THE WA Livestock Research Council (WALRC) will host two livestock forums next month, headlined by a South Australian-based beef and sheep producer whose approach to pasture fertiliser management is centred around the use of variable rate technology (VRT).
Jack England runs an 8000-strong self-replacing ewe flock alongside 450 Murray Grey breeders in South Australia’s South East and has made significant changes to the livestock business performance through his approach to VRT.
Developing a variable rate fertiliser program for livestock systems was the subject of his 2017 Nuffield scholarship.
With a strong focus on the need for the astute overlay of multiple technologies to make the most of the variable rate opportunity, Mr England has put his agronomy training to optimum use in this family enterprise.
“In putting this WALRC forum together we asked some of WA’s most tech-savvy farmers who they’d most like to hear from and Jack is coming on the recommendation of Arthur River farmer Brad Wooldridge - who described him as someone he’d most like to meet,” said WALRC executive officer Esther Jones.
Mr England will provide the opening address at forums in Kojonup (March 12) and Donnybrook (March 13).
His presentation will be followed by a series of research snapshots featuring short presentations from DPIRD, CSIRO, UWA and Murdoch and then a discussion forum led by WALRC chair Dr Tim Watts.
“These forums play an important role in WALRC’s approach to feeding local research and extension needs up to MLA,” Ms Jones said.
“Our Q&A session is deliberately designed to ‘dig deeper’ into the production challenges in order to identify the logical next pieces of research and extension work that will drive our industry forward.”
The forums are free to attend and include a light luncheon.
To register email admin@walrc.com.au or text Esther Jones on 0418 931 938.
