Director and Chief Economist with the Office of Global Analysis, US Department of Agriculture, Michael Dwyer, will talk about trends in grain and agricultural product markets at the Update to be held at the Dubbo RSL on 1 March 2012.

The presentation is part of a packed program which also includes an address from Australian scientist and “Seed Hunter” Dr Ken Street of the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) based in Syria, on searching the globe for cereal germplasm.

GRDC northern panel chairman James Clark, said six Updates were being held in northern NSW and southern Queensland during February and March that would bring growers and advisers together with researchers.

“The GRDC update in Dubbo will deliver the latest on the future of the grains industry from an international perspective as well as practical advice regarding disease management, nutrition and agronomy,” Mr Clark said.

“The Update is a chance for growers and advisers to tap into the latest research, liaise with our expert local and international guest speakers and become better informed on ways to boost productivity on farm in a more sustainable manner.”

Some of the other issues to be covered at the Dubbo update include:

Grains RD&E Strategy- what’s changing? (GRDC)

Carbon farming systems and sequestration (Jeff Baldock, CSIRO Land & Water)

Changes to APH wheat classification (Cindy Mills, Wheat Classification Council)

Disease management: Stripe rust, nematodes (Steve Simpfendorfer, NSW DPI) and yellow leaf spot (Maurie Street, Grain Orana Alliance)

Cropping: on-farm research, chickpeas and summer crop options.

The Dubbo GRDC Grains Research Update will be held on March 1 at the RSL Club, Brisbane Street, and grain growers and advisers are urged to register now with early bird discounts on offer.

To register contact John Cameron or Erica McKay on 02 9482 4930 or email northernupdates@icanrural.com.au. Registration is also available online at www.icanrural.com. au.