CROPPING

Research collated and made available

Farm trial work now on line

Mark Saunders

This article is 7 years old. Images might not display.

Available to view at www.farmtrials.com.au, the site brings together an array of on-farm research trials to provide local grain growers with information and insights to help them overcome cropping challenges.

Using innovative technology, the Online Farm Trials web portal has been developed by the Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) at Federation University Australia in Ballarat (Victoria).

Project leader Robert Milne says around 3400 trial projects have so far been published on the OFT site, with data contributed by grower groups and research organisations from across the nation, and he encourages growers, agronomists and other grains industry personnel to make use of the unique resource.

Published trial projects cover a wide range of crops and treatment types, and the portal includes a number of key features including:

  • An interactive map of trial sites with layers of relevant information such as agroecological zones and average rainfall;
  • Advanced search filters including treatment type, crop type and location;
  • Search results with graphical display of measured results such as yield data and disease scores;
  • Climate and soil information for each project;
  • Original trial report documents linked to each trial project; and
  • Links to other relevant information sources.

Grower groups and researchers are continuing to enter data onto the portal and the number of trials published on the site will continue to grow.

Grower groups and researchers retain all intellectual property rights and manage their own data, allowing them to submit, update or remove trial information on the portal.

The GRDC’s initiative last year won a Victorian Spatial Excellence Award as part of the annual awards conducted by the Spatial Industries Business Association and Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Research Report: Succession Planning (December 2024)

This month's research report, compiled with the input of John White, Rural Generations, is a great resource for succession planning. A key message from the report is to start succession planning as soon as possible.

editions

Research Report: Field Days Wrap (November 2024)

Kondinin Group's research team has the low down on the latest gear that was on show at various field days held around the country in the past few months.

editions

Research Report: Trailing Sheep Feeders (October 2024)

Trailing sheep feeders are on the menu for Kondinin Group's October Research Report with nine popular models covered.

editions

Research Report: Livestock Management Software (September 2024)

Kondinin Group's September Research Report looks at a range of livestock management software platforms which can make life a lot easier when it comes to efficient sheep and cattle production.