Hyper Profitable Crops

Cereal paddock benchmarking & innovation groups

Project Funder: GRDC
Project Partners: FAR Australia
Project Code: GRDC FAR2403-002SAX
Project Duration: 2023-2027
Project Location: High Rainfall Zones

Background

In the high rainfall zones of Australia, there are significant gaps between the crop yields produced in commercial paddocks and the water-limited yield potential. A considerable amount of RD&E has been conducted in the high rainfall zones over the past decade or more, however recent peer-to-peer learning has been a major success factor in reducing in these gaps and prompting growers to reassess their yield targets.

Innovation and benchmarking groups created as part of the GRDC Hyper-Yielding Crops (HYC) investment proved a powerful tool for promoting the adoption of enhanced agronomic practices and impressive crop yields by international standards. The investment has been highly regarded by growers and agronomists alike, redefining what yields are possible in Australia. Facilitated discussions and crop inspections enable growers to better understand and test the management practices required to produce crop yields previously thought to be unattainable, and the implications of integrating these practices into their farming systems.

FAR Australia will manage and support seven innovation and benchmarking hubs throughout the high rainfall zones of Australia, starting in 2024, for three growing seasons. These facilitated groups will feature discussions throughout the year addressing best practice agronomic management for high yielding and profitable wheat and barley crops in the high rainfall zones of the South Coast WA, South-eastern SA. Southern Victoria, Tasmania, and Southern NSW. Paddock benchmarking will allow growers to compare cereal agronomy, production and financial performance, and a small trial program will also be supported at each hub – these trials will be funded and managed by the GRDC NVT team in collaboration with the service provider. These activities will facilitate the continued extension of key agronomic management strategies suited to the high rainfall zone and will promote broad on-farm adoption of practices that boost the performance of wheat and barley in profitable and sustainable ways.

This investment will include the development of a high rainfall cropping manual to facilitate the collation of research including case studies of how best leverage rainfall in the high rainfall zone for high yielding and profitable crops.

Project Activities

By 30 April 2027, wheat and barley growers in high rainfall environments of Australia have the motivation, agronomic support and knowledge required to implement management practices that help close the yield gap while maximising profit.

Output 1.

By April 2024 and annually thereafter – innovation hubs and discussion groups will be established and running in seven sub-regions across Australia.

Output 2.

By April 2025 and annually thereafter, agronomic and financial benchmarking will be collected from 100 paddocks across Australia. (All financials will be calculated using generic figures developed in each regional hub).

Output 3.

By April 2025 and annually thereafter, growers across the HRZ will have access to information on hyper profitable crops