Farmers across the region to hear from industry experts about the future of agriculture

NSW producers will soon have a chance to learn from industry experts about the latest research and innovations in critical areas of agriculture.

Charles Sturt University’s Gulbali Institute for Agriculture Water and Environment will host the Livestock Forum on Friday, 29 July.

Producers and the public will hear from Charles Sturt academics about the University’s research initiatives and current issues facing the industry.

The forum attendees will also hear about new research to apply on-farm, hold discussions with industry experts and learn more about the Global Digital Farm.

Gulbali Institute adjunct research professor and Food Agility CRC chief scientist David Lamb is part of the research team transforming the University’s 1700-ha commercial farm by combining education, telecommunications-enabled technology innovation and farming/food production.

“Charles Sturt University is Australia’s leading provider of university agriculture education, accounting for more than one quarter of undergraduate completions nationally,” Professor Lamb said.

“Agriculture is becoming increasingly sophisticated, not just through a tech-enabled ‘Agriculture 4.0’.”

Professor Lamb said the farming enterprise is a complex system that encompasses a range of resource bases, enterprise patterns, household livelihood demands and external constraints.

“University-hosted commercial-scale farms such as the Charles Sturt farm are unique,” he said.

“We have the opportunity to equip Charles Sturt to be the future of agriculture education as well as a global leader in both industry and research-led and on-farm innovation,” he said.

Professor Lamb said Charles Sturt is developing the technology and innovative components of the Global Digital Farm.

He added the researchers are also devising projects that immediately bring them (technology and innovative components) to life.

These projects include intelligent water point monitoring, Wi-Fi innovations, livestock performance monitoring and hay bale fire alerting.

The next projects to be developed will focus on digital decision-making, robotics, smart fertiliser and weed management.

Professor Lamb said engagement is the key to project success, which is the forum’s focus.

“We are excited to welcome producers back to campus after this event being held online for two years,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for researchers to show the practical side of their work and what it means, or can mean, and to show what’s over the horizon.

“But it’s also about engaging with producers and learning about their challenges and ideas.”

The researchers and industry experts who will be present at the forum include Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover, senior research fellow in spatial agriculture Jon Medway and Michelle Henry from Gundagai Meat Processors.

Professor Hernandez-Jover will address biosecurity risks from neighbouring countries and Mr Medway will speak about other Global Digital Farm initiatives.

Ms Henry will provide an update on technologies, producer feedback and the producer portal and an update will be provided on Charles Sturt’s bloat research and the Bloat Alert app.

Experts from Charles Sturt and NSW Department of Primary Industries will present on the sheep and beef industries.

The experts will present the viability of a dairy beef supply chain in Australia, the grazing lambs on perennial wheat and legume, the effect of GLP-1 on the reproductive axis of the ewe and phytoestrogens and their effect on the reproductive performance of beef cattle.

The Livestock Forum will be held on Friday 29 July from 9 am at Charles Sturt University Convention Centre (Wagga).

Registration for the event is now open. The cost is $25 per person, including morning tea and lunch. To register for the event, click here.