Articles
TAKING PYRETHRUM FROM AN EXPERIMENTAL CROP TO A SOPHISTICATED BROADACRE PRODUCTION MODEL
Article number
1073_1
Pages
21 – 25
Language
English
Abstract
This paper gives an overview of how Botanical Resources Australia Pty Ltd (BRA) has developed pyrethrum into a broadacre mechanised production model and the approaches that were taken to agronomic research.
After the establishment of BRA in 1996, the growing of pyrethrum in Australia was still essentially in the experimental phase.
A move towards lower cost direct seeding was being made and this brought with it a whole new set of agronomic challenges compared to the previous traditional method of production from splits and transplants.
There was an urgent need to produce high quality seed, develop effective weed control methods, overcome several disease problems and efficiently mechanise the harvesting process.
The main focus was on improving yields and basic agronomic development was going to provide the fastest payback.
BRA did not have the resources within its own organisation to carry out all of this research and therefore took the decision to leverage off a number of outside research organisations.
These included the University of Tasmania (now TIA), Agronico Pty Ltd, Serve-Ag Research Pty Ltd (now Peracto Pty Ltd) and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry.
Pyrethrum growers continue to contribute to a research levy which is matched by Horticulture Australia Ltd, an Australian Government research funding body, and this process has provided the major source of research money for agronomy.
Significant research funds is also made available by BRA and through the Australian Research Council and a number of other public and private sources.
Whilst BRA continues to rely on outside research providers, in recent years it has built up its own research department so that by 2011 it now has a plant breeder, agronomic research manager and seven other staff employed in this area.
As a result of this effort, research has provided significant gains in yield and has now established pyrethrum as a significant crop for the region.
After the establishment of BRA in 1996, the growing of pyrethrum in Australia was still essentially in the experimental phase.
A move towards lower cost direct seeding was being made and this brought with it a whole new set of agronomic challenges compared to the previous traditional method of production from splits and transplants.
There was an urgent need to produce high quality seed, develop effective weed control methods, overcome several disease problems and efficiently mechanise the harvesting process.
The main focus was on improving yields and basic agronomic development was going to provide the fastest payback.
BRA did not have the resources within its own organisation to carry out all of this research and therefore took the decision to leverage off a number of outside research organisations.
These included the University of Tasmania (now TIA), Agronico Pty Ltd, Serve-Ag Research Pty Ltd (now Peracto Pty Ltd) and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry.
Pyrethrum growers continue to contribute to a research levy which is matched by Horticulture Australia Ltd, an Australian Government research funding body, and this process has provided the major source of research money for agronomy.
Significant research funds is also made available by BRA and through the Australian Research Council and a number of other public and private sources.
Whilst BRA continues to rely on outside research providers, in recent years it has built up its own research department so that by 2011 it now has a plant breeder, agronomic research manager and seven other staff employed in this area.
As a result of this effort, research has provided significant gains in yield and has now established pyrethrum as a significant crop for the region.
Authors
T. Groom, D. Phipps, S. Coles, M. Greenhill, B. Casey, B. Chung
Keywords
pyrethrum, experimental crop, production model
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