managing capacity-building projects for young farmers.

She also played a role in overseeing policy development and initiatives that aimed to help value the contribution rural women make to the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Jennifer has a large network of rural industry and farming contacts and a proven track record of building strong, lasting and meaningful relationships with stakeholders.

Contact Jennifer: jennifer.medway@rirdc.gov.au,

02 6271 4132

Dr Simon Speirs – Program Manager, Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CCRSPI)

Simon Speirs recently joined RIRDC as the Program Manager for the Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries

(CCRSPI), for which RIRDC is the secretariat.

Simon has a strong background in managing RD&E investments, which has included the coordination of a $40 million national program of collaborative RD&E projects for the NSW Department of Trade and Investment.

Simon’s expertise and experience is in RD&E of soil physical and chemical processes, grazing systems and agronomy and fertiliser use. Simon has a strong interest in climate change and agricultural adaptation, which is a key focus of CCRSPI.

Contact Simon: simon.speirs@rirdc.gov.au, 02 6271 4126

6

RURAL DIVERSITYIssue No. 18 / WINTER 2015

For diversity, click hereFarmers across Australia diversify their enterprises to add new income streams, build environmental and economic resilience, and boost personal satisfaction.

The scope for commodity diversification is vast, but where do you start? How can you know which crops, livestock or new product lines are suitable for your enterprise … and your environment?

RIRDC is providing the answers with its Farm Diversity website, an online tool helping farmers discover the best options for diversification according to where they live.

The ‘one-stop shop’ is free and easy to use, providing vital agronomic and regulatory information on about 150 diverse agricultural industries.

Despite its broad scope, the website is relevant on an individual level because it allows people to search not only by commodity but also by region.

By entering their postcode, producers can immediately see which crops or livestock are compatible with their area. Rainfall, soil type and climate zone information can be used to further refine searches.

This function can help narrow down choices, but also open people’s eyes to opportunities they may not have previously considered.

The website features established commodities such as wheat and wool, as well as new or emerging industries like quinoa or Chinese jujubes.

“Both quinoa and Chinese jujubes are pretty hardy crops and can be grown across a wide area,” says the RIRDC Communications and Pubic Affairs Manager Damon Whittock. “In many cases growers may not have considered them, or may not have even heard of something like jujubes, even if they are ideal for their region.”

Unearthing new opportunities through the postcode search has been very helpful for growers, Mr Whittock says. He has tracked feedback about the website in the 12 months it has been operating.

“Anecdotally, people have found the site incredibly useful and easy to use, and it has really opened their eyes to things they didn’t know existed,” he says.

The Farm Diversity website saves people time and money by bringing commodity information together in the one place. Previously, they would have had to seek similar information from a variety of sources.

“We recently had a query from someone in Tasmania interested in growing mountain peppers,” Mr Whittock says. “She wanted to know where to buy seeds and how to grow them so we directed her to the website and she rang back to say it was a fantastic resource.”

For each plant and animal, the website provides essential information such as production status, growing region maps, risks and challenges, regulatory considerations, publications, resources and contact information for industry bodies.

RIRDC Managing Director Craig Burns says that while the primary driver for diversification is often to increase income, other benefits include improving resilience, spreading risk and reducing environmental impact.

“Diversification can be a valuable strategy for a farming enterprise and overall it supports a more profitable, sustainable and dynamic rural sector,” he says.

As well as providing information on specific commodities, the website features case studies, sharing the personal experience of growers who have diversified.

It also provides 10 questions for growers to answer to determine whether diversification really is for them. “Farmdiversity.com.au is a great place to start,” Mr Burns says. “It will open up conversations across the kitchen table.”

A case study in diversifying: Richard Davis A spread of enterprises to manage riskAs the managing director of Australia’s largest producer of eucalyptus oil, GR Davis Pty Ltd, Richard Davis could be forgiven for resting on his laurels.

But, he says, diversifying the business by adding cereal cropping and grazing to the mix – as well as a small tea tree plantation – has helped spread financial risk and generate new income streams. It has also made better use of existing assets, including land and equipment across his Queanbeyan and West Wyalong properties in NSW.

Eucalyptus oil remains the company’s primary enterprise but, in a good year, Richard’s 2,000 hectares of wheat, canola and barley can account for more than half of the company’s gross income. In a bad year, this drops dramatically and that is where the livestock play their part.

“We are rebuilding the sheep mainly for risk management,” Richard says of his 3000-head flock of wool-producing Merino ewes and wethers sold as store lambs. “The increase in sheep numbers helps maintain a level of cash flow in poor crop years.”

Niche overseas markets for the organically certified tea tree oil produced by his relatively small business have helped offset market fluctuations in eucalyptus oil brought about by overseas competitors.

Richard says introducing cropping and grazing took time and effort but was made easier because advice and equipment was available and markets established.

