Key research

NSW Salinity Strategy 2000 (Southern Salt Action Team)

The Southern Salt Action Team is part of the State Government’s NSW Salinity Strategy 2000. This strategy was released in 2000 in response to consultation with community and land management groups who voiced the need to ‘develop a coordinated strategy involving government, industry and the community’. The strategy identified Salt Action teams as a key tool in ‘land manager capacity building and adoption of salinity prevention practices’. The Salt Action teams are one of eight ‘key tools’ listed in the strategy.

There are five rural Salt Action teams and one urban Salt Action team currently functioning throughout NSW:

• Northern Salt Action Team (Gwydir, Barwon and Namoi Catchments);
• two Salt Action teams in the Central West (Far West and Lachlan Catchments);
• Coastal Salt Action Team (all coastal regions);
• Southern Salt Action Team (Murray and Murrumbidgee Catchments);
• Urban Salt Action Team (urban areas across NSW).

The Salt Action teams consist of staff from NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR).

These salt teams:

• provide training to government and private agricultural advisers;
• translate research results to paddock-level actions;
• develop salt training programs;
• review salinity material;
• facilitate salinity updates and discussion between salinity extension and research staff across departments.

Cotton Industry Development Project

Cotton is a relatively new industry in the Riverina. The Cotton Industry Development project was established to foster the development of the industry.

It aims to:

• coordinate the adoption of research into sound management practices in the cotton-growing region in the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee valleys;

• develop a framework of regional trials/demonstrations (in liaison with researchers) as part of the adoption process and to facilitate better communication between farmers, advisers and researchers from government and agribusiness;
• assist the Southern Cotton Growers Association to respond to gaps in local research/extension needs and to adapt existing technology to meet local needs;
• conduct a growth-regulant trial on the 15 inch cropping system;
• examine the viability of the 15 inch cropping system;
• assist in the implementation of the cotton industry best management practice (BMP) program;
• assist in the development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) practices for the management of pests and diseases;
• promote decision support systems such as SOILpak, WEEDpak, SPRAYpak,  COTTONlogic and Ozcot (a cotton crop growth simulation model).

The Industry Development Officer (IDO) located at Griffith is part of the Australian Cotton CRC National Extension Team. As well as playing a role in national extension activity, the Industry Development Officer liaises with local growers and consultants to develop extension programs that focus on local production issues; this has led to an increase in the adoption of new technology by local growers.

Large-scale farm trials and demonstrations form a critical component of extension activities. The promotion of BMP to growers and the local community are key components of the Industry Development Officer’s position, which also provides strong links between growers, consultants and researchers.

Key contact officers

Manager: William (Bill) G. Moller
Office Supervisor: Anita Zan
Farm Foreman: Roy Giason