Birchip Cropping Group (BCG)

Grain & Graze - Profit through knowledge

Grain and Graze 2 is a major research and extension program to boost farm profitability while helping to protect the enivronment.

Its research focuses on cropping, pastures, livestock, profitability, feedbase management, whole-farm economics, biodiversity, social issues, soil and water.

One of the program’s strengths is the direct involvement of farmers and farming groups in local trials and extension activities.

North Central Victoria is one of seven Grain & Graze 2 regions across Australia.

Northern Victoria Grain and Graze Program

Grain & Graze 2 has invested $1.9 million into the Northern Victoria program, which runs from January 2010 to December 2013.

The results we’re working to achieve are:

increased water use efficiency ($/mm rainfall) by 10.7% across 433 participating mixed farms
increased regional profitability by $18 million ($42,118 per participating farmer)
improved sustainability of mixed farming businesses through better soil cover, reducing erosion and improving non-arable native vegetation.
better capacity to make complex whole farm decisions amongst 120 farmers and 17 advisors.

This will be done through 13 sub-projects.

Who is involved?

Grain & Graze 2 was initiated by the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC) and is con-funded by the Australian Government's Caring for our Country initative.

The Northern Victorian program covers the mixed arming areas of the Victorian Mallee, Wimmera, North Central, Goulburn Broken and North East Catchment Management Authority regions.

The program is hosted by the Birchip Cropping Group in collaboration with the following grower groups: Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc., Victorian Irrigated Cropping Council, Riverine Plains Inc., Vic No-Till Farmers Association and Department of Primary Industries (Vic.).

A partnership exists with CSIRO, the five Catchment Management Authorities, consultants and private industries to deliver research, demonstration and extension activities.

Latest News

Livestock in no-till enterprises case studies

There is much apprehension among Northern Victorian farmers about the compatibility of livestock and no-till cropping systems; in some areas no-till adoption ha ... [more]