Industry Day Tour
On Thursday 1st October (8.30am to 5.00pm), the post Conference Industry Tour to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) to the west of Wagga Wagga promises to be both an informative and enjoyable day for delegates and their guests.
In the conference theme of ‘Quality Science for the Country’ this tour provides an opportunity for conference participants to see the landscape and challenges of growers in the Riverina, and to learn about Australia’s rice industry from a research and commercial perspective.
Unique for its system of canals, the MIA region is one of the richest food producing areas of Australia, specializing in orchard, wine, rice, and vegetable production. The tour will take in visits to the Yanco Agricultural Institute; the Leeton Rice Mill & Sunrice Visitors Centre; and include a luncheon and wine tasting at Willandra Winery.
We encourage participants to join the tour, not only to learn about the rice growing region but for an opportunity to visit regional NSW.
Cost of the tour is $44 (including lunch). A minimum of 20 participants is required for the tour to operate.
Bookings for the tour must be made on your Conference Registration Form, and you can also purchase additional tickets for guests.
Important Information
As the tour takes in a commercial rice milling facility, Occupational Health & Safety requirements mean that visitors on-site must limit jewellery to plain (stone free) wedding bands and plastic eye wear. Bring or wear socks as foot wear will be provided.
Registered tour participants will be asked to complete an OHS form on Day 1 of the Conference to ensure correct sizing of footwear and coats can be provided during the tour.
Itinerary Thursday 1st October
| 8.30am | Pick up in central Wagga Wagga, travel to Yanco (approximately 90 minutes). |
|---|---|
| 10.00am | Visit Yanco Agricultural Institute to hear talks by rice breeders on current methods and challenges; participate in a tour of the cereal chemistry milling laboratory and wet chemistry laboratory (with demonstrations); and observe glasshouse trials (and possibly field trials although October is early for sowing rice). The Yanco Agricultural Institute is the NSW Department of Primary Industries Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Rice and Horticulture. Research is concentrated on crops grown under irrigation. |
| 12.00pm | Depart YAI, travel to winery (approximately 10 minutes). |
| 12.10pm | Willandra Winery. Light lunch provided including juice and fruit, and wine tasting at Toorak Winery cellar door, home of Willandra Estate. |
| 1.15pm | Depart Winery, travel to SunRice (approximately 5 minutes). |
| 1.20pm | Visit Leeton SunRice complex, including tours of the rice mill, appraisal laboratory and the packaging plant, as well as the Visitors Centre where you will receive a complimentary showbag. Leeton is known as the headquarters for the Australian rice industry, and SunRice is a leading international rice food company that mills, processes and markets high quality rice food products. |
| 3.30pm | Depart Leeton, travel to Wagga Wagga (approximately 90 minutes). |
| 5.00pm | Arrive back in central Wagga Wagga. |