“I think diversification is key for surviving in Australian agriculture as long as you have the financial, physical and mental ability to handle it,” he says.

The Farm Diversity website is an online tool that helps farmers discover the best options for diversification according to where they live.

7

Nick keen to breed resilience into grainWhen Nick Grant’s teacher told him about the Horizon Scholarship he was quick to submit an application in the hope of becoming part of its unique professional development program.

The first-year agricultural science student at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, says he developed an interest in farming from a young age.

Nick hails from a 1900ha wheat and canola farm about 15 kilometres south of Temora, where his father and uncle have farmed all their lives.

Having seen his family’s struggles with difficult climatic conditions – dry finishes and frosty springs – and their impact on farm returns, Nick decided he wanted to be part of the solution.

“One area of particular interest I am keen to pursue is how innovation and research could help produce varieties able to better withstand a wide range of climatic variables,” he says.

To prepare for a tertiary degree in agricultural science, Nick studied maths, English, chemistry, agriculture and geography at boarding school.

Now, at Wagga Wagga, he is enjoying subjects such as botany and chemistry, preparing for what he sees will be a long-term and rewarding career in the grains industry.

He hopes to complete an honours research project in his fourth year and find a place in plant breeding research after further study.

Nick says he was delighted to be chosen as a Horizon Scholar, not only for the annual $5000 grant and the professional development opportunities, but also because he is looking forward to inspiring and encouraging the next ‘crop’ of young people to pursue careers in agriculture.

More information: Jennifer Medway, Horizon Scholarship Program Manager, 02 6271 4132 jennifer.medway@rirdc.gov.au

New ‘crop’ of Horizon Scholars namedThe 2015 Horizon Scholarships were recently awarded to 14 first-year university students who love agriculture and have the capacity to become leaders.

The Horizon Scholarship is a RIRDC initiative, supported by industry and government, which was developed to address the shortage of professionals taking up careers in agriculture.

It promotes the diversity of careers available in agriculture by giving the best and brightest tertiary students an opportunity to experience some of the professions on offer in the food and fibre sector.

Horizon Scholars are selected from applicants studying tertiary degrees at Australian universities in areas such as agricultural science, rural science, livestock or animal science, veterinary science, plant science, agribusiness, agricultural economics, resource management, sustainability and food security.

Students chosen to join the scholarship program demonstrate both a passion for the food and fibre sector and a strong commitment to developing a long-term career in agriculture.

As part of the program, Horizon Scholars receive a $5000 bursary for each year they are studying at university. Support is also provided in the form of mentoring, professional development and work placements with leading agricultural organisations across Australia.

Camilla a’BeckettBachelor of AgricultureUniversity of MelbourneSponsor: Cotton Research and Development Corporation

Matthew ChampnessBachelor of Agricultural ScienceCharles Sturt UniversitySponsor: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Caitlyn DaffeyBachelor of Veterinary ScienceJames Cook UniversitySponsor: Meat and Livestock Australia

Alison GillBachelor of ScienceUniversity of AdelaideSponsor: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Nick GrantBachelor of Agricultural ScienceCharles Sturt UniversitySponsor: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Elicia Jitming LimBachelor of Food and AgribusinessUniversity of SydneySponsor: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Jack McIntoshBachelor of Agricultural ScienceCharles Sturt UniversitySponsor: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

Roxanne MostertBachelor of Agricultural ScienceUniversity of Western AustraliaSponsor: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Amy MunroBachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary ScienceCharles Sturt UniversitySponsor: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

Scott NevisonBachelor of Food and AgribusinessUniversity of SydneySponsor: Cotton Research and Development Corporation

Royce PitchfordBachelor of Agricultural ScienceUniversity of AdelaideSponsor: Australian Wool Innovation

Eliza SeymourBachelor of Science/CommerceUniversity of QueenslandSponsor: Grains Research and Development Corporation

Luke VellaBachelor of Science in AgricultureUniversity of SydneySponsor: Horticulture Innovation Australia

Jasmine WhittenBachelor of Rural ScienceUniversity of New EnglandSponsor: Australian Egg Corporation Limited

The 2015 Horizon Scholars are:

8

RURAL DIVERSITYIssue No. 18 / WINTER 2015

Women leaders vie for awardSeven outstanding rural women with a passion for Australia’s primary industries were recently named finalists in the 2015 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award.

Each finalist – one from each state and the Northern Territory — receives $10,000 to complete a project or initiative that will benefit rural people or primary industries in Australia.

