GRAIN growers and other interested parties have until Friday to make submissions on the Productivity Commission's report on the transitional wheat marketing arrangements.
The commission released its report on March 22, recommending abolition of the accreditation system for exporters from September 30 next year.
It also recommended the "access test" relating to access to port terminals defined by the Wheat Marketing Act be abolished in September 2014, with any disputes being dealt by authorities under the Trades Practices Act.
The Productivity Commission will begin five hearings around Australia on submissions, with the first being in Melbourne next Wednesday.
For more details, visit www.pc.gov.au or phone Carole Gardner on (03) 9653 2194.
CSIRO wheat
THE CSIRO has developed a salt-tolerant durum wheat which outyields its parent variety by 25 per cent.
CSIRO scientist Richard James said the research organisation had recently isolated two salt-tolerance genes from a wheat relative.
These were transferred to durum wheat lines using conventional breeding methods.
The resulting new variety enables grain growers to achieve higher yields in saline soils.
Sugar cane
A PILOT plant to produce ethanol from crop stubbles, wood and sugar cane waste has received another $2.4 million in Federal Government funding.
The $24 million cellulosic ethanol pilot plant is centred at Harwood's sugar mill at Yamba, in NSW. The trial is being run by Brisbane company, Ethtec.
Grain crops
GRAIN growers should monitor their newly sown crops to ensure they are not being attacked by insects.
NSW Department of Primary Industries agronomist Phil Bowden said recent rain had resulted in the emergence of a range of caterpillars, beetles, aphids and locusts.
He said growers faced the danger of these pests destroying seedlings as they emerge from the soil after planting.
For advice on control of the pests, phone Mr Bowden on (02) 6942 4957.
- Send your grain news to Peter Hemphill, The Weekly Times, PO Box 14999, Melbourne, 8001, email to hemphillp@theweeklytimes.com.au or fax it to (03) 9292 2697.
