History

Welcome to our history pages. Select a date from the timeline below to find out what happened at BCG during that year.

BCG Timeline

2004

New staff include Simon Craig (Technical Officer), James Hunt (Yield Prophet Coordinator), Alexandra Liston (Administration Assistant), and Jonathan Starks (Project Officer).

Our main research site is on Ken Hinkley's property on the Sunraysia Highway and our field day theme is 'Just add water'.

For BCG, 2004 is a period of consolidation, of planning for the future, improving the way we do research and extension and developing the skills of our people.

A major difference is the change to a Board structure, with the appointment of a CEO (Alexandra Gartmann) and establishment of an advisory committee, instead of the committee of management and Manager. This follows BCG's dramatic growth and the importance of managing staff, projects and raising finances professionally.

The next three-year strategic plan is developed to guide us to even greater achievements in the future.

A very successful event is the launching of 'Making Conservation Pay' at Federation Square in Melbourne in November. We seek to communicate with urban-based businesses, government and city consumers in particular, that most farmers are conservation conscious and are doing many things on their farms consistent with good environmental practice. The challenge is to find ways that make conservation pay, not only in terms of profit but also in terms of living standards that result in happy, prosperous, sustainable communities.

BCG members are given access to the Virtual Agronomy section of the website (previously Virtual Field Day), initially funded by RIRDC. This allows them to follow the progress of current trials throughout the season from their home, plus keep updated on current issues (eg stripe rust) with photos, advice and assistance in diagnosis and treatment.

'The REAL project - relevant, experienced, applied learning' begins, funded by GRDC. This project aims to provide timely, applied and real information to farmers, advisors and consultants through the ongoing establishment of relevant and credible demonstration and experimental agronomic sites across the southern Mallee and Wimmera.

BCG produce a report 'Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Wimmera - Mallee Cropping Systems' to provide some answers and practical ways for grain growers in the Wimmera and Mallee region of Victoria to reduce their greenhouse emissions whilst still farming profitably. Read full report

The 12-month project 'Improving land management decisions through a better understanding of factors limiting production and the effect of climate on production and recharge' funded by NLP (National Landcare Program) commences. It builds upon existing climate and in-paddock variation investigations taking place in the region to improve our understanding of current systems. Read the full report

Read about The Year That Was - 2004 written by BCG Chairman, Ian McClelland.