They will also receive personal and professional development opportunities, including access to a network of award alumni mentors and a company director course run by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

The national winner of the RIRDC Rural Women’s Award, supported by platinum sponsor Westpac Agribusiness, will be announced on 9 September 2015 at Parliament House in Canberra. Finalists vying for the national award are:

NEW SOUTH WALESCindy CassidyCindy Cassidy is chief executive officer of FarmLink Research, a not-for-profit farming systems group at Temora servicing farmers and agribusiness in southern NSW. Using her bursary, Cindy will explore national and international approaches to agricultural extension to improve the effectiveness of locally delivered programs. She will share the knowledge gained and tools created during her project with other farming groups, and plans to establish a network of contacts to influence Australian agricultural extension policy and investment.

NORTHERN TERRITORYSally IsbergDr Sally Isberg runs her own company, the Centre for Crocodile Research, which aims to increase the productivity of the Australian crocodile industry through research and development. With her bursary, Sally would like to empower more women scientists to diversify into crocodile research. To do this, she plans to show three female non-agricultural science students that a career in the primary industries can be lucrative and rewarding. The students, selected from Charles Darwin University, will be offered six-week scholarships to undertake mini-research projects with crocodile industry outcomes.

QUEENSLANDSherrill StivanoSherrill Stivano is a partner in her family’s cattle feedlot and hay growing business near Roma. Following the 2011 live export ban, she became a founding member of the ‘Ask An Aussie Farmer’ social media campaign to help consumers better understand how Australian food and fibre is produced and to address customer concerns. Sherrill will use her bursary to bring a United Kingdom-based expert to Australia to consider the opportunities offered by a country-of-origin labelling system.

SOUTH AUSTRALIASarah PowellSarah Powell, a partner in a mixed cropping and Merino sheep business at Wharminda on the Eyre Peninsula, is committed to developing the next generation of leaders through the Ports Netball Club. Using her bursary, Sarah will establish a ‘Champions Academy’ program to foster personal development, create opportunities for local women and teach aspiring leaders to act responsibly and with integrity, to think selflessly and to remain committed in their pursuits. She will deliver the program through mentoring that engages, empowers and builds confidence. A leadership succession plan is also planned to strengthen and build resilience into her local community.

TASMANIACarol BrackenCarol Bracken grows hazelnuts near Glengarry for her family business, Tamar Valley Hazelnuts. Using her bursary, she plans to study hazelnut production on farms near Oregon in the United States, the heartland for hazelnuts and one of the world’s most competitive markets. She will also run events for women starting businesses. Carol plans to run four regional courses to develop the project management skills of women participants.

VICTORIAKatie FinlayThird-generation orchardist Katie Finlay, who owns and operates Mt Alexander Fruit Gardens, has diversified her business to write and sell information products including workshops and e-books to other fruit growers. Katie plans to use her bursary for a project to help give fruit growers better control of their markets and to increase consumer demand for their products. To do this, she will encourage growers to run weekly farmers’ markets and use Facebook to build and foster stronger relationships with their customers.

WESTERN AUSTRALIATress WalmsleyTress Walmsley, chief executive officer of InterGrain, loves connecting rural and city communities through food. While Western Australian wheat varieties are sought after in Japan and Korea, she sees scope to increase Australian demand for the high-value product. Using her bursary, Tress’s ‘Oodles of noodles’ project will aim to turn six WA grain growers into ‘Udon noodle master chefs’ and encourage industry ambassadors to market Udon noodles to their local communities, thereby increasing domestic demand for Australian noodle wheat.

Cindy CassidyNew South Wales

Carol BrackenTasmania

Sherrill StivanoQueensland

Tress WalmsleyWestern Australia

Sally Isberg Northern Territory

Katie FinlayVictoria

Sarah PowellSouth Australia

9

for developmentJujubes ripe

Jujubes may be relatively unheard of in Australia, but in China their popularity remains strong after more than 3000 years.

The white-fleshed fruit, also known as a Chinese date, is eaten fresh or dried and is also used in medicine.

Australian growers hope to cash in on its popularity, both short-term in domestic markets and in the longer term as a high-value export product.

For this potential to be realised, growth is required, which is why RIRDC and the Western Australian (WA) Government have backed new research looking at further developing the fledgling Australian jujube industry.

Led by Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) Development Officer Rachelle Johnstone, the research project will look at increasing production, developing quality parameters and broadening markets for Australian-grown jujubes through on-farm trials and analysis. A thorough economic review will also be conducted to inform investment in the industry.

The project builds on Ms Johnstone’s recently published jujube feasibility study for RIRDC and DAFWA, which found there was real potential for a viable industry.

The report established the size of Australia’s jujube industry, identified basic best-practice agronomic factors and confirmed scope for growth, finding that current supply was unable to meet growing demand locally, let alone for export.

“The demand for jujubes is still greater than supply on the domestic market and growers are getting pretty good prices,” Ms Johnstone says.

As well as strong market demand, several other factors point to the fruit being a good option for Australian growers looking to

Jujube fruit at an orchard in York, Western Australia.

