NEW Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) managing director Steve Jefferies was out meeting growers in the Mid West last week as part of the GRDC's western regional panel spring tours.
The former Australian Grain Technologies chief executive officer, Dr Jefferies took over in July from out-going managing director John Harvey, who had been in the role for six years and spent 17 years with the GRDC.
Dr Jefferies visited grower group representatives and groups through the northern agricultural region, including in Mingenew, Mullewa, Nabawa, Northampton, Ajana and Yuna.
"The tours are an ideal opportunity to engage with growers, which is something I think we need to improve on, as well as glean new ideas for research projects," Mr Harvey said.
"I want to create a structure for the organisation that engages with our primary beneficiaries - growers - and moves from being a funding body to a research partner."
Mr Harvey said several keys issues were discussed with growers, including subsoil constraints, sclerotinia in canola and lupins, non-wetting soils and deep ripping techniques.
"A key issue is that growers are crying out for alternative pulse crops as they are concerned about the lack of diversity with too many risks in growing canola and limits to growing lupins," he said.
GRDC Western Regional Panel chairman Peter Roberts said the panel was responsible for helping to shape its research, development and extension (RD&E) investment portfolio at a regional and national level.
"On-going and effective consultation by the panel helps to ensure that GRDC investments deliver the best possible value to WA growers, who face constant and evolving production pressures," Mr Roberts said.
"We recognise that things never stand still and aim to be pre-emptive and ensure that GRDC RD&E activities deliver on the expectations of growers and anticipate emerging issues."
Mr Roberts said in addition to the GRDC Western Regional Panel spring tours, other ways it consulted with growers included a presence at field days and events and open meetings held as part of its Regional Cropping Solutions Network.
The GRDC funds or co-funds more than 100 projects in WA, with a third of its investment focused on issues that affect WA growers.
Some key WA investments include the Australian Export Grain Innovation Centre, the Centre for Crop and Disease Management at Curtin University and the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, at The University of WA.
Dr Jefferies is in his third month as CEO and said he was aiming to steer the organisation towards greater transparency in how projects are funded and ensure growers are receiving value back from their levy investment.
He said reducing the bureaucracy within the organisation was a key issue.
"The GRDC is made up of passionate and extremely hardworking people who are constrained by a high level of bureaucracy,'' Dr Jefferies said.
