Overview

The Cropping specialty group are the key force behind the Facey Group’s many on farm trials. The committee manage the Facey Group’s main trial site and satellite site which are showcased at the annual Spring Field Day and the Trials Night. The Rotation for Profit, one of the many projects facilitated by the committee, is now in its final year and receiving attention Australia wide.

Strategic Goal

The Facey Group cropping group will lead our members to develop vibrant, profitable & sustainable cropping enterprises.

Top Five Issues the cropping group will tackle are:

• Soil constraints

• Input costs

• Herbicide resistance

• Rain/Frost

• Genetic Modification

Trials & Demonstrations  

Facey Group Spring Field Day.

The 2010 Spring Field Day will be on Wednesday the 15th of September.  Last year over 100 farmers toured to see the latest in local R&D. ...read more

Satellite Site.

In 2003 the Facey Group combined all their field trial sites into one called the Satellite Site.  The Site is home to many of the cropping trials...read more

Main Trial Site

The Facey Group Main Trial site is based in Wickepin, WA.  The 8.32 hectare site was leased from the Shire of Wickepin in April 2004.  The Main Trial site has hosted several different trials as well as the extremely successful Rotation for Profit demonstration....read more

National Variety Trials

The GRDC National Variety Trials (NVTs) aim to generate independent information for growers about newly released wheat and canola varieties.  The trial site is located North of Wickepin and is toured by the group during the growing season.

Frost Trial

It is well known that frost can cause significant economic losses to growers in the Western Australian grains industry.  This year the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Research Officer, Ben Biddulph is continuing his research at a site east of Cuballing.  The site that aims to characterise the resistance to frost events at flowering impacting on cereal production in the state’s grain growing region.  Ben's presentation at the March 2010 Trials Presentation Evening was a key highlight with members keen to see more results from his work.

Research Partners

Research partners, play a key role in the Group’s on ground trials and research.  With out the continued support of research partners and their willingness to invest significant dollars into the Upper Great Southern farming community...who are the research partners

Cropping Events

Two annual events showcase the cropping trials and demonstrations.  The Facey Group Spring Field Day held in September and the Facey Group Trials Presentation Evening which was held on March the 5th 2010.  The cropping group also many  other events throughout the year, such as grain marketing workshops, strategies on a late break, international guest speakers and much more depending on the conditions of the harvest year.