1010

Young Chinese jujube (Chico variety) orchard under nets in York, WA.

diversify, she says. First is that the trees are drought and salt tolerant, and so are well suited to Australian conditions.

“The tree seems to grow well across a large range of areas across WA and eastern states and can produce fruit with less water than other crops and in some more marginal areas,” she says.

Also, Australian fruit ripens counter-seasonally to the Chinese orchards in the northern hemisphere, opening the possibility of a legitimate fresh export markets in China and South-East Asia.

“Fresh jujubes don’t have a long shelf-life so demand from Asia is high when jujubes are harvested in Australia between February and April,” she says. “We have great potential to export once production increases.”

While pointing to a promising future, the first report also identified barriers to the level of growth required for growers to meet demand. Overcoming those barriers, Ms Johnstone says, is what the new project will address.

For example, a lack of tree stock is a hindrance to industry growth, with only around 3000 new trees propagated each year. “At the moment we have big wait lists of people wanting to order trees,” Ms Johnstone says.

The new project will look at increasing tree production through improving propagation techniques, as well as the feasibility of establishing more commercial nurseries.

More abundant supply would give growers - and investors - greater confidence in the viability of the industry, she says. At the same time, a clear indication of the industry’s growth capacity is required to encourage further investment.

RIRDC Plant Industries Senior Program Manager, Dr John de Majnik, says that to realise its potential, the jujube industry needs to expand with more stock at the same time as maximising fruit quality and overcoming access issues to market.

“There are some obstacles for the young jujube industry,” he says. “But the new project really picks up the barriers we can overcome.”

Ms Johnstone hopes the new project will build the confidence of investors by identifying and broadening both domestic and international markets and addressing other issues holding back market expansion.

One barrier, for example, is jujubes’ susceptibility to fruit fly and optimum mitigation measures must be established to allow WA-produced fruit to travel across state and international borders.

Quality will also be looked at to ensure Australian growers can access premium export markets. There are more than 1000 jujube varieties and researchers will investigate importing new germplasm to best meet Australian conditions and Chinese preferences, Ms Johnstone says.

Once particular varieties are established, marketing campaigns can be co-ordinated and packaging made more uniform for mainstream markets. “For example, if we could get earlier fruiting varieties here to coincide with Chinese New Year they could get quite a premium price,” she says.

If quantity and quality is established, a lucrative export market for fresh Australian-grown jujubes — subject to trade agreements — awaits, she says.

Ms Johnstone says she will work closely with the WA Jujube Growers Association Inc. to ensure the project meets industry needs. For example, growers want more information on best agronomic practice so further research is planned to refine water and nutrient requirements.

While the project will assist growers to expand production and maximise quality through practical R&D, Dr de Majnik says the economic and market analysis provides a value proposition for investors and a confidence that the industry has a profitable future.

Expanding the jujube industry will help build more diverse and resilient farms and potentially provide growers with a competitive advantage.

“Jujubes are counter-seasonal, good value and drought resistant, so if we get the R&D right and develop the market opportunities it could be really big,” Dr de Majnik says. “It ticks a lot of boxes for Australian growers.”

Facts & StatisticsThe Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) has been consumed as a food and used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

The jujube is a medium-sized deciduous tree that reaches a height of seven to 10 metres.

The jujube fruit is oval shaped and is also known as a Chinese date or red date.

Jujube fruits are eaten fresh, dried or processed as ‘Chinese dates’ that are used in confectionery, breads, cake, candy, compote and jam.

The jujube is a new horticultural industry in Australia, cultivated here since around 2000.

Jujube’s drought and salinity tolerance, easy management and multiple uses indicate potential for a niche crop for many areas of Australia.

Chinese jujube grows well on a variety of soils. The tree prefers sandy loams or lighter soils but will grow on heavier clays. The jujube tree grows best in soil with pH 4.5 to 8.4.

Fruit set of jujubes requires average daily temperatures above 20°C. Fruit development requires average daily temperatures over 24–25°C.

There are close to 1000 varieties of Chinese jujube recorded in China classified by end use, including fresh, dried, candied, multipurpose and ornamental.

Current demand for jujube in Australia outstrips supply. Trees are hard to obtain as propagators currently cannot keep up with demand for new plantings.

No significant diseases have been found in Chinese jujube. Pests of jujube trees include rabbits, kangaroos and birds but fencing or netting the trees can provide protection.

The jujube is susceptible to Mediterranean fruit fly. Currently no other insect pests have presented as a problem for jujube production.

11

The promise of jujubes has been enough to make Pete Dawson change career.

Originally a Western Australian fisheries officer, his first experience with the fruit came when his father, Jim, grew half a dozen jujube trees on his Gidgegannup farm two decades ago.

