RICE R&D Where does Rice fit in the farming System · Where does Rice fit in the farming System ......
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RICE R&D Where does Rice fit in the farming System Russell Ford Manager – Rice Research Australia Pty Ltd
Transcript of RICE R&D Where does Rice fit in the farming System · Where does Rice fit in the farming System ......
RICE R&D
Where does Rice fit in
the farming System
Russell Ford
Manager – Rice Research Australia Pty Ltd
Rice Research and Development
• Background
• Why Queensland
• What we can offer
• Where are we now
• The future
Rice in Northern Australia
• Evaluating North Australian Rice Potential since 2007
• Invested over $1 million on Northern Australian Rice R&D last 4 years
• Where did it go wrong previously – Birds, Markets, Growing system
• Varieties
• Farming System
• Reliability
• Infrastructure
• Market
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WHY QUEENSLAND? – Reliability, Diversity, Providence for Fragrance
QLD Storages Reliable Water for Irrigation v’s Riverina
Emerald
Source: BOM
Burdekin
Murray
Murrumbidgee
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WHY QUEENSLAND? – Reliability, Diversity, Provenance for Fragrance
QLD Storages Reliable Water for Irrigation v’s Riverina
Emerald
Source: BOM
Burdekin
Murray
Murrumbidgee
Aerobic Rice and Alternate Wetting
& Drying (AWD) for Queensland
• Rice growing system is proven
• No birds
• Fits current irrigation system
• Quick turn around between crops
• Complementary to Cane – disease break
Variety Development for Northern Australia
– Breeding Support
Variety Development – Mackay, QLD
Emerald, Queensland
Trial Results - Mackay
• Long Grains – Yields to 12.2 t/ha
• Fragrant – Yields to 9.2 t/ha
• Medium Grains – Yields to 11.3 t/ha
• Tropical background – Long duration
Opportunities
Still require varieties with:
• multi strain blast resistance
• Aerobic, AWD adaptability
• Seasonal adaptation
• Crop Protection
Burdekin
2800ha (5000ha)
Innisfail/Tully/
Ingham/Atherton
250ha (500ha)
Mackay/
Proserpine
500ha (1000ha)
Flinders/Gilbert
250ha (500ha)
Emerald
400ha (800ha)
Lakeland
100ha (200ha)
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Agronomic Feasibility: The agronomic potential for rice in the near term equates to
~34,400 paddy tonnes by 2018 growing to 100,000t within eight years
Key:
Potential by 2018
(Potential by 2022)
Source: RAPPL agronomic assessment, Grower interviews
Realistic agronomic rice potential
across Qld within the next 8 years
Greater climatical diversification (reliability of water, 2 crops/year)
Greater variety diversification (i.e. Indica varieties more suited to tropical
climate)
Improved overall competitiveness of Australian grown rice
Provides synergy benefits (Research and Development)
Well aligned to SunRice’s unique value drivers (e.g. growing world class
rice, integrated supply chain, distributor management etc.)
Helps to further secure and a sustainable supply base and supplements
an existing shortfall in supply
Queensland Rice – Adds Security
Agronomic Feasability Average Winter crop yields of 8.5t/ha and Summer
crop yields of 7.5t/ha are achievable already.
The Burdekin Sugar Fallow appears to be the most
reliable rice growing system incorporated with a pulse
crop.
Western Queensland Rice will be more opportunistic
summer production when stored water permits.
Agronomic support will be critical to the success and
growth of Rice Growing in this region.
Further R&D is required in Varieties, Integrated Weed
Management, Crop Nutrition and Irrigation
Scheduling
Fragrant Rice is likely to be the biggest point of
difference over Riverina rice varieties.
Some support for availability of reliable sowing and
harvesting contractors will be required
31/03/2014Burdekin –Quest 7t/ha after cyclone
02/06/2014Burdekin –
60 days later planted to
Chickpeas
31/03/2014Burdekin Delta –Doongara 8.5 t/ha
02/06/2014Burdekin –Planted to Sugar Cane 60 days later
Grower Support
• Blue Ribbon Rice
Steven Rogers (07) 4784-1410
• SunRice Growers Services
Mike Hedditch 1800 654 557
Chris Quirk [email protected]
• Rice Research Australia
Russell Ford (03) 5886-1391
• Rice Extension
Gae Plunkett 0419 790 019
