Public presentations, public relations and communication
Programs provided posters for display during the Sunrice Festival held in Leeton over the Easter weekend. Included in the CRC display were samples of rice varieties, general information on the rice industry and a "continuous loop" PowerPoint presentation (with narration) providing a brief outline of the Programs of the CRC and highlighting particular aspects of the work being undertaken. The CRC's Education and Communication Officers were also available to answer questions from the public.
Dr Shahbaz Khan and Mr John Madden presented a net recharge management course to groups of farmers in the Coleambally Irrigation Area.
Dr Shahbaz Khan, Mr John Madden, Dr Emmanuel Xevi and Dr Fei Zhou trained the Coleambally Irrigation Corporation staff in the use and implementation of SWAGMAN Farm.
The following presentations were made at the Rice CRC Salinity Workshop held on 25 November, 1999:-
Beecher, H.G. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), "Practices and management".
Christen, E.W. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "Remedial measures".
Khan, S. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "Spatial distribution issues related to salinity".
Myer, W.S. (CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide), "Site specific salinity research".
Walker, G. (CSIRO Land and Water and CRC for Catchment Hydrology, Adelaide), "Off-site salinity effects".
Van der Lely, A. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Leeton) "Optimisation and economic research".
The following presentations were made at the Program 1 Meeting held at Griffith, NSW on 14 & 15 December, 1999:-
Akbar, S. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), "On-farm channel and drain losses".
Akbar, S. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), "Evaluation of methods for reducing channel seepage".
Beecher, H.G. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), "Refining EM methodology to include soil chemical characteristics in rice land assessment".
Bhuiyan, A.M. and Smith, D.J. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "Quantifying and maximising the benefits of crops sown after rice in Australia. Part one - field studies. Part two - modelling studies".
Dunn, B. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), "Use of NIR for assessing soil pH and sodicity".
Gill, H. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), "Groundwater and sodicity".
Humphreys, E. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "Determination of paddock water balance components".
Joseph, S. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Deniliquin), "Groundwater management model for catchment #016".
Khan, S. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "On-farm net recharge management".
Khan, S. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "Development of integrated management models".
Lawson, S. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Leeton), "Groundwater management and current research in the Lower Murrumbidgee Valley".
McLaughlin, D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, USA), "Hydrological/economic modelling in the Murrumbidgee Region".
McVicar, T. (CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra), "Remote sensing of irrigated crop types and areas".
Merrick, N. (University of Technology, Sydney), "Salt transport at the farm scale".
Shao, Y. (University of New South Wales, Sydney), "Salt transport at the regional scale".
Thompson, J. (NSW Agriculture, Deniliquin), "Improving rice water use efficiency".
Van der Lely, A. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Leeton), "Rice hydraulic loading".
Van der Lely, A. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Leeton), "Salinity assessment and prediction model".
A Water Use Efficiency Workshop was convened by Dr Liz Humphreys (Leader, Program 1) on 9 May, 2000 and included representatives from outside the CRC. The following presentations were made by CRC participants:-
Beecher, H.G. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), "Dedicated rice lands".
Condon, A. (CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra), "Selection against transpiration efficiency to improve Water Use Efficiency".
Eberbach, P. (Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW), "Evapotranspiration and transpiration efficiency".
Hutchinson, P. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "Wetting front detector and drainage meter".
Lewin, L. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), Bruce Sutton's proposal on "reproductive sensitivity of chilling-tolerant rice to mild water stress".
Thompson, J. (NSW Agriculture, Deniliquin), "Results of the Rice CRC Water use efficiency Project 1204".
Project 6201, "Economic evaluation of alternative resource management strategies in a risky environment" organised a workshop on 16th May, 2000 at Yanco, NSW which had a number of objectives:-
The workshop was highly successful and the above objectives were met.
In addition, researchers from this project have:-
A Water Quality Workshop was convened by Dr Liz Humphreys (Leader, Program 1) on 14 June 2000 and included representatives from outside the CRC. The following presentations were made by CRC participants:-
Biswas, T. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "FILTER system for removing pesticides from drainage waters".
Buchan, A. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Leeton), "Issues and research needs in the Murrumbidgee Region".
Cawley, R. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Wagga Wagga ), "Issues and research needs in the Lower Bidgee".
Hardwick, L. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Wagga Wagga), "Effect of environmental flows on river health".
Helliwell, S. (Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW), "Pesticide impacts on aquatic ecosystems".
