NGN - Focus Farms and discussion groups to improve faba bean yield stability through agronomic management in the Wimmera

⁠⁠⁠The Wimmera NGN forums highlighted the instability of faba bean yields as an important issue across the region. An important part of the rotation in the region, faba beans can struggle with yield stability and growers are keen to understand the management levers to increase their profitability and decrease the yield gap between plots and paddock. Increasing the reliability of faba bean yields towards those achieved by wheat across a variety of seasonal conditions will increase the confidence of growers, and the contribution of faba beans to the rotation. This investment will look at what is being done currently to increase the level of podding and disease management within bean crops and leverage work conducted through the Grain Legume D&E investment to help drive this on farm.

GRDC is seeking a service provider to address faba bean management through:

1. An agronomic practice survey from three seasons to understand current faba bean management on farm

2. Delivery of three focus farms with on farm demonstration in the Wimmera over two seasons, leveraging existing faba bean research (DJP2105-006RTX - Development and extension to close the economic yield gap and maximise farming systems benefits from grain legume production in Victoria)

This investment in grower-led discussions and research into grower practice will help to improve grower understanding of best practice faba bean management and assist in increasing faba bean yield stability and profitability throughout the Wimmera.