Grow NTMagazine -NT Farmers - December 2021

+ Grow NT
www.ntfarmers.org.au 2021
Update from the
President.
Simon Smith
As another Covidus interruptus year nears an
end, and sweat seems to saturate our clothing
ever earlier in the day, it’s probably not a great
time to ask a favour but here goes anyway…
we need you to fill out a survey! In the tradition
of all good surveys we’ll be giveaway a free 12
month membership but breaking with tradition
we won’t humbug you further.
6 7
The focus of the survey and this Newsletter
is RD&E. I’ve written on this topic a number of
times during my tenure as chair reflecting its importance
as the engine room for the continued
development of our sector. To be an effective
advocacy voice for growers, and to allocate our
own internal resources to their best advantage,
we need to understand your priorities as growers
and allied traders.
We are finalising a ten to twelve question survey
for members to complete during January and
February. We need to know your research and
development priorities and how and by whom
you feel extension is best delivered. Is DITT and
its seven research farms delivering value for
farmers or have some of our R&D priorities shifted
towards water, land clearing and environmental
issues within the Department of Environment,
Parks and Water Security? Is CDU or on-farm collaborative
research the way of the future?
Does on-line learning cut it as extension , are
field days and farm visits still valued? Should it
be Government or industry led?
The larger the participation rate the more powerful
the data becomes to help guide the strategic
direction of NTFarmers, to influence spending by
the NTG and funding bodies such as the RDC’s
and CRC’s and resource allocation within and between
departments and within alternative institutions
like CDU.
Responses will remain anonymous although the
R&D sub committee may need to reach out to individual
growers with specific needs as it prioritises
research projects.
As we open the door to possible change and innovation
in RD&E it is somewhat ironic that three
greats of the RD&E space have announced their
retirements.
Greg Owens’ ‘retirement’ theoretically marks the
end of a relationship with farmers across the Territory
that has spanned three decades of passionate
and selfless dedication. Thankfully, Greg will
remain involved with NTFarmers as a consultant.
Greg’s communication and education skills
have made him synonymous with extension and
adoption amongst farmers. His praises are sung
elsewhere in this newsletter however I believe he
leaves three great legacies:
1. Driving the uptake of more environmentally sustainable
farming practices. Through direct grower
engagement and education, championing the establishment
of the IPM trial plot at Coastal Plains
Research Station and leading our Water Productivity,
Efficiency and Sustainability project.
2. Fighting to ensure ‘return to trading’ became
the key priority of biosecurity outbreak responses
in the NT (With great assistance from both Sarah
Corcoran and Ann Walters the response to the
recent Citrus Canker outbreak saw Territory fruit
back in interstate markets within four months. An
Australian record by a long margin).
3.Helping build a strong farmer focused culture at
NT Farmers. Through mentoring staff and advocacy
to the Board ,Greg has ensured the interests
of all farmers, regardless of size or commodity,
remains our number one priority.
There were two other very significant retirements
this year that deserve recognition.
After a combined almost eighty years of “industry
first” advancement of horticulture across the
NT, Mark “The Mighty Dees” Hoult and Mark “St.
Kilda” Traynor are retiring this year. We will celebrate
their achievement in more detail in the first
newsletter of 2022 however for now, on behalf of
the NT’s horticultural family, I want to thank these
two humble research legends for laying much of
the foundations on which our melon mango, citrus,
Asian vegetable and table grape and sectors
2021
NT FARMERS GROW NT MAGAZINE.