About

GRDC is seeking partners to deliver a Southern Region pulse research, demonstration and extension program to improve the profitability and adoption of pulse crops within farming systems. The investment responds to recent growth in lentil production in Victoria and South Australia and expansion into new environments, and addresses constraints that emerge as pulse intensity increases, including soil acidity and subsoil limitations, herbicide resistance and residue risks, greater disease pressure under tighter pulse sequences, and seasonal variability. The program will use a regional hub-and-spoke model combining rigorous field research at hub sites with locally relevant trials, demonstrations, field days and workshops at spoke sites to support growers and advisers and produce high-quality industry datasets. Annual priorities for each agroecological zone will be set with input from the Regional Pulse Advisory Committee and relevant grower and adviser networks, supported by expertise from the National Pulse Coordination and Strategy Program in agronomy, crop protection, rhizobia, soils, trial design, data analysis, extension and markets, while retaining flexibility to respond as regional priorities evolve.