Northern Grower Alliance (NGA) is an Incorporated Association that was established in 2005 to provide a regional capacity for industry-driven, applied agronomic research into the challenges of grain production.
NGA is currently working on a five year project, fully funded by GRDC, focusing on the validation and adoption of new agronomic practices in northern NSW and southern QLD.
Information on the background and structure of the NGA, together with our vision and mission statements, can be gained from the menu on the left.
The Northern Grower Alliance will provide independent and industry leading practical agronomic research in northern New South Wales and adjacent areas of southern Queensland.
The Northern Grower Alliance co-ordinates and conducts applied agronomic research in response to prioritised northern region grain grower needs. Projects are developed in collaboration with key researchers to ensure sound scientific and practical evaluation of the impact and benefits of new practices. Rapid communication of project outcomes through the associated comprehensive network of consultants and agronomists ensures prompt and appropriate levels of industry uptake and adoption.
The Northern Grower Alliance was created in 2005 from the vision and drive of six leading northern consultants and agronomists: Michael Castor, Robert Long, Drew Penberthy, Greg Rummery, Greg Giblett and Peter McKenzie, representing the interests and needs of over 170 growers involved in six separate grower ‘groups’. With the expertise of Jules Dixon, the group developed a business plan
and model to assist in providing practical, industry-driven, agronomic research.
The advisers and growers shared common concerns
The NGA was designed to provide a structure to address the original concerns but also work in close collaboration with existing research, development and extension providers by
NGA worked on a project covering broadacre cropping in north-western NSW from 2005 to 2010 with the scope of the project broadened to cover north-eastern NSW during the period 2008 to 2010. In 2010, NGA commenced a five year project to continue their activities in northern NSW and to replicate the model in southern Qld. All these projects were fully funded by GRDC.
The scope or direct area of influence from NGA now covers ~ 1.5 million ha
of cropping in the northern grains region.
NGA currently has 6 major ‘nodes’ or regions of focus:
In each node a Local Research Group (LRG) has been established, made up from key local advisers, growers and agency extension officers.
The LRG’s role is to identify and prioritise specific agronomic production issues but they are also a key component of communication or extension activity.
NGA’s function is to rapidly develop and progress projects in response to the key industry issues.
LRG’s meet twice each year to review results from the previous season’s work and to identify and prioritise new or continuing projects of importance.
Contact details for LRG Chairs are in the key contacts section.
Address
Level 1, 292 Ruthven St,
Toowoomba
Phone
+61 7 4639 5344
NGA newsletters provide basic details of the projects being undertaken plus additional information that may be topical.
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