A series of harvester workshops run across the WA grain belt have brought together harvester specialists, industry experts and researchers to give grain growers the latest advice ahead of this season’s harvest.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) harvester set-up workshops have been hosted by the Facey Group in collaboration with local host growers and grower groups, starting in Ongerup and ending at Scaddan.
Outgoing Western Panel chair Darrin Lee said the workshops provided practical, independent information to growers, giving them the confidence to make changes on-farm.
“These workshops bring a range of Australian and international harvest specialists, including industry experts and researchers, onto farms throughout the WA grain belt to deliver the latest in effective harvester set up,” Mr Lee said.
“Growers are aware fine tuning harvest machinery set-up is a critical part of maximising on-farm profitability at the end of the growing season.
“GRDC’s harvester setup workshops have been incredibly well attended in recent years, both due to the calibre of topics and presenters, and also signalling that growers are keen to make efficiency gains and see more money in the bank at harvest.”
A 2022 GRDC National Grower Network project in WA found harvest losses in canola for growers who owned drop trays were $32.70 per hectare less than those who did not.
Of the total losses measured, it was suggested up to half could be recovered with adjustments to harvester settings, machinery sensor calibrations and equipment modifications.
GRDC grower relations manager – west, Jo Wheeler, said findings from previous GRDC harvest loss projects confirmed measuring the grain thrown out of their harvesters is one of the single biggest things growers can do to put more profit in their pockets at harvest.
“This GRDC investment brings together grower groups and industry specialists to support growers with machinery decisions to mitigate losses, share insights gained from previous projects and identify continued research needs in this area,” Ms Wheeler said.
“In addition to covering harvest losses, the workshops provide a deep dive into the range of issues which comprise harvest operations; capacity and efficiency, weed seed control and preventing harvester fires,” she said
“These events provide expert advice to growers in an independent, whole-of-industry forum – with presenters required to only speak to technology types without providing product-specific information – which is an essential part of GRDC’s role to invest in research, development and extension on behalf of grain growers.”
The programs included:
