Fantastic Main Field Day 2005

500 farmers, agricultural researchers and advisors from across Australia came last Tuesday (11 October) to one of Birchip's biggest events for the year - the BCG Main Field Day! 

The Field Day, despite dry conditions, offered farmers some positive new developments for the grains and sheep industry.

AWB Seeds launched their new malt barley variety, Buloke, which will be commercially available for farmers in 2006.  This new variety is offering extremely high yields in the low to medium rainfall areas and is particularly suited to the export malting barley markets in China.

AWB Seeds launched their new malt barley variety, Buloke.

New polymer trials being supported by the CRC for Polymers and Integrated Packaging demonstrated that significant levels of moisture can be retained under a 'glad wrap' product, allowing for the crop to increase biomass and maintain green leaf area for longer than crops grown under normal conditions.  The amazing visuals of this trial had farmers captivated at the thought that there is still opportunity to improve our ability to conserve moisture in our dry environment.  These trials will be repeated by the BCG in 2006.  (See the link to 'posters' below)

Also in demand was Nick Poole, a stripe rust and fungicide expert from FAR (Foundation for Arable Research) in New Zealand.  Nick has been working in collaboration with the BCG for a number of years, developing knowledge and a better understanding of how stripe rust in wheat can be most cost effectively managed in the Wimmera Mallee.  Stripe rust trials at the BCG site showed that one fungicide correctly timed in the Mallee can offer very cost effective control of stripe rust.

San Jolly, sheep nutritionist from Productive Nutrition in SA, clearly outlined some of the rules for ensuring ewes and rams are in the best condition for effective production.  San was kept busy for most of the day answering questions on all aspects of sheep nutrition and production.

Men and Machines was one of the most popular trial tours, where six commercially operating seeding set-ups were demonstrated side by side.  Each machine had sown crop at three different speeds across two different rates of Triflur X.

Men and Machines crowd	John Watson's set-up
Cameron Warne talks about his seeding set-up

The showcase for the day however, was the Systems on Trial tour facilitated by Fiona Best (BCG) and panel discussion with Kate McCormick (John Stuchbery and Associates).  A trial tour of BCG's long-term Systems Trial was followed by a panel discussion session of six Mallee and Wimmera farmers, who were asked to justify why they farm with the farming system they do.  After much debate, the key message was that flexibility in any farming system is paramount.  Read about Systems on Trial from the Field Day

The day was enhanced by a very social atmosphere. 'Gibbo' serenaded the crowds over lunch and at the end of the day.  Beer tasting offered by the AWB was also gratefully received by the crowd.

'Make or Break' was the field day theme, and this field day definitely had the effect of making people feel positive about the future of farming.

Mark Howden, Charlie Walker and Cherie Reilly were amongst the speakers at the Climate & Risk Management trial tour.