“He likes a talking point,” Pete says of his dad’s approach to business. “He’d have people over for a beer and say ‘have you ever had a jujube?’”

Word got around with others soon wanting to grow their own jujubes and in 2006, during Pete’s long service leave, Jim asked him to help graft 100 trees to sell.

Jim’s own production had been increasing and by the time his 40 trees were producing two tonnes of fruit annually on salt-affected rocky soil, the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) and RIRDC were looking at the species as a potential crop for the state’s struggling wool belt.

“At the top of the list was jujubes,” Pete says of the RIRDC and DAFWA project outcome.

He was becoming increasingly involved in the propagation of jujube trees on weekends, but it wasn’t until he visited China as part of a DAFWA delegation in 2010 that he saw the fruit’s true potential.

“In China they don’t talk in hundreds or thousands or even millions of trees,” he says. “There are trillions of trees growing in the mountains, down on the coast, in sand, in clay; they can grow just about anywhere.”

The scope of production “blew me away,” Pete says. And it got him thinking.

“In Australia we have ideal growing conditions and our season is exactly opposite from China’s. So that’s when I started promoting Australian production.”

Today, the self-taught horticulturalist is no longer a fisheries officer, but Australia’s biggest producer of jujube trees, selling his carefully grafted fruit-ready specimens to a grower market that has been doubling every year.

This year, he sold 1,800 trees. Next year, he already has orders for 2000. He has recruited his cousin to service Australia’s eastern states and has had to limit sales to 200 trees per person per year to satisfy as many customers as possible.

Even so, he has no hope of meeting demand. “I had to take down all my advertising material,” he says. “I was just turning people away.”

The shortage of tree stock is the biggest issue holding the jujube industry back, he says. While the tree is challenging to propagate (his success rate is about 70 per cent) it is easy to maintain once established with little need for water or other inputs.

Pete’s customers are from a wide geographic range, as far north as Carnarvon and south to Esperance. Some are on marginal,

salt-affected grazing land and others are orchardists on rich soil,

attracted by the $15 per kilogram average wholesale price for jujubes, compared with the 90 cents per kilogram for apples.

“Dad thought he was being cheeky asking $6 a kilogram when he first started!” Pete says.

Through his role as chief jujube supplier, Pete knows most people in the industry and had fast become the middleman between growers seeking agronomic advice on everything from disease to spacing to watering. “It was like Chinese whispers,” he says. “I was just relaying messages back and forth.”

It soon became clear that a grower forum was required, so in 2013 he established the West Australian Jujube Association Inc. and is its president this year. “Now the growers can talk to each other and it gives me more time to be out with my trees,” he says.

Through the association, growers are developing a strategic plan for the industry’s future, to help identify issues affecting growth and setting research priorities.

The association will collaborate on the new RIRDC and DAFWA jujube research

project and Pete will provide tree stock to facilitate trials for new varieties. Personally, he is interested in the project helping him to more efficiently produce trees.

“There has been a lot achieved, but as a pioneering industry we still have a lot more questions than answers,” he says.

Rachelle Johnstone from DAFWA and and Pete Dawson in his jujube nursery in Gidgegannup with trees grafted that year. The trees in the background were grafted a year beforehand.

12

RURAL DIVERSITYIssue No. 18 / WINTER 2015

Saving pasture seed for the futureAustralia is leading the way with the world’s largest ‘bank’ of pasture genetics and a globally accessible database.

The Australian Pastures Genebank (APG), Australia’s first national pasture and forage research centre, and the first of its kind in the world, has opened at the South Australian Research and Development Institute’s (SARDI) Plant Research Centre at Waite Campus.

It will be the custodian of potentially more than 80,000 accessions (new items) of 2000 tropical and temperate pastures and forage species.

It will also keep the genetics viable by replenishing the seed that has reached critically low seed quantity and/or quality – generally the oldest seed – in climatically and environmentally suited sites around Australia.

“Our job is to acquire the genetic material – usually in the form of seeds – then to document, conserve, maintain and distribute it for further research and development,” APG leader Steve Hughes says.

“Last September, 150 accessions were planted in Queensland to replenish tropical stock, 15 lucernes and 200 annual medics are being grown in South Australia, 150 cocksfoot and bromes will be grown in Tasmania, and Western Australia will sow 200 trifoliums next year.

“This is probably the most critical work of the APG and it will keep the accessions alive in more ways than one. We want as many people as possible to see them growing, because there just might be something in that accession which could be useful for future breeding,” he says.

The APG mandate covers all pasture and forage species of actual or potential value to Australian agriculture, including plants grown for livestock production, crop rotation and the environment.

