In September, more than 20 agronomists from across Western Australia gathered in the Avon Valley, Cunderdin and Tammin for a Titan Ag Trials field walk.
The day gave our agronomists the chance to see Titan Ag (Titan) herbicides, fungicides and biologicals in action, and to put their knowledge into practice in the paddock.
Agronomists moved through trials on canola, wheat, barley and oats, testing Titan products for weed and disease control.
Each attendee was given a “pin marker” to tag the plots they thought were worth a closer look, whether it was the standout treatment or simply something that caught their eye.
“It was a great way to make sure everyone participated and had a say, no matter their experience level,” said Craig White, State Advisory Services Manager WA.
The pink markers noting plots worth closer inspection.
For Wyalkatchem-based agronomist Jack Watson, the day was about linking research with practical farming.
“It was great to see the pipeline products firsthand, and build confidence in their development through local research and development,” he said.
“There was also good discussion on market trends in pricing, patents and agronomy practice, plus a few laughs along the way and a sunset over some Maximus barley to end the day.”
Beverley agronomist Emily Smith said the relaxed format made it easy for everyone to get involved.
“The Titan field walk was a great glimpse into the world of formulations, with plenty of robust discussion” she said.
“It was an invaluable opportunity to see Titan products in action. I loved that it was informal, because it meant we could take the discussion wherever the group was most interested.”
For Northam agronomist Alana Hartley, the trials were about building confidence in Titan formulations.
“The trials aimed to upskill the agronomy team and assess the efficacy of Titan formulations,” she said.
“It was good to see products such as Titanium 570, Boonta and CC & Dry Gly 700 perform so well. At a grower scale, the differences between products aren’t always obvious, so it’s up to the agronomist to do the work at plot level.”
Alana said the biggest benefit for clients is having an agronomy team that’s done the groundwork.
“The value to our growers is knowing we understand where each product sits in terms of efficacy and crop safety. Trial results, whether they be chemical, variety or nutrition trials, are critical for ground-truthing decisions and ensuring growers remain profitable into the future.”
The day wrapped up with plenty of discussion and a few fresh ideas for how to make next year’s trials even better.