Khan, S. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "A surface and groundwater hydrologist's perspective of water quality research needs and opportunities".
Kookana, R. (CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide), "Assessing off-site migration potential of pesticides used in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area".
McLeod, G. (Murray Irrigation Limited, Deniliquin, NSW), "Issues and research needs in the Murray Irrigation Areas and Districts".
Mallavarapu, M. (CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide), "Effects of pesticides on soil biota".
Oakeshott, J. (CSIRO Entomology, Canberra), "Bioremediation of pesticide residues in irrigation drainage waters".
Parker, L. (Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited, Leeton, NSW), "Issues and research needs in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and Districts".
Spark, K. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "Overview of past research in the Murrumbigee Irrigation Area".
Stevens, M. (NSW Agriculture, Yanco), "Snails as bio-indicators and the longevity of the effect of herbicides on invertebrate populations".
Tiwari, A. (Coleambally Irrigation Corporation, Coleambally, NSW), "Issues and research needs in the Coleambally Irrigation Area".
Zhou, F. (CSIRO Land and Water, Griffith, NSW), "Predicting the risk of chemical contamination of groundwaters".
Presentations were also made by non-CRC participants, as follows:-
Baldwin, D. ( CRC Freshwater Ecology, Albury, NSW), "Research in the CRC for Freshwater Ecology, research gaps and opportunities for links with CRC Rice".
Blanch, S. (Inland Rivers Network, Sydney), "Issues and research needs to reduce the downstream environmental impacts of irrigated agriculture".
Robinson, S. (Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Canberra), "Preliminary findings of the MDBC water quality research needs scoping study".
Watkins, K. (Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra), "Groundwater quality in the Murray Region".
Cold-Induced Sterility in Rice Workshop, Canberra. 21-22 February, 2000. This workshop included presentations by project participants from Programs 2 and 3. Representatives from organisations outside the CRC also participated in the workshop.
CRC participants also gave presentations at the following workshops:-
Beecher, H.G. "A three stage classification of soil suitability for rice." Murray Land and Water Management Plans R&D Workshop, 21 June, 2000. Deniliquin, NSW.
Edraki, M. "Water balance for crops and pastures." Murray Land and Water Management Plans R&D Workshop, 21 June, 2000. Deniliquin, NSW.
Khan, S. "Influence of rainfall on watertable changes." Murray Land and Water Management Plans R&D Workshop, 21 June, 2000. Deniliquin, NSW.
O'Connell, N. "Applying SWAGMAN Farm in the Murray Valley." Murray Land and Water Management Plans R&D Workshop, 21 June, 2000. Deniliquin, NSW.
Thompson, J.A. "Growing rice on beds." Murray Land and Water Management Plans R&D Workshop, 21 June, 2000. Deniliquin, NSW.
CRC participants gave oral presentations at the following conferences:-
Akbar, S. "Seepage distribution in old and new on-farm channels and drains." Irrigation Australia 2000, Melbourne, 23-25 May, 2000.
Akbar, S. "Use of EM surveys to identify seepage sites in on-farm channel and drains." Irrigation Australia 2000, Melbourne, 23-25 May, 2000.
Jinadasa, N. "Use of EM-31 for assessment of soil sodicity of rice fields in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, NSW." Sodicity Issues in Agricultural industries - Current Research and Future Directions, Tatura, Victoria, 28 February - 1 March, 2000.
Oakeshott, J. Invited paper at the 2nd Pan Pacific Conference on Pesticide Science, Hawaii, USA, October 1999.
Russell, C. " Soil nitrogen test for flooded rice - soil spectra and the prediction of soil nitrogen supply and soil properties." Australian NIR Conference, Horsham, Victoria - April 2000.
Rice CRC Annual Symposium, Yanco, NSW. August 1999. Program and project participants presented overviews on current status of work and future directions. The Symposium also included a presentation by visiting scientist, Dr Alan Devonshire, Head of Insecticide Resistance Group at IACR, Rothamsted and Special Professor of Genetics at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. As in previous years, the Symposium provided an excellent opportunity for staff to interact and strengthen links between the Programs.