Sourcing the material has been a massive undertaking, with each state contributing seed from departmental collections. From Western Australia there will be 16,000 accessions of mostly trifolium species (clovers, serradellas and biserrulas). South Australia will contribute 45,000 (mostly medics), Queensland 11,000 (tropical grasses and legumes), NSW 1500 (grasses and pasture species) and Victoria and Tasmania 10,000 (temperate grasses).

“These state collections have been created over 60 years and many of them hold seeds found in no other collections in the world, making the APG internationally significant,” Mr Hughes said.

With direct funding from five Research and Development Corporations (RIRDC, Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Grains Research and Develop-ment Corporation and Dairy Australia) and SARDI, and in-kind contributions from the state departments of agriculture, the APG follows the opening of the Australian Grains Genebank at Horsham, Victoria, earlier in 2014.

Take a tour of the APG at: https://youtu.be/bsKV47Qa16k

More information: Steve Hughes, APG, steve.hughes@sa.gov.au

Tony Byrne Memorial Scholarship recipient: Matt WilsonFollowing the passing of former RIRDC Managing Director Tony Byrne, the RIRDC Board established the Tony Byrne Memorial Scholarship in recognition of his longstanding commitment to research in the essential oils and plant extracts industry.

University of Tasmania School of Agricul-tural Science PhD student Matt Wilson is the first recipient of this scholarship. He is researching the agronomic requirements of Tasmannia lanceolata (native pepper).

The leaves of T. lanceolata are com-mercially extracted and used primarily as a food additive but also as an antimicrobial and antifungal compound. The active ingredient is polygodial.

Mr Wilson says that although polygodial has numerous uses in the food industry, extract quality and quantity is a significant issue.

“Polygodial can be produced synthetically – generally at great cost – but is otherwise produced mainly by plants of the Winteraceae family, of which Tasmannia is a genus, as well as a marine snail that uses it as a self-defence mechanism,” he says.

Both food and industrial uses are being considered for further development of the plant’s extract, chiefly because of the high levels of polygodial it contains.

“T. lanceolata is now almost entirely located in natural stands in the wild and for further development, my industry partners

– Diemen Pepper and Essential Oils of Tasmania – felt that production should be based on plantations producing a reliable supply of consistent quality extracts, which is where my project comes in,” he says.

Mr Wilson’s research has examined site selection, climatic parameters, nutritional requirements and cultural management for plantation T. lanceolata for commercial production.

He says the RIRDC scholarship was crucial in expanding the scope of his research.

“I doubt I would have been able to conduct both field trials and glasshouse nutrition trials without this support.”

More information: Matt Wilson, 03 6226 8514, m.d.wilson@utas.edu.au

13

Hobby beekeepers benefit from new resourceThe number of people keeping honey bee colonies as a hobby has increased markedly over recent years, in both urban and regional areas.

The release of Australian Beekeeping Guide provides hobby beekeepers with access to a wealth of information about keeping bees and the crucial issue of honey bee biosecurity. The book was previously published in 1991 under the title Beekeeping.

The project, developed by the Honey Bee and Pollination R&D Program, was funded by RIRDC, Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (HIA) and the Victorian Department of Economic Development.

The extensively updated guide draws on the knowledge and experience of scientists, various state and territory beehive inspectors and officers and, most importantly, beekeepers. It provides a strong platform for beginner beekeepers and is a useful foundation for those contemplating beekeeping as a sideline or full-time commercial enterprise.

Beekeeper and spokesperson for the Honey Bee and Pollination R&D Program, James Kershaw, said beekeeping was a craft, learned over a number of years.

“Successful beekeeping is about practice, building experience and confidence. It’s a fascinating and rewarding hobby, a profitable sideline and, for many commercial operators, a full-time occupation that contributes millions of dollars to the

Australian economy each year,” Mr Kershaw says.

The Australian honey bee and pollination industries face a number of significant risks and economic challenges, including several biosecurity threats.

“Healthy honey bee colonies are essential for the economic viability of pollination-dependent horticultural and seed crops,” Mr Kershaw says.

“This book provides beekeepers, especially those new to the craft, with valuable information, particularly in relation to pests and diseases.

“This includes biosecurity threats such as the Varroa mite, which has caused devastation in neighbouring countries.

“The establishment of Varroa mite in Australia could put at risk the supply of bee colonies for pollination of crops, so it’s vital that a resource such as Australian Beekeeping Guide is regularly updated to ensure information on bee diseases and pests is current.”

The guide devotes several comprehensive chapters to the identification, management and reporting of a range of diseases and pests that can affect honey bees and hives.

Researchers believe that arming amateur beekeepers with the knowledge required to monitor and report any potential problems in their hives will go a considerable way towards protecting this vital industry.

For a copy of Australian Beekeeping Guide go to rirdc.infoservices.com.au/items/14-098

The BeeAware website (www.beeaware.org.au) is another source of information about exotic and established bee pests and diseases, and ways beekeepers can identify and respond to these threats.

