SEPWA Events 2006 in the Esperance Port Zone
Every year SEPWA organises various trials and events throughout the Esperance Port Zone to assist grain growers to produce quality grain and to become more profitable and sustainable.
Please note that you do not necessarily have to be a SEPWA member to attend these events, however there are discounted rates available for members. Field Days are Free for anyone to attend.
For events that are coming up in the region, check out our Calendar of Events.
The links below provide details and write ups of past events.
Eastern States & Northern Hemisphere Study Tour
SEPWA Projects Officer Nigel Metz was funded by DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) earlier this year to travel and investigate high moisture handling on the East Coast of Australia as well as the UK and Canada.
Nigel looked at various means of storage, aeration, aeration drying and heated air drying options that are available to WA farmers and how they are applied to manage high moisture in different farm systems.
Nigel has presented this information at several events since returning and by request the photo gallery below has been made available to all for viewing.
For further information on the tours findings or any grain moisture related topics please Nigel.
Birchip Cropping Group Workshop
SEPWA and the Grower Group Alliance recently organised a workshop to allow Western Australian grower groups to exchange ideas with the successful Victorian based, Birchip Cropping Group.
The aim of the workshop was:
- To allow WA grower groups to explore the in-depth details of the Birchip Cropping Group – from its daily operations to how it plans for the long term future;
- To explore strategic planning and business management strategies to improve group performance.
Some of the topics covered included communication and events, research projects including field trials, organisational structure, processes and planning for the future, staff management including consultants and finance and administration – finding and managing the dollars.
The CEO of the BCG, Alexandra Gartmann, and Nigel McGuckian from RMCG, presented two interactive workshop for grower groups in Esperance and in Perth of which Executive Committee and Staff from throughout the state attended.
The workshops were funded by the GRDC Industry Development Award.
Herbicide Resistance Workshop
With herbicide resistance rapidly developing within the Esperance Port Zone, farmers need to look at a diversified weed management program instead of heavily relying on one chemical.
In response to this increasing problem, the South East Premium Wheat Growers Association recently hosted a “Managing Herbicide Resistance” workshop in Esperance to enable farmers to gather the latest information to help them prepare for the day when most in crop chemicals fail to control some weeds.
The workshop was conducted by Bill Roy of Agricultural Consulting & Research Services Pty. Ltd (ACARS) together with David Minkey of the Western Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (WAHRI).
The topics covered included WAHRI surveys detailing spread of resistance throughout WA, understanding seed bank dynamics – the importance of numbers, the value of time out of crop to run weed numbers down, the prospect for glyphosate resistance and which weeds present the greatest risk.
It also looked at profitable strategies involving integrated weed management as a means of combating herbicide resistant ryegrass without the use of grass selective herbicides and a hands on session on the use of the RIM computer model (developed at WAHRI) to test best best options for the future.
The workshop was funded by GRDC and WAHRI with support from SEPWA.
SEPWA Ladies Day
The SEPWA Ladies Day caters specifically for women as they are a skilled and integral part of the farming business.
The day allows women to network and to gain more of an understanding of the grains industry and the farming business, in a safe learning environment.
The day was supported by Partners in Grain, Cooperative Bulk Handling and SEPWA sponsors.
SEPWA's Annual Grain Growers Dinner
The Annual SEPWA Dinner is proving to be a great social event and chance for farmers, other industry participants and SEPWA sponsors to get together for an evening of good food, wine, company and entertainment.
The night was a sell out with an attendance of 160 hardy souls who had an entertaining night despite the sweltering heat after a thirty eight degree day, hot evening and non functioning air conditioning system.
Local farmer David Cox, who has recently returned from North America and Europe, gave a fascinating presentation of what he learnt and saw in the early part of his travels in the US which gave interesting insights into the differences in our farming systems.
The after dinner speaker was world renowned adventurer Tim Macartney-Snape who told his story of his first expedition to the Himalayas and later ascent of Everest without the use of oxygen via the previously unclimbed north face were truly remarkable feats of human endeavour.
SEPWA's Annual General Meeting
The South East Premium Wheat Growers Association has had a changing of the guard following the election of office bearers.
Wittenoom Hills farmer, Chris Reichstein has been elected President while immediate past president and Mt Madden farmer, Peter Roberts and Andrew Fowler who farms at Condingup are joint Vice Presidents.
Wayne Walter from Cascade retains the role of Treasurer and Department of Agriculture Wheat Development Officer and GRDC Western Panel member, Ben Curtis remains as Secretary.
Other Executive members include Mark Biven, Paul Carmody, Mick Fels, new Executive member - Andrew Heinrich, Lyndon Mickel, John Richardson and Steve Tilbrook.
Salmon Gums farmer, Rory Graham has retired from the committee, after been an inaugural committee member, since the group's inception in 1993.
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SEPWA Harvest Debrief
February 2006
Every year following harvest, SEPWA organises a harvest debrief which allows growers, grain handlers and marketers to reflect on the past season and iron out any problems where possible.
This year we had about 100 people attend meetings in Lake King and Esperance to discuss issues such as grain quality, sampling, variety performance, storage, high moisture harvesting and aeration.
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