Words by Costa Theodore, Policy Officer
Delegates from seven different federal government departments (including the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of the Treasury among others) attended the Tour, which aims to provide key grains policy professionals with first-hand insight into the entire grains supply chain, from paddock to plate.
The Tour began with a visit to the agricultural research facilities of Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) NSW at Wagga Wagga, where participants were guided through the associated laboratories and were updated on the latest studies currently being undertaken there. At CSU, the group was provided with an overview on research projects relative to better understanding best agronomic practices, but were also shown results from projects looking into the health benefits and palatability of pulses and sorghum for use in mainstream diets. At the DPI, the participants were provided a brief summary of the operations undertaken by the Wagga Wagga branch, with insights provided on a range of topics such as grower engagement, agronomic trials and biosecurity.
That evening, the delegates had the opportunity to share thoughts and views over dinner with their cohort. They were joined by Michael Beer of AgriFutures, who presented the latest projects undertaken by his organisation for the betterment of Australian agriculture.
The following day (and luckily with clear skies!) the Tour made a stop at Bruce Thompson’s farm, a local Temora grain grower. The sustained rainfall over the past few months really set the scene at Bruce’s farm, with wheat looking strong, canola as vibrant as ever, and the muddy roads being a strong topic of discussion. Bruce guided the group through paddocks, sheds and silos, and spoke of the nuances and challenges of growing grain, alongside the passion and innovation that drives our great industry.
Next stop on the Tour was a visit to the Riverina Oils facility near Wagga Wagga. The delegates were guided through the facility with demonstrations of the entire canola crushing process, from grain delivery, through to oil extraction and finally marketing and logistics.
Befitting the grains industry, dinner and drinks were served at Thirsty Crow Brewing Co. There, the group heard from Stuart Whytcross, a local Riverina grower and maltster, whose passion for farming and experimentation with unique grains has resulted in the growth of the award-winning Voyager Craft Malt business.
On the final day of the Tour, the group visited Hart Brothers Seeds where Rob Hart showed the group how grain seed prepared for sale in the Australian market for use by our growers. Rob spoke of his experiences both as a grain grower and a seed merchant, and noted the challenges and opportunities his business has faced over the years.
As a final stop, the Tour visited GrainCorp’s Temora sub-terminal facility, where more than 230,000 tonnes of grain can be stored and transported to the supply chain’s downstream export facilities. The awe-inducing logistical task and the sheer scale of infrastructure involved dominated the discussions that were had.
The Grains Innovation Tour is undertaken on an annual basis and is part of GrainGrowers' ongoing work in improving the connectivity between government policy-making processes and the grains sector.