The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) will receive $1.92 million funding for five new agricultural research, development and extension projects.
The funding was announced by Primary Industries and Water Minister Jo Palmer in May 2023 as part of the second round of the Tasmanian Government's Agricultural Innovation Fund and Agricultural Development Fund.
“The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture will carry out the projects, which will deliver productivity benefits to key agricultural industries in Tasmania including the dairy, wine, pyrethrum and poppy industries. Each of these projects have a strong and active partnership with industry, with a co-investment of $3.45 million backing this research," Minister Palmer said.
The successful projects will:
- Provide poppy growers with tools to reduce the impact of weed poppies on crop yields (Dr Jason Scott)
- Develop a pathogen test to monitor when disease control is required in pyrethrum crops (Dr Tamieka Pearce)
- Help improve business decisions about botrytis management in vineyards (Professor Kathy Evans)
- Evaluate the effectiveness of virtual fencing technology in commercial dairy systems for improving productivity and animal health and welfare (Dr Megan Verdon)
- Allow farmers to monitor the microbial communities in soils to assist with better soil management (Professor Caroline Mohammed)