Specific presentations by Programs included reports on the following Sub-Programs and projects:-
Program 1 - Overview (J Blackwell)
Program 2 - Overview (G Batten)
Program 3 - Overview (B Sutton)
Program 4 - Overview (G Marteene)
Program 5 - Overview (P Eberbach)
The following staff also gave brief presentations on background and outcome of overseas visits funded by the CRC:-
Other conferences attended by Rice CRC staff included:-
Batten, G.D., Ciavarella, S. and Blakeney, A. (2000). "Reducing Analysis Time using Fewer Scans per sample and a reduced Wavelength Range." (Paper presented at the 9th Australian Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference, Horsham, Victoria, 5 - 6 April, 2000.)
Blakeney, A., Batten, G.D. and Downie, P. (2000). "Calibration Strategies for Single - Kernel NIR Analysis Instruments." (Paper presented at the 9th Australian Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference, Horsham 5 - 6 April, 2000.)
Brindley, S. (1999) "Rice Whitener Control." (4th Annual Process Control & Optimisation Seminar, North Ryde, NSW, 24 November, 1999) (Presented by Sam Crisafulli, CICS Automation as component of his presentation "Modern process control for the food industry")
Cother, E.J., Jahromi, F.G., Pitt, W., Ash, G.J. and Lanoiselet, V. (1999). "Development of the mycoherbistat fungus Rhynchosporium alismatis for control of Alismataceae weeds in rice." (2nd Temperate Rice Conference, Sacramento, California, USA, June 1999.)
Darvey, N.L. (1999) "In vivo and in vitro experimentation in rice". (2nd Temperate Rice Conference, Sacramento, California, USA, June 1999) (Proceedings not yet available.)
Dunn, B., Beecher, G.H., Batten, G.D. and Blakeney, A. (2000). "Estimating Rice Crop Nitrogen Uptake from a Soil using Near Infrared Reflectance Analysis." (Paper presented at the 9th Australian Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference, Horsham, 5-6 April, 2000.)
Eustace, K. (1999) "Management techniques and software quality for small scale Web project developers." (Webnet 99 Conference, Hawaii, USA, October 1999).
Gunawardena, T.A. , Farrell, T.C., Fukai, S., Blamey, F.P.C., and Williams, R.L. (1999) "Cold tolerance research in Australia - focusing on nitrogen-cold interactions and genotypic variation". (2nd Temperate Rice Conference, California, USA, June 1999).
Russell, C. (1999) "A Soil Nitrogen Test for Flooded Rice - soil NIR spectra and the prediction of soil nitrogen supply and soil properties." (2nd Temperate Rice Conference, California, USA, June 1999).
Williams, R.L., Farrell, T.C., Hope, M., Reinke, R.F., and Snell, P. (1999) "Short duration rice: implications for water use efficiency in the New South Wales rice industry". (2nd Temperate Rice Conference, California, USA, June 1999).
Heidari, R., Bell, K.L., Devonshire, A., Russell, R.J. and Oakeshott, J.G. (1999). "Enzymatic Bioremediation of Pesticide Residues." (Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology [ASBMB], Gold Coast)
Heidari, R., Bell, K.L., Devonshire, A., Russell, R.J. and Oakeshott, J.G. (2000). "Enzymatic Bioremediation of Pesticide Residues." (25th Lorne Protein Conference, Lorne, Victoria)
Jinadasa, N., Beecher, H.G. and Dunn, B. (2000) "Surrogate field tests to measure rice soil sodicity." (Sodicity Issues in Agricultural industries - Current Research and Future Directions, Tatura, Victoria)
Akbar, S. (1999) "Seepage from on-farm channels and drains." Australian Society of Soil Science Riverina Branch, June 1999 at Yanco, NSW.
Batten, G.D. (1999) "Plant nutrition, productivity and grain quality". Seminar presented to staff of Yanco Agricultural Institute. 19 November, 1999.
Batten, G.D. (2000) "What I do when asked by a producer to `come and look at my crop'". Presented to Year 4 Crop Science Students, University of Sydney. 20 March, 2000
Batten, G.D. (2000) "Plant disorder diagnosis". Presented to Year 4 Crop Science Students, University of Sydney. 21 March, 2000.
Eamens, A.L. and Blanchard, C.L. (1999) "Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of starch quality." Charles Sturt University Postgraduate Day, 19 July, 1999.
Eamens, A.L. and Blanchard, C.L. (1999) "Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of starch quality." School of Wine and Food Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 15 December, 1999.
Eustace, K. (1999) "Collaborative electronic environments for agricultural extension and professional workgroups." Collaborative electronic environments for agricultural extension and professional workgroups seminar, Denton, USA. October 1999.
