MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 24 August 2009
Farm science on show at Waite
New developments in durum wheat are just one of the advances in agricultural science on display at an open day at the Waite Campus on Friday 11 September.
The open day coincides with the end of Royal Show week, giving farmers who are in town for the show the chance to have a look at research that may one day benefit them.
The event is being organised by the University of Adelaide for Agricultural Bureau of SA members, but anyone with an interest in agricultural science is welcome to attend.
Organiser Dr Tony Rathjen said the day would include a tour of the Waite and its wine centre, plus sessions on the latest research being undertaken at the campus, efficient water use, weeds, fertiliser, new legume crops and establishing pastures.
“We’ll also be running durum bread tastings to alert farmers to the possibilities of growing durum wheat as an alternative,” Dr Rathjen said.
“Durum looks like being a crop of considerable promise for South Australian farmers. Projected prices for the next harvest running at more than $400 a tonne, compared to barley at less than $200 a tonne.”
To help make the crop an even more attractive option, researchers at the Waite are working on developing new durum varieties that produce more reliable yields on limey soils and pale sands and are resistant to crown rot.
The research is supported by the SA Durum Growers’ Association and San Remo and it is hoped that the new varieties will offer local farmers an alternative when prices for other staple crops are low.
Dr Rathjen said the open day would also include a special focus on careers in the agricultural sciences, aimed at Year 11 and 12 students.
“The Waite not only offers courses in agricultural science, but also in food technology and viticulture and oenology,” he said.
“There are so many different applications. Our graduates can and do go all over the world.”
The open day runs from 1-4pm, beginning at the Waite’s Charles Hawker Conference Centre, with the student component running from 1-2pm. To register please contact Tony Rathjen on 0408 816 533.
