NGN - planter and air seeder workshops

The ability of farmers to achieve optimal plant emergence can be impacted upon by poor planter and airseeder setup and maintenance. Feedback from growers at various field days across Northern NSW has highlighted that training in planter and airseeder setup and maintenance would be highly desirable to help with precise placement of seed to improve both seed emergence and potential plant vigour outcomes.

Outcome:

BY April 2024 ans soon after,~ 200 growers across South-West Qld , Northern NSW and Central West NSW (https://grdc.com.au/_data/assests/image/0029/376463/Northern.jpeg) will have the knowledge and confidence to correctly set up their planter and airseeders, to create efficiences at sowing and optimise crop establishment.

OUtput 1.

Title: Workshop delivery

Description: By April 2024, deliver an initial series of our (4) agreed planter and airseeder pilot workshops targeted at growers and contractors in South-West Qld, Northern NSW and Central West NSW. Following delivery, assessment will be made to hold a further eight (8) workshops throughout the GRDC Northern Region.

Details:

- It is envisaged that the half day workshops will be delivered via hands-on format with inactive presentations.

- It is expected that the workshops will have a range of planter and airseeder types (disc and tyne as relevant to the local farmimg system) at the workshops where a machinery specialist can talk about the planter and airseeder setup and maintenance. The planter and airseeders will be positioned at field stations outdoors where each planter will be talked about by local machinery experts. A requirement of the workshops will be in-kind support by growers bringing along potential 3 different planters and aiseeders organised by the contracted advisor.

-Key topics at workshops include: 1. Planter and airseed setup and maintenance focusing on the various 'machinery mechanisms' 2. Main issues arising from poor planter and airseeder set-up. 3. Seed quality and planting understanding, dependant of crop choice. 4. Impacts of climate and soil type on planter setup and timing. 5. The use of herbicide and fertilizer injection systems on planters.

Output 2.

Title: Communciation, monitoring, evaluation and review.

Description: Development of communication materials as agreed and monitor and evaluate workshop delivery and impact.

Details:

- Agree with GRDCD appropiate resulting communication materials such as Editorials, podcasts, social media posts, media posts, media release etc/.

- Provide a view of the initial four workshops by 1 July 2024 and assessment of need and subsequent recommendations on potential delivery of a subsequent eight workshops in 2025. Examples of review methodolgy may include a survey of participants to develop further management strategies for planter and airseeder setup and assess impact of the workshops. Provide a recommendation on any further demonstation and extension required.