Merrick, N. (2000) Seminar to students from the University of Technology, Sydney on the 1401b research plan and early geophysics results.
Oliver, S.N., Blanchard, C.L. and Roffey, P.E. (2000) DNA sequence variation in starch synthesis genes of rice. Presented at Charles Sturt University Honours day. 15 March, 2000.
Oliver, S.N., Blanchard, C.L. and Roffey, P.E. (2000) DNA sequence variation in rice starch synthesis genes. Presented at Charles Sturt University School of Wine and Food Sciences, 31 May, 2000.
Ms Julia Humphries, PhD student from Department of Plant Science, Waite Campus, University of Adelaide spoke to Yanco Agricultural Institute and Rice CRC staff on
22nd June, 2000. Her presentation was titled: "Beta Carotene in Wheat and Rice".
Name/Organisation |
Harden Murrumburrah High School (NSW) |
Tony Fischer and Kep Coughlan, ACIAR |
Commercial group, Malaysia (Sabah) |
Group from Alfarez, Uruguay (through Agritours) |
Lance Loughrey, DuPont |
Ms Sandy Robinson, MDBC |
Trukai PNG national staff (through RCL) |
Dr Siva Sivapalan and CSU students |
Bangladeshi Agricultural Research Council agriculturists + Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute + Bangladesh Rice Research Institute |
Tilda (Uganda) Ltd |
PNG AQIS representatives |
Aomori Prefecture Japanese delegation (through Agsell) |
Dr Song Young Ju and Dr Byong-Young Moon, South Korea |
Prof Sang-ok Chung, Kyung Chung Pook National University, College of Agriculture, Korea |
Dr H Nesbitt and Cambodian group |
Grain Importers Association, Japan (organised by RCL) |
Dr Michael Jackson, IRRI, Philippines |
Chinese delegates, Tianjin Municipality, China |
University of Sydney students |
Prof S Akita, Tokyo University, Japan |
Taiwanese rice tour group |
Malaysian visitors led by Robert Chang |
Officials from Haryana Dept of Agriculture, India |
Food Writer (organised by RCL) |
Sales representatives, RCL |
Mrs Judy Gissing and Wagga Tafe Students |
Dr Men Sarom and Mr Ty Channa, Cambodia |
Prof Jim Oster, University of California, USA |
Yoshiki Ishida, Rice Promotion Office, Shikuokas Prefectural Govt, Japan |
Robert E Sojka, United States Department of Agriculture, ARS, Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Lab, Kimberly ID |
Prof Liu Changming and Dr Yong Yonghui, Shijazhuang Institute of Agricultural Modernisation, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
Dr Liz Humphreys visited Bangladesh in February 2000 to participate in final review meetings for ACIAR Project no. 9432. Her participation included presentations on "quantifying and maximising the benefits of crops sown after rice in Australia".
During February 2000 Mr Evan Christen visited the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Pakistan as part of an associated ACIAR conjunctive water use project to collaborate on groundwater modelling and surface water allocation models.
Dr Shahbaz Khan visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA for three weeks (March-April 2000) to work with Professor Dennis McLaughlin's group on hydrologic economic models of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and Coleambally Irrigation Area. During this visit, funded by the CRC, Shahbaz identified a number of improvements to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology model and has developed a similar model for the CIA.
Mr Rob Williams took part in a tour of North Japan and visited the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences from 22 August to 5 September, 1999. During the visit he visited various sites and inspected work related to rice screening for low temperature tolerance. He also gave several presentations on the work being done in Australia.
Mr Ken Eustace undertook a study visit to the University of Texas (Dallas) and Texas Women's University (Denton), USA in October 1999.
Staff from various Programs gave presentations at the following field days:-
Annual Rice Field Day. McCaughey Institute, Jerilderie, NSW - 1 March, 2000
Murrumbidgee Farm Fair. Yanco Agricultural Institute, NSW - 12/13 May, 2000
The general media provides an opportunity to publicise CRC activities. Reports in media outlets are listed below.
