About Us

About NGA


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. 

Vision Statement


The Northern Grower Alliance will provide independent and industry leading practical agronomic research in northern New South Wales and adjacent areas of southern Queensland.

Mission


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.

Background


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


  • Often a gap between research and development focus and real industry needs
  • Lack of validation of benefits under commercial conditions
  • Lack of structure that could respond rapidly to specific production constraints


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


  • Taking promising research to commercial validation earlier
  • Providing additional grower/ industry driven feedback on needs
  • Helping extend results alongside agency agronomists 
  • Maximising the efficiency of local and regional research and development effort


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.

Structure


NGA currently has 6 major ‘nodes’ or regions of focus:


  • Darling Downs
  • Mungindi/ Balonne
  • Goondiwindi
  • Moree/ Narrabri
  • Walgett and
  • Liverpool Plains


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.

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