Organised and run by the Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA) and ConsultAg’s Narrogin team, the OATSPO Agronomic Showcase attracted over 250 Western Australian oat growers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to Highbury on Tuesday 10 September 2024.
Funded by the Processed Oat Partnership (POP), a State Government funded, industry-led initiative, OATSPO presented the latest oat research being undertaken across the State and showcased current and evolving agronomic practices for growing oats to give growers the confidence to include oats in their cropping system.
OATSPO’s trial and research site followed the journey of growing an oat crop throughout the season. It showcased variety selection, nutrition strategies, seeding practices (rates/depths), pre and post emergent weed and disease control options, canopy management strategies, and finished with tips on how to harvest oats to maximise grain quality.
OATSPO and the ongoing research and industry development it showcased, will make a lasting and significant contribution to the future development and sustainability of the Western Australian oat industry.
The POP Steering Committee Chair, Mark Narustrang, said OATSPO was an opportunity to focus on the developments within the WA oat industry with emphasis on breeding, innovation and market access expansion.
“The WA processed oat industry is continuing to invest in new capacity, and is increasingly reliant on WA growers, with demand for oats exceeding three hundred thousand tonnes each year,” Mr Narustrang said.
“To support this growth, the POP has invested in a range of projects including OATSPO which enabled further demonstration of current oat research and development along with a review of the latest varieties and benefits they provide.
“OATSPO also offered insight into some of the innovations and market opportunities being developed in concert with the WA processed oat sector.”
ConsultAg’s Garren Knell, who coordinated OATSPO, said oats are a major part of the rotation in the Narrogin region and the event not only assisted in demonstrating the latest R&D, but also in upskilling growers in adoption of the recently released varieties.
“Narrogin is a major oat-growing centre for WA as it is near both grain and hay processors, so it was the ideal location for OATSPO,” Garren said.
“Oats are popular across most of WA and there is a strong desire by growers to use the most innovative techniques available to them. OATSPO was well timed to provide intelligence to growers and industry, in preparation for season 2025.”
ENDS
Media Enquiries
Garren Knell
ConsultAg
0427 442 887
[email protected]
Mark Narustrang
POP Steering Committee Chair
0437 517 050
[email protected]
About the Processed Oat Partnership (POP)
The State Government and industry-led Processed Oat Partnership (POP), was a 2021 election commitment funded by Royalty for Regions (RfR) and brings together the oat industry supply chain with the aim of growing the milling processed oat industry over the next two decades.
The POP aims to increase investment in the WA oat processing supply chain, including infrastructure, equipment and systems, to increase productive processing of raw oats locally, generating economic benefits for the State and increased job opportunities.
The Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA), through the GIWA Oat Council, is the lead program partner and advisor, providing a communications portal between stakeholders.