Harvest is my favourite time of year. By now, the die is largely cast, yield potential is set, and the focus is on getting the crop off as efficiently and safely as possible.
There is a real energy across north-west Victoria, with most of the region enjoying a very good season. It is not lost on me the significance of hearing farmers, some of whom have been farming for 50 years and more, describing 2026 as potentially the biggest crops they have grown in their lifetime.
There is no doubt BCG has played an important role in driving the productivity gains we are seeing across the region. Each year, BCG attracts around $5 million in research and extension investment, supporting a team of 30 staff delivering practical, locally relevant applied research. This investment helps farmers improve productivity, profitability and decision-making. Good seasons create opportunity, but decades of research, innovation and improved farming practices help farmers make the most of them. BCG is proud to be part of that progress.
Another thing I love about harvest, particularly in a good season, is that it brings new faces to our communities. Birchip and surrounding towns have welcomed plenty of international workers joining harvest teams, many experiencing an Australian grain harvest for the first time. Long days, big machinery and plenty of activity are all part of the experience.
It is, however, a key time on farms to reinforce the importance of safety. BCG exists to support the prosperity of farmers and rural communities, and fundamental to that is ensuring everyone gets home safely at the end of each day. It is a simple message, but an important one. We have seen too many serious injuries during harvest. Every farming business will have its own strategies to manage the workload and pressures of harvest, but nothing is more important than your people. No crop is worth compromising someone’s safety.
Visitors
The past month has also seen BCG host an impressive line-up of visitors, reinforcing our growing national profile. We welcomed the CSIRO Agriculture and Food Advisory Committee, including senior CSIRO research leaders and industry representatives, to Birchip for three days of engagement with our farmers, staff and research program. We also hosted Professor Michael Walsh and the Charles Sturt University weed research team, who explored regional weed management challenges and research opportunities, including our summer weeds trials at Reedy Dam. These visits are more than an opportunity to showcase BCG. They put our farmers, research priorities and regional opportunities directly in front of some of Australia’s leading agricultural scientists and decision-makers. Getting influential people into our paddocks is one of the most effective ways to attract future investment and partnerships.
BCG Nexus
The recent $2.5 million Coalition election commitment towards BCG Nexus, state of the art accommodation, is another significant vote of confidence in our region and our ambitions. BCG will continue to advocate strongly for investment, innovation and major projects that attract talent, strengthen our communities and put our region and its farmers on the national map. We are ambitious about what can be achieved from Birchip and determined to ensure our region continues to prosper well into the future.
BCG will be delivering a 2026 Harvest Series, building on our successful sowing series. Keep an eye out for Claudia as she gets out across the region, capturing harvest stories, farmer experiences and results.
Wishing everyone a successful harvest 2026.
