New Western Australian trial results have increased knowledge about competitive wheat lines – which could give growers the option of keeping weedy paddocks in crop.

The first of two state-of-the-art grain research facilities has opened at Merredin in Western Australia.

Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) western panel chairman Peter Roberts has urged Western Australian growers to think particularly carefully about which grain varieties to retain for seeding in 2012.

Grain growers deciding which crop varieties to grow next season can find guidance by accessing the latest National Variety Trials (NVT) results.

The GRDC Board is accountable to Australia's grain growers, through the industry peak organisation and to the Commonwealth Parliament, through the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The GRDC Board normally has between seven and nine directors.

The Chairman is selected and appointed by the Minister. Mr Keith Perrett was appointed by the Minister on 1 October 2007, and reappointed until 30 September 2013.

The Managing Director is appointed by the Board of the Corporation. The Managing Director is the sole Executive Director and holds office at the Corporation's pleasure. John Harvey was appointed as the GRDC’s Managing Director on 1 March 2011.

Five to seven Directors are appointed by the Minister, on advice from a selection committee selected by the Minister. On 22 November 2011 the Minister announced the appointment of 6 directors, until 30 September 2014.

The epicentre of an international network spanning almost 100 countries and more than 1000 research collaborators is the mailroom at CIMMYT’s El Batán headquarters in Mexico. This is where seed from the ‘international wheat nurseries’ is collated and distributed across the globe.

A major resurgence in canola plantings in the medium and low rainfall zones of Victoria has created a hunger for information about industry developments during the past decade.

Canola growers can take comfort knowing their industry will remain strong and is prepared for new challenges in future years.

Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) northern panellist, Rob Taylor, will host a field walk of National Variety Trials (NVT) next Tuesday, 11 October.

Large scale, in-field testing of crop varieties has been overhauled and reinvigorated with the appointment of National Variety Trials (NVT) Advisory Committees across Australia.