In just two weeks’ time FarmLink Research Ltd (FarmLink) is holding a FieldWalk Day on Friday 4 September at their Trungley Hall Road research facility getting underway with a complimentary breakfast at 7.30am and the official opening at 8.30am. Entry is free and all are invited to attend to hear from leading researchers, agronomists and speakers from industry to gain insights on their current research trials. FarmLink was established in 2004 as a not-for-profit agricultural research and extension organisation in southern NSW owned by growers and involving advisers and researchers with the main objective to coordinate and communicate private, public and grower group funded research and development activities within the region. This event is replacing the open day that has been run in previous years and unlike those events there will be no machinery displays or demonstrations with the focus solely upon what farmers need to know for their farming enterprises that enable them to use the latest innovation for their paddocks and what they grow, whether it be cropping or whether it be livestock. FarmLink CEO Shaughn Morgan said that it’s an opportunity for them [farmers] to be able to see firsthand, hear, talk and be able to ask questions about what it is that we're doing that is at the cutting edge. “What we do is meant to provide opportunities for farmers to become more productive, more sustainable and more profitable,” Mr Morgan said. “If we're able to fulfil those three aims through such things as the field walk then we're able to provide information about the latest innovations in farming technique and opportunities for growth.” Participants will be bused to the trail sites to give them a hands-on experience and the ability to see the trials in action. Only a small number of the current trials will be the focus of this year’s field walks taking in seven being conducted by FarmLink, Bayer, Spraytec, Nutrien, Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) and DataFarming. The first of the paddocks to be visited will showcase the work being done on intercropping. FarmLink’s principal research and extension manager, Mark Skewes will be demonstrating the trials being undertaken featuring mixed sowing of canola with faba beans, and wheat with faba beans. This field walk will give participants an opportunity to hear from Mr Skewes and growers that are successfully integrating intercropping into their operations as to the advantages and challenges associated with the technique. Bayer will be discussing trials of two of their new products Icafolin-methyl new herbicide which has been developed to address key challenges across both broadacre and horticulture systems. They will also be talking about their new fungicide VIMOY® IBLON® which is powered by isoflucypram. Britt Kalmeier and Darcey Boucher-Hill from AGT will host a session that will be engaging discussion on the breeding work behind AGT’s winter wheat program. Britt Kalmeier will share how the FarmLink site is used in the program and how this research is helping deliver practical benefits for growers across southern NSW. The day’s events will include a complimentary morning tea as well as the complimentary breakfast, presentation of the FarmLink Life Member Award and a panel discussion on mixed farming. FarmLink has not abandoned the importance of machinery and will feature a dedicated machine day on the first Friday in March where there will be an opportunity to see machinery, equipment and technology in action. Mr Morgan is encouraging farmers and farming enterprises of all sizes to join the organisation. One of FarmLink’s aims is to improve the viability of farm businesses through research and the development of systems that are targeted at improving the environmental and economic sustainability of the region. Membership allows access to research reports as well as trail results via a newly developed closed loop Artificial Intelligence (AI). There is also opportunity for members to host trials on their properties and become involved in a more in-depth level than non-member farmers. Mr Morgan said that FarmLink represents the mixed farming community within the Riverina, not just looking at cropping but looking at livestock as well. “We're engaging at the current time with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Agri Futures, which has about over 20 different commodities that it represents from tea tree oil all the way through to honeybees. “FarmLink’s core mantra is about providing the best way that we can support the farming sector and particularly our members for what we do on the farm, what we do here and how we can achieve it.”
