• Charles Sturt University’s Gulbali Institute to host Livestock Forum
• Producers will have a chance to hear from University academics on the latest research and key issues
• The forum will be held on Friday 29 July from 9am at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga

Where can producers from across southern NSW go to hear about the latest innovations in research and key issues in the agricultural industries?

Charles Sturt University is preparing to host the Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment Livestock Forum, formerly the Graham Centre Livestock Forum.

The forum will feature Charles Sturt researchers as guest speakers, presenting to producers and the public about research initiatives at the University and key issues facing the industry.

Attendees will hear about new research to apply on-farm, discussions with industry experts, and learn more about the Global Digital Farm.

Among the main presenters is Adjunct Research Professor with the Gulbali Institute David Lamb (pictured), who is also the Chief Scientist of Food Agility CRC, of which Charles Sturt is in partnership with for the Global Digital Farm Initiative.

Professor Lamb is part of the research team transforming the University’s 1,700-hectare commercial farm combining education, telecommunications-enabled technology innovation, and farming/food production.

He has previously worked to establish the University of New England’s SMART Farm, which is focused on sheep/livestock production.

Charles Sturt’s Global Digital Farm will be the first-ever commercial scale crop and mixed farm dedicated to hands-free farming innovations.

“Charles Sturt University is Australia’s leading provider of university agriculture education, accounting for more than one quarter of undergraduate completions nationally,” Professor Lamb said.

“Agriculture is becoming increasingly sophisticated, not just through a tech-enabled ‘Agriculture 4.0’.

“The farming enterprise is a complex system, encompassing a range of resource bases, enterprise patterns, household livelihood demands and external constraints.

“University-hosted commercial-scale farms, such as the Charles Sturt farm, are unique. We have the opportunity to equip Charles Sturt to be the future of agriculture education as well as a global leader in both industry and research-led and on-farm innovation.”

Professor Lamb said not only are they developing the technology and innovative components of the Global Digital Farm, but researchers are devising projects that immediately bring them to life.

These projects include Wi-Fi innovations, haybale fire alerting, intelligent water point monitoring and livestock performance monitoring. The next projects to be developed will focus on robotics, smart fertiliser and weed management, and digital decision making.

Professor Lamb said the key to success for these projects is engagement, which is the focus of the Gulbali Institute Livestock Forum.

“We are excited to welcome producers back to campus after this event being held online for two years,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for researchers to show the practical side of their work and what it means, or can mean, and to show what’s over the horizon.

“But it’s also about engaging with producers and learning from them about their challenges and their ideas.”

Other researchers or industry experts to present at the forum include:

• Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover will speak about whether we should be worried about biosecurity risks from neighbouring countries
• Senior Research Fellow in Spatial Agriculture Mr Jon Medway will speak about other initiatives of the Global Digital Farm
• Ms Michelle Henry from Gundagai Meat Processors will provide an update on new technologies, producer feedback and the producer portal
• An update will be provided on Charles Sturt’s bloat research and the Bloat Alert app

Experts from Charles Sturt and NSW Department of Primary Industries will present on topics related to the sheep and beef industries, including the viability of a dairy beef supply chain in Australia, the grazing lambs on perennial wheat and legume, the effect of GLP-1 on the reproductive axis of the ewe, and phytoestrogens and their effect upon the reproductive performance of beef cattle.

The 2022 Gulbali Institute Livestock Forum will be held on Friday 29 July from 9am at Charles Sturt University Convention Centre in Wagga Wagga.

Registration for the event is now open. Cost is $25 per person, which includes morning tea and lunch, and bookings can be made online.