Date |
Publication |
Title |
Media Releases/Reports - Print | ||
2/8/99 |
Murrumbidgee Irrigator |
Symposium preview |
6/8/99 |
Regional newspapers |
Symposium highlights Rice CRC strengths |
30/8/99 |
Regional newspapers |
Centre strengthens rice industry R&D effort |
August 1999 |
Fertilizer News (Incitec Fertilizers) |
Nitrogen soil test in rice holds promise |
6/9/99 |
Southern Weekly |
Opus |
6/9/99 |
Regional newspapers |
Centre postgraduates an industry asset |
9/9/99 |
Regional newspapers |
Rice CRC advancing industry sustainability |
9/9/99 |
Regional newspapers |
Profits leak with channel seep |
30/9/99 |
Regional newspapers |
No dry argument over rice-wheat combination |
21/10/99 |
Regional newspapers |
Targeted research key to water savings |
23-24/10/99 |
The Weekend Australian The Narrandera Argus |
Bioremediation - it's the bug word |
23/11/99 |
The Southern Weekly |
Working on a solution to water seepage |
9/12/99 |
Regional newspapers |
Irrigation industry sets course for research |
14/12/99 |
Regional newspapers |
Rice CRC earning sustainability stripes |
February 2000 |
Innovate Australia Magazine |
Gene action focus of cold war |
16/2/2000 |
Regional newspapers |
Student induction to strengthen rice industry |
17/2/2000 |
Regional newspapers Canberra Times |
Rice researchers put heat on summer chill |
24/2/2000 |
Regional newspapers |
Rice CRC hosts world germplasm authority |
31/3/2000 |
Regional newspapers |
Growers urged to report straighthead |
6/4/2000 |
Regional newspapers |
Irrigation education initiative welcomed |
18/4/2000 |
Regional newspapers |
US line could reduce reliance on applied phosphate |
10/5/2000 |
Regional newspapers |
University honours rice industry leader |
9/6/2000 |
Regional newspapers |
Hidden crop profit factor up for discussion |
21/6/2000 |
The Area News |
Rice CRC refines water quality research priorities |
Media Releases/Reports - Television | ||
15/12/99 |
WIN/MTN9 News |
Program 1 meeting |
21/2/2000 |
WIN/MTN9 News |
Cold tolerance workshop |
Media Releases/Reports - Radio | ||
13/12/99 |
ABC Radio Riverina 2QN Deniliquin 2RG Griffith |
Program 1 meeting |
16/12/99 |
2QN Deniliquin |
Program 1 meeting |
18/12/99 |
2QN Deniliquin |
Cold tolerance workshop |
23/2/2000 |
2QN Deniliquin |
Cold tolerance workshop |
24/2/2000 |
ABC Rural Shepparton |
Cold tolerance workshop |
2/3/2000 |
2RG Griffith |
Visiting scientist (Dr Michael Jackson) |
6/3/2000 |
ABC Radio Riverina |
Visiting scientist (Dr Michael Jackson) |
17/3/2000 |
ABC Radio Riverina 2QN Deniliquin |
Sydney University student tour |
7/4/2000 |
2RG Griffith |
Irrigation Chair |
18/4/2000 |
ABC Radio Riverina |
Wheat after rice |
19/4/2000 |
ABC Radio Riverina |
Straighthead |
19/4/2000 |
ABC Radio Riverina |
Phytate mutant rice |
5/5/2000 |
ABC Radio Riverina |
Cold tolerance |
15/6/2000 |
ABC Radio Riverina |
Water quality workshop |
Communications Officer, Mr Michael Cook, joined the Rice CRC at the end of July 1999 and has since progressed a number of initiatives within the External Communications Sub-Program. (See Education report, Sub-Program 5.6).
The Communications Officer is also coordinating the development of internal communications systems to circumvent difficulties presented by the broad geographic distribution of Rice CRC personnel. These systems include an internal web site or intranet, an on-line conferencing facility and a dedicated electronic mailing list. Greater organisational cohesion and significant savings on administrative costs are expected to result from these initiatives.
The website is now online and is unique in co-existing on two servers located at NSW Agriculture in Orange and at the Farrer Centre at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. This configuration allows multiple authors in some sections and for intranet hosting in another. To the site visitor, however, the site is seamless.
Mrs Robyn Troldahl commenced duties with the Rice CRC as Education Officer in August 1999. The filling of this position has allowed improved delivery information to school students, the general community and international visitors on the rice industry, rice research and Rice CRC Programs.
Since her appointment Mrs Troldahl has been very active in developing specific display material and presentations, arranging programs and visits to rice research and information sites (including farm visits), coordinating and participating in presentations for schools, community groups and international visitors. (Further details on activities in this area are provided under Project 5302 in the "Education" section of the Annual Report)
|
Murrumbidgee Farm Fair, Yanco |
