Current Projects

Project	Description
BCG drought initiatives (supported by the Victorian State Government)	Through various activities, BCG aimed to reduce the feelings of hopelessness and the negative impact of social isolation on farmers and their families by developing a support network for farmers which encouraged farmers to support each other in a way that ‘forced’ them to re-engage with their families, peers and community. We designed and developed a number of drought support initiatives, some of which were completed in 2005 and several of which continued in 2006. Find out more...
Grains Research Expos	Held annually in Birchip. They have previously been held across the southern region including Corowa and Roseworthy.
The REAL project - Relevant, Experienced, Applied Learning (GRDC funded)	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. Our main site hosts 40 trials and demonstrations across 20ha, conducted by the BCG and DPI. Our satellite sites are smaller versions of the main research site located up to 100km radius from Birchip with trials addressing agronomic issues identified as having local significance to members in these areas.  Where are the sites?
Flexible Farming Systems (GRDC funded)	This project is a continuation of the Farming Systems trial that began in 1999. The current project began in February 2006 and will run for three years. It is being conducted with VNTFA and aims to support farmers in understanding the benefits/limitations of newer options in their farming systems, and acquiring the skills required to do them well. More information about the Flexible Farming Systems trial
Improved techniques for managing herbicide resistance (supported by GRDC)	This project continues previous trials looking at improved techniques for managing herbicide resistant ryegrass in co-operation with Hart (SA). Long-term crop rotations in combinations of herbicide usage and alternative strategies such as chaff charts, will be investigated over three years. Find out more...
Improving the profitability of cropping on hostile soils (funded by GRDC)	In collaboration with the DPI, BCG began a five-year project in July 2003 that will investigate improving the profitability of cropping on hostile subsoils (ranked second to rainfall variability as the cause of poor and variable yields across the neutral to alkaline soils of southern Australia). One of these sites is 5km from Birchip on the Sunraysia Hwy, the other is on the Lubeck-Stawell Road, Lubeck.
Precision Agriculture	In 2003 another five-year project with the DPI also began in which BCG will collaborate to bridge the gap between the potential use of Precision Agriculture (PA) technology and its actual application on farm. Ian and Warrick McClelland host this site at JilJil, near Birchip.
Diagnostic Field Schools (FarmBis supported)	Two Herbicide Diagnostic and Fungicide Diagnostic Field Schools are held annually. In the past these focused on optimising herbicide and fungicide use and crop impact/disease identification.
Optimising Economic Yield Responses Through Disease Management in Winter Cereals (supported by GRDC)	With Southern Farming Systems and the Foundation of Arable Research (NZ), the BCG is involved with this project which investigates practices to optimise yields by manipulation of crop canopy and use of fungicides for disease management.
Demonstrating Sustainable Land Management Practices (supported by Mallee CMA)	In this project, BCG works with the Hopetoun and Waitchie Landcare Groups along with DPI to implement at a paddock scale sustainable practices that have been identified to be successful at small scales. The project works at applying these practices at an appropriate scale, involving a range of partners. Two sites were established at Hopetoun and Waitchie, with a third established at Sea Lake in 2006.
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