More information:RIRDC Senior Program Manager, Animal Industries, Dave Alden, 02 6271 4128, dave.alden@rirdc.gov.au

Strong results from RIRDC stakeholder survey RIRDC recently surveyed its key stakeholders to gauge the Corporation’s performance. The survey sought to hear first-hand what stakeholders value and if there are areas of the organisation that could be improved.

RIRDC stakeholders include those working in rural industries, researchers and policy makers.

The survey, conducted by Currie Communications, involved in-depth, one-on-one interviews with 21 high-level stakeholders.

The key findings were:

• Stakeholder satisfaction with RIRDC is high. Stakeholders believe the organisation performs well, delivering what industry and government expects.

• Stakeholders consider they have a positive relationship with RIRDC and

that the organisation is resilient and proactive in its approach to networking with industry.

• Stakeholders clearly believe RIRDC makes a positive contribution to Australian agriculture and supports industry growth.

• Respondents felt RIRDC added value to their industry and the work undertaken filled a gap that would otherwise not be filled by any other industry body.

• More than 70 per cent of respondents perceived their relationship with RIRDC as excellent with the remaining 30 per cent describing it as good.

• Close to half those surveyed were very satisfied with RIRDC’s performance (38 per cent) with the remaining 62 per cent saying they were satisfied.

• More than 50 per cent of respondents felt the information provided was important to their organisation

• 60 per cent said the information they received from RIRDC was either relevant or extremely relevant.

• Almost 70 per cent of respondents agreed that RIRDC’s structure is easy to navigate and work with. A further 20 per cent felt it was as they would expect from an organisation such as RIRDC.

• Respondents almost unanimously (95 per cent) said that they felt RIRDC was a competent organisation.

• Suggestions to improve RIRDC’s performance included a more targeted and timely approach; creating greater awareness of the organisation’s activities and goals; and ensuring projects include a practical element.

• More than 80 per cent described their return on investment in RIRDC programs as excellent or very good with the remaining respondents also positive in their response rating their return on investment as good.

14

RURAL DIVERSITYIssue No. 18 / WINTER 2015

Rice cashes in on research‘Old Coree’, a historic homestead in Jerilderie NSW, provided a beautiful venue for the rice industry’s premier research showcase, the Rice Field Day, earlier this year.

The theme was ‘Cashing in on research and technology’ and, according to organisers and many of the 400 participants, the 2015 event was the most successful ever held.

The field day is designed to showcase the latest in rice research and technological advancements in rice growing It is a joint initiative of RIRDC, Rice Extension, Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Rice Research Australia Pty Ltd and SunRice.

Rice R&D Committee Chairman, Ian Mason says the event was structured to reflect the importance of the industry’s R&D program for grower profitability.

“This is a very important date for rice growers every year and this year we had a fantastic range of speakers to assist Australian rice growers to be more profitable,” Mr Mason says.

“R&D topics such as rice varieties, plant population, precision agriculture and weed control were covered throughout the morning’s field visits.”

Andrew Whitlock, from Precision Agriculture, was one of the day’s presenters. He has worked with a network of farmers to determine what’s driving variability across their bays.

“The biggest benefits we found were around getting the basics right,” Mr Whitlock says. “By using laser or GPS levelling technology to make sure the bays are at a uniform level, the producer can better control the water level.”

Some participants were skeptical that something so simple could have such a profound effect, and Mr Whitlock concedes that, while they knew it would make a difference, even the researchers were surprised at the magnitude of the effect.

“We hadn’t expected that not having a level bay would drive these extreme levels of variability. However, precision agriculture is all about fine-tuning,” he says. “If you don’t start with a level field, you can’t control your weeds or water levels, and it then gets a lot harder to get seeding rates and nutrition right.

“When people say precision agriculture, many tend to think of measures such as variable rate application, but there’s a lot that can be done before you get to that stage.”

Brian Dunn, a research agronomist based at Yanco Agriculture Institute, presented his findings on a range of issues associated with nitrogen, irrigated crop water use and rice-based farming systems.

Mr Dunn says the message he took to the growers was that to maximise yield and profit, they should focus on improved agronomy.

The first aspect of this is to look at their sowing time. By sowing at the correct time, growers could aim to have the crop going through its reproductive phase during the warmer weather, and thus ensure the best possible yield outcome.

Nitrogen is another issue for growers. Since the drought, growers have had few legumes in their rotations, so nitrogen levels have been declining. This means they need to use a lot more nitrogen prior to the application of permanent water.

Determining the right amount of nitrogen to apply is not easy. Too little and yield and grain quality suffers; too much, and the plant puts on too much biomass. This leads to a situation where the pollen grains are more susceptible to cold weather and yield is again adversely affected.

