GROWERS will get access to region-specific irrigation research at the Irrigation Farmers Network Conference in Moama.
The two-day conference on July 24 and 25 aims to cut through the noise of research and information developing daily and provide the region’s farmers with the most relevant updates that can improve or impact their businesses.
As irrigation adds a layer of complexity to farm operations and maximising water usage, IFN collaborates with the local industry to address farmers’ pressing concerns.
IFN spokesperson Melinda Mann said organisers were trying to bring the industry together to collaborate to run the event to provide relevant and timely information about the region, the weather, information that helps businesses, and offer relevant research.
“There’s information about what sort of systems might suit your business, about scheduling water to make sure you’re maximising your crop yield but also using water sustainably,” Ms Mann said.
The focus this year is nitrogen fertilisers as a tool for emissions reduction, innovating to future-proof farm businesses, and the latest tactics for weed and pest management.
“Every year we reach out to our local networks to get their thoughts on what are the relevant topics of the time that they need more information on to help make decisions in their business.
“We try and have several farmer speakers, so that it’s not just research and industry talking about information; it’s about listening to farmers about how they’re putting things in place in their business,” Ms Mann said.
“This year our focus from the farmer side of things is future proofing the business – what are farmers doing to maintain their productivity in sustainable ways into the future.”
IFN is celebrating 25 years of conducting irrigation trials at its Kerang research site and providing local farmers with relevant information to maximise crop yields and future-proof their businesses.
A recently acquired second facility at Deniliquin will double IFN’s research capacity in coming years.
“The big research piece is the irrigated variety trials that have been running every year since about 2000, looking at different varieties and their suitability and how they perform under irrigation,” Ms Mann said.
“We have lots of different trial work and experience, and our research manager (Damian Jones) has been in the industry for more than 30 years in the department and then running research trials.”
IFN is hosting a gala dinner the night before the conference to celebrate its 25-year milestone, featuring Queensland cotton grower Renee Anderson as the guest speaker.
For more information and to register for the conference, visit irrigationfn.com.au/2024-irrigation-insights-conference
