Author Archives: Trish Konzag

SADGA Committee and Seed Management update 2016

The Southern Australia Durum Growers Association committee held its annual meeting on Monday 4th July and welcomed two new members onto the Committee. Simon Mildren from Mundoora, South Australia and Nick May from Balaklava, South Australia have replaced the retiring members Bruce Crawford and Chris Heinjus.

The SADGA committee continues with Alwyn Dyer as Chairperson and Ben Hunt as Vice – Chairperson. Sponsorship Management continues to be ably undertaken by John Green with one of our new members, Simon Mildren supporting him in Research Management.

The SADGA committee acknowledged the huge commitment, time and dedication that Neville Sharpe has provided to the Durum Industry and also to the SADGA committee over the life of the industry in South Australia. Neville is stepping down from his position as Seed Manager from  July 2016, but will continue on the committee working to promote Durum across Southern Australia.

Seed Management has  some considerable changes moving forward from July 2016.

The SADGA committee have endorsed a sub – committee for the multiplication, sales and  management of Durum seed. This committee comprises:

Alwyn Dyer – Chairperson         Ben Hunt – Vice Chairperson
Jan Crawford – Treasurer          Michael Jasechke – certified seed grower
Jason Able – Wheat Breeder for University of Adelaide.

All communication relating to the purchase and sales of Durum seed is to be referred to the Treasurer, Jan Crawford, Ph: 0419 812 810 from 1st July 2016. Other enquiries relating to Durum can be made to the Chairperson or one of the committee members.

NEWS FLASH – Successful Grant application

The Southern Australia Durum Growers Association has been successful in receiving a Grant from SAGIT to undertake the project
“Agronomic evaluation of durum’s for crown rot resistance.”

A 3 year project has been successfully approved which will undertake trial plots through field trials with one being located in the Turretfield area in the Lower North and the second in the South East at Bordertown.

The trials will compare varieties and breeding lines without crown rot infection and with infection induced by level(s) of crown rot inoculum applied at sowing. The effects of sowing dates and/or seeding rates on disease pressure will also be explored.

The trials will be sown and managed by Rob Wheeler and his team from SARDI in the north and the South East trial will be sown and managed by the University of Adelaide Durum Breeding program.

The design and planning of the trials, preparation of inoculum, plot and plant assessments and trial analysis will be made by Marg Evans, Greg Naglis with assistance from Hugh Wallwork (SARDI).

Farmers will have the opportunity to view the trials at the annual crop walk field days.

The Durum growers are very grateful to SAGIT for the funding that they make available to undertake valuable trials such as this one.

 Hugh Wallwork arg Young Jason Able Rob WheelerL to R: Members of SARDI & University of Adelaiade overseeing the project = Hugh Wallwork, Marg Evans, Jason Able, Rob Wheeler

 

Farmers and Industry representatives at Mid North Crop Walk

 

Farmers and industry representatives at the Mid North Crop Walk in September 2015.

Ensure to lock in the dates in your Diaries for 2016 Crop Walks
Northern – 7th September
Southern – 12th October

 

 

Kaniva 2016 Forum

Farmers and Sponsors at Sponsor Dinner

Farmers and Sponsors at Sponsor Dinner

 

The Southern Australia Durum Growers Association’s forum at Kaniva on March 23rd was attended by 25 people comprising local farmers and sponsors. On the Tuesday night a barbeque sponsor’s dinner was held with 22 people attending.

Attendees at Kaniva Forum

The Forum had an excellent range of speakers that presented during the morning, which was followed by a Pasta lunch held at the Club Hotel with the Pasta being donated by San Remo and the drinks by ADM.

                                                               Attendees listening to one of the presenters at the Kaniva Forum

Crowd at Kaniva Forum
                                  Some of attendees at Forum

 

 

Below: Some of the speakers at Kaniva Forum
L:R Hugh Wallwork, Marg Evans, (SARDI); Dr Jason Able (U of A, Waite) Rob Wheeler, (SARDI)

Hugh Wallwork arg Young Jason Able Rob Wheeler

Continue reading →

NAB – Agribusiness sponsor Southern Australia Durum Growers Association

The Southern Australia Durum Growers Association are delighted to have National Australia Bank – Agribusiness join our sponsorship program.

NAB Agribusiness is Australia’s leading Agribusiness Bank and has proudly been supporting Australian farmers for more than 150 years, employing more than 600 agribusiness banking specialists in 110 locations Australia-wide to support our customers.

With local and industry knowledge, our Agribusiness team understand the unique financial and environmental needs of farmers and businesses beyond the farm gate – whether they provide inputs into agriculture or process, distribute or market primary produce. Continue reading →

Aurora Durum performs well with hot dry finish to season

Aurora Crop Georgetown Aurora Crop Reaping Aurora crop 1ORDER YOUR DURUM SEED NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!

Aurora Durum crop at Georgetown, South Australia.

Despite there being a hot dry spring  (with no spring rain)  the Aurora performed very well in most districts, with it being reported that the quality is excellent.

The Aurora crop (left) at Georgetown South Australia  was classified as DR1 with the average yield being 2.94 t/ha. The average protein was 13.05 and average screenings 3.15. with a very good test weight.

 

 

Aurora Durum crop being reapt on Bruce Crawford’s property Georgetown, South Australia.