“We recommend a split nitrogen strategy,” Mr Dunn says. “Apply the majority of the expected required nitrogen pre-permanent water and then top up at panicle initiation once crop nitrogen uptake has been measured.”

Cold temperatures can affect the plant during its reproductive period and Mr Dunn says one way farmers can protect the crop is by applying deep water – at least 25cm – during this time.

“The water can stay several degrees warmer than the air temperature,” he says. “Water deep enough to protect the developing panicle can reduce yield losses from floret sterility. However, if you have a period of consecutive cold days, you can lose this benefit.”

Mr Dunn’s other work involved two years of research on optimal plant populations and lower and upper plant population economic limits for aerial and drill sown rice.

“Historically, plants have been sown at 150 to 200 plants per square metre,” Mr Dunn says. “Our research found that as long as the plant stand is uniform and there are at least 50 plants per square metre, yields should be comparable.”

Following the field presentations, lunch back at the homestead gave participants the opportunity to relax and enjoy the social aspects of the day and view the displays from resellers and industry groups.

In the afternoon, the participants heard from SunRice CEO Rob Gordon. Mr Gordon outlined a positive future for the industry, telling growers that demand was strong. If growers can produce more rice, there will be a market for it.

More information: RIRDC Senior Program Manager – Plant Industries, John de Majnik, 02 6271 4138 john.demajnik@rirdc.gov.au

The Australian rice market’s future is bright, growers attending the Rice Field Day were told.

15

DIVERSITYRU

RA

L

NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM THE RURAL INDUSTRIES R&D CORPORATIONMost of our publications are available for free. Download from our website www.rirdc.gov.au

Commercial seed technology for tedera, 15-011

This report describes research designed to support the development of commercial seed production technologies for tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata ) and includes: (a) glasshouse studies to measure seed yield response to different watering regimes prior to and during the period of flowering;

(b) controlled field studies to measure the variability within the species for plant characters that influence seed production; and (c) harvesting technologies to scale-up seed production for commercial application.

A place-based agriculture development framework, 15-003

This project develops a theoretical framework that enables consideration of agriculture’s broader contributions to place-based regional development. The Place-based Agriculture Development Framework (PADF) developed by the project combines and integrates:

• agriculture’s traditional contributions through food and fibre production marketed as bulk commodities (agri-industrial model);

• an emerging emphasis on the management of ecosystems services and amenity within the production system (post-productivist model); and

• agriculture’s broader socioeco-nomic contributions to regional diversification, value adding and niche marketing (rural develop-ment model).

The framework aims to support the development of new regional visions for Australian agriculture, founded on competitive advantages that can be better maximised at the regional scale.

Agronomic strategies for producing large lupini beans for export, 15-040

Large bitter white lupin, or lupini are consumed as a snack food after leaching of alkaloids. Tasmanian Lupini Enterprises (TLE) and its group of contract growers currently produce lupini beans in the Northern Midlands of Tasmania. The lupini industry could expand in both volume and value of production if it were able to produce a larger high

quality bean than its competitors. This report examines a range of agronomic findings concerning lupini beans, focusing particularly on crop development, windrowing, and harvesting. In addition the report contains recommendations to progress lupini breeding strategies and an assessment of marketing opportunities.

Rice weed resistance testing, 14-047

Herbicide resistant weeds are a major problem in the cropping regions of Australia and the rice industry is no different to any of the other cropping industries in this regard. Weed control in the rice industry has been dependent on a few herbicides and therefore the identification of an underlying level of herbicide resistance in

Who and what is RIRDC?

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s (RIRDC) core business is to maintain and enhance the productivity of the rural industries it supports and to address national rural issues through government-industry partnership.

RIRDC is specifically charged with managing investment in RD&E for those primary industries that are too small to set up their own RD&E entity and to address multi-industry and national interest RD&E needs. In doing so, RIRDC investments contribute to the delivery of outcomes against the National and Rural R&D Priorities set by the Australian Government.

The Corporation is the primary funding source for RD&E activities that investigate the potential of new plant and animal industries for Australia, and for providing support to new industries as they mature and grow.

The breadth of issues and industries RIRDC deals with is as varied as it is unique. RIRDC plays a vital role in the development of rural Australia and is the rural R&D corporation with the remit to manage multi-industry and national interest R&D.

ISSN: 1833-3311 ISBN: 978-1-74254-798-5 RIRDC Pub No. 15/052

Editorial: Coretext

Design: Downie Design

Enquiries

T: 02 6271 4100 E: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au web: www.rirdc.gov.au

Published by the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation June 2015

PO Box 4776 Kingston ACT 2604

weeds aids growers and advisors in their understanding and designing strategies for herbicide resistance management. This report presents baseline data on the extent of herbicide resistance in five weeds of rice to three of the common herbicides used for their control across the rice growing regions of southern NSW.