The FRS team has specialist capability to undertake complex field-based experiments, phenology and physical crop measurements and use of a range of scientific grains research equipment.
FRS operate seven field research units to manage research and development experiments for DAFWA, CSIRO, universities and privately funded grains research projects.
FRS delivers expertise in:
- Field research experiment management – trial site selection, seed preparation, sowing, pre- and post-emergence weed, disease and pest control treatments, trial observations and harvesting.
- Trial seed production and multiplication – small quantities of seed are obtained from breeding companies and field experiments each year. The seed is cleaned and multiplied for experiments in the following year.
- Management of field research facilities and land for field research – research facilities are managed and maintained for field experiments, particularly in situations considered unsuitable for growers paddocks due to unacceptable risks associated with intellectual property; biosecurity implications (disease trials); prevalence of weeds, pests and diseases; unregistered herbicides and fungicides; and genetically modified organisms.
- Establishment and management of research facilities.
These new research projects frequently need the establishment of new field operations and infrastructure. FRS ensures the timely commencement and implementation of new research field projects taking a lead role in the procurement of land and infrastructure to support field-based grains R&D activities.
The FRS team manage DAFWA’s New Genes for New Environments (NGNE) facilities located at Merredin and Katanning, which enable trialling of GM crops in a variety of environments and the Managed Environment Facility (MEF) located at Merredin, which allows water use efficiency traits to be evaluated under a range of heat and drought conditions within any year.
FRS will continue to develop its capability and equipment to manage the complexity and technologies involved in establishing and managing field experiments, applying investigative treatments, evaluating crop growth and development, and other field measurements. Our expertise will evolve to tackle cutting-edge applied grains R&D.
Contact us for more information about our work.
Our team
- Portfolio manager - Ian Pritchard
- Esperance field research manager - Colin Norwood
- Esperance field research team - Chris Matthews
- Geraldton/Wongan Hills field research manager - Steve Cosh
- Geraldton/Wongan Hills field research team - Trevor Bell, Shari Dougall, Larry Prosser and Bruce Thorpe
- Katanning field research manager - Steve Bell
- Katanning field research team - Daniel Cox and Russell Quartermaine
- Merredin field research manager - Vincent Lambert
- Merredin field research team - David Allen, Adrian Cox, Matt Mills, Michelle Murfit, Laurie Maiolo and Salzar Rahman
- Northam field research manager - Julie-Anne Roche
- Northam field research team - Kerin Bennell and Tracey Mouritzen
- South Perth field research team - Dave Farleigh and Max Karopoulos