What happens on tour, doesn’t stay on tour
What happens on tour is most definitely not going to stay on tour, for a group of Maranoa-Balonne farmers and graziers heading to Narrabri at the end of the month.
SQNNSW Innovation Hub Node Manager Sherrill Stivano, based at Southern Queensland Landscapes in Roma, said there were still places available on the bus departing Roma on Tuesday, 23 August, and returning late afternoon on Thursday, 25 August.
“We will travel directly to Narrabri where we will visit the University of Sydney’s Plant Breeding Institute,” Ms Stivano said.
“This tour also includes a chance for our passengers to discuss the latest research from GRDC, visit the Avendano family at Boggabri where they have significantly increased their carrying capacity via pasture improvement, and also the Jackson brothers at Bellata, who have diversified their farm business to include earthworks,” she said.
“In addition to the visits to the research centre and farms, conversations shared between famers, and also service providers over the tour, will be extremely valuable and a great opportunity to learn about different practices that have worked for others.”
Ms Stivano said including both the GRDC and the Plant Breeding Institute would give growers a chance to quiz researchers as well.
“We will be exploring improved and adapted crop varieties and traits for grain farmers, farming systems with resilience and adaptive capacity to agronomic challenges such as drought and heat extremes, digital and robotic technologies to save you time, effort, and the herbicide resistance challenges in northern NSW,” she said.
“This is core business for the Hub and Southern Queensland Landscapes – to provide primary producers with a chance to learn from other farmers, and to speak directly to researchers about what they can implement in the paddocks right now to improve efficiency and resilience.”
The tour, from 23-25 August (departing from Roma), costs $225/person (plus GST) and includes all travel, accommodation and meals. To find out more or to RSVP by 19 August visit the website, or call Sherrill Stivano on 0427 143 687 or email sqnnswhub@unisq.edu.au.
This tour is supported by the SQNNSW Innovation Hub which receives funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, and by Southern Queensland Landscapes, NSW Local Land Services and the Farm Business Resilience project which is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government.