More than 450 agronomists and consultants from across Victoria, along with a number from interstate, attended the Victorian Grain Research Update at Ballarat Lodge on Wednesday and Thursday last week.

The agronomists’ forum was followed on Friday by another update at Lake Bolac for farmers. 

Grain Research and Development Corporation southern panel chair Keith Pengilley opened the conference on Wednesday.

Mr Pengilley, who is a grower from the northern midlands of Tasmania, said the updates focused on the importance of keeping up with the latest research available.

He said the key focus of last week’s conference was weeds and their potential for developing resistance to herbicides.

“The things we focused on were how to manage pests and diseases, but also the challenges that are likely to impact either this year or next year in other areas,” Mr Pengilley said.

“Our speakers included Peter Newman from the University of Western Australia, who spoke on the current herbicide resistance issue in WA which is running at five to 10 years ahead of us in terms of the issues they have.

“We need to implement strategies to avoid falling into the same traps as Western Australia. Because of herbicide resistant issues with some weeds over there they’ve lost the ability to use cheaper herbicide options.”

Mr Pengilley said two weeds of particular importance for south-eastern Australia were annual ryegrass and wild radish.

“They are the two most important weeds that will impact farmers in this region,” Mr Pengilley said.

“Peter (Newman) is suggesting farmers use a range of techniques to control those weeds, in particular non-chemical options such as narrow wind row burning, or the use of a chaff cart or Harrington seed destructor.