SRA Project Officer Agronomy Hector Fleury and Regional Delivery Officer Jennifer Parry were on hand recently to assist Maryborough Productivity Services to set up an Observation Trial and Isis Productivity Limited staff to set up an Approved Seed Plot to assist growers across the region to improve their productivity and profitability.

In Maryborough the job was to transport and plant seed cane for an Observation Trial on a Maryborough grower’s farm.

The seed cane came from SRA Bundaberg Station and Variety Development Manager Southern and NSW Roy Parfitt and the team who were given the thumbs up by MCPS Productivity Officer Tony McDermott. The cane easily filled the available plots with extra rows able to be planted to boot. The Spring 2024 Farm Observation trial is now planted with seven varieties.

“We try to establish an observation plot each year to compare new varieties in a commercial sense, and within different growing zones (dryland vs irrigation, fertile soil vs poor soil, etc),” Tony McDermott said.

Hector and Jennifer also assisted with plot planting by Isis Productivity Limited (IPL) in the Wallaville area near Childers.

IPL recognises that clean seed is the cornerstone for maximising the district’s productivity.

“We have made the distribution of Approved Seed the number one priority in our Strategic Plan,” Isis Productivity Services Officer, Anthony LaRocca said.

“Approved Seed Plots are not just about new varieties. Common diseases which can have significant yield limiting effects include (but are not limited to) Ratoon Stunting Disease, Chlorotic Streak and Mosaic Disease. Accessing seed case from IPL plots ensures growers that the seed source is free from these diseases and therefore the yield penalties these diseases cause.

“IPL takes seriously our responsibility and obligation to provide the district with a good quality Approved Seed source. We also aim to provide an easy and convenient access for growers with two distribution plots in the district.

“IPL enjoys a great working relationship with Roy Parfitt and the Variety Development Team at SRA Bundaberg and appreciates the great work and effort they put in to ensuring good variety outcomes for growers in our region.”

Growers will have the opportunity to view the Maryborough Observation Trial (comparing new varieties in an un-replicated commercial plot) and the Isis Approved Seed Plot as part of next year’s SRA mobile field day (bus trip) in association with the productivity services companies in the region.