A one per cent profit increase is the key to good farming and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is driving the future of these gains.
This is according to Beverley grower Duncan Young who will be appearing in the GRDC panel event services "Farming, the Key to Australia's Future" in Geraldton tonight.
Mr Young, who is also the WAFarmers Grains Council president, believes WA growers can find the answers to their farming needs just by looking closely at the research and development (R&D) work being done in their area.
He said the GRDC, with its new model that has regional offices, is set to increase local profile and grower involvement.
"The GRDC has already had a massive role to play in the R&D sector in WA and I think the problem has been a lot of farmers didn't realise how big a role they probably did play in the past," he said.
"But as R&D becomes more important and we strive for productivity and I think growers will have a bit more of an idea of what they do in the future."
Mr Young said in particular, the GRDC's Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSN) groups were now seeing increased participation and grower input.
Influential broadcaster Liam Bartlett is chairing the WA event and joining Mr Young will be GRDC deputy chairman Kim Halbert and Karl Suckling from the RCSN Geraldton group.
Mr Young said WA should pride itself in being a key grain growing region in Australia and take advantage of GRDC programs and research to apply what they can on farm.
"Good research in agriculture leads to more profitability at the farm gate," he said.
"We're all in business to make money and having good research and good research outcomes that actually deliver money to you is where we need to go.
"It all comes back to profitability I think.
"There's some research that you can easily say will return x amount of dollars in your pocket, but some research is hard to quote back to a dollar return but it still provides you with a leg up.
"There needs to be understanding by farmers that some of the mundane things actually do make you money, but they're probably not there with a massive dollar sign."
Tonight's event is a part of a national service that aims to educate a wider audience about the work the GRDC is doing to help grow the industry and influence the agriculture industry with their research and development in the process.
Farmers can discuss the issues they face and how GRDC is helping them with profitability.
The panel discussion will include issues and innovations important to Australia's farming future.
The Geraldton event will highlight a long overdue debate about the essential importance of the grain industry to the Australian economy and the further action needed from government and industry groups.
A question and answer session will follow the debate.
The event is from 6-8.30pm at the POSH Function Centre, 218 Marine Terrace, Geraldton.
Visit www.grdc.com.au/Media-Centre/ Even ts/fairfax for more information and to register.