Oilseed Agronomy Project

Project Summary

Jointly funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Australian Oilseed Federation this project supports the Australian oilseed industry to improve its competitiveness as a leading supplier of premium oil, meal and food products and also place it in the position to expand market share.

This project addresses an urgent need to lift the productivity of oilseed crops to ensure the critical mass and consistency of production and to improve the quality of grain produced.

The areas of focus are to:

  1. Identify and provide best management practices that improve the profitability and quality of crops
  2. Provide grower support through demonstration sites and communication activities
  3. Ensure industry feedback and ownership of the project

The project includes activities to create increased awareness about the potential and the value of oilseeds: to encourage the adoption of best practices; and to provide the motivation for growers and extension providers to put oilseeds as a crop of choice.

Project Background

The AOF Strategic Plan 2010 highlights that oilseed production has plateaued and/or declined in some commodities. This is due to a range of factors, not least the series of years with late breaks and poor seasons, but also the lack of agronomic support, with growers consequently not achieving economic potential from the crops. The plan also highlights the significant opportunity that exists for the industry, not just in capturing market share through new improved products, but also through enhancing production stability and total volume. This project will focus on delivering agronomic support to growers of canola, soybeans and sunflowers. Key components will be to address:

  1. negative perceptions of oilseed crops, which are reducing the competitiveness of oilseed crops
  2. The role of oilseed crops in rotations and farming systems
  3. Grower confidence and best practice knowledge across all three crops

AOF and the industry firmly believe that a renewed focus, greater awareness and adoption of best practices and better application of disease, pest and nutritional practices will dramatically increase production, returns and consequently confidence in oilseeds. The motivation for this is not only to provide growers with better economic returns, but also to ensure better adherence to rotations and crop sequences with subsequent benefits for the cereal industry.

The areas of focus will be around:

  1. Grower support/capability to achieve high quality and stable and increased production
  2. Improving product quality
  3. Developing/enhancing networks and extension support for oilseeds
  4. Developing a hub for oilseed agronomy information

Project management

This industry based extension project covers three crops over a very diverse range of production areas in five states. The project is oversighted by a Project Steering Committee, with day to day implementation the responsibility of the National Project Coordinator. Commodity Reference Groups are responsible for detailed planning of priorities for the individual commodities.

Key Activities

  1. Review of existing research on oilseeds agronomy information
  2. Survey of oilseed producers to determine what they require to increase production
  3. Development/enhancement of Best Practice Production Guides (BMPG)
    The Best Practice Production Guides will be web-based information centres for each crop, where oilseed growers / advisors can access all the available oilseed agronomic information. The website will also have real time seasonal information for issues that are currently facing growers.
  4. Raising the bar
    With the aim of improving oilseed productivity, the project will identify growers who consistently produce very good crops in order to identify leading practices and information. This information will form part of the BMPG on the web. Raising the bar will also look at case studies of individual crops each year, how the crop was grown, what issues were faced and how they were managed. This part of the project will also highlight the benefits of oilseeds within the farming system.
  5. Demonstration sites
    The role of the demonstration sites will be a vehicle for providing information on pertinent issues in specific agro-ecological regions. The Commodity Reference Teams will determine the issues that will be addressed during the year and then demonstration sites will be managed in conjunction with field days / forums to facilitate discussion and awareness on the chosen issue. It is intended that the demonstration sites be coordinated with existing farming system groups, with these groups contracted to undertake the trial management.
  6. Feedback on research gaps and future requirements
    This project will undertake a review of advisors and others to determine what aspects are working well, what needs improving and give the industry the opportunity to influence the project outputs and the future direction of research.
  7. Communication and Training
    The website for hosting the information has it develops is www.australianoilseeds.com

Grower Surveys

An initial activity of the project was to undertake a survey of growers and advisers to better understand attitudes to growing oilseeds.  The survey reports can be downloaded below.
Canola
Sunflower
Soybean

For further information about the Oilseed Agronomy Project

Dr Steve Marcroft
Grains Innovation Park
110 Natimuk Rd
Horsham, Victoria 3400
Tel: 03 53812294
Mob: 0409978941
Email: Marcroft@bigpond.net.au

Dr Sue Knights
54 Laroona Drive,
Horsham, Victoria 3401
Tel: 03 5384 0370
Mob: 0429 411 971
Email: sknights@netconnect.com.au

Ms Rosemary Richards
Executive Director
Australian Oilseeds Federation
PO Box R1826
Royal Exchange NSW 1225
Tel: 02 9427 6999
Mob: 0411 564 128
Email: aof@australianoilseeds.com