A word from the CEO: BCG new laboratory

On Wednesday, July 4 the new BCG laboratory was opened by ex-BCG board member and now CEO of GRDC, Dr Steve Jefferies. On Wednesday, July 4 the new BCG laboratory was opened by ex-BCG board member and now CEO of GRDC, Dr Steve Jefferies. GRDC was the major contributor to the building and we are certain the building will assist in creating enduring profitability for grain growers through more efficient research and development. The funding is very much appreciated.

A new building, it doesn’t matter what it is, is always an exciting time and also gives the sense of progress. For BCG, this is very true. The lab has been purpose built to create a safer workplace for the team and allow them to be more efficient when processing samples. During spring with dry matter cuts and summer with grain samples, efficiency and safety need to be front of mind. 

The workspace allows vehicles to get in at the end of the day and park undercover in a secure area. This allows staff to finish work at a reasonable time in the evening and then deal with the processing the next morning when they are fresh, meaning they can focus on the task at hand which will increase the quality of work and minimise the chance for errors.

Having equipment to remove dust when processing samples and ensure heat is dispersed will also create a better working environment.

BCG often employs casuals and students to undertake this work along with staff who are at the start of their career. By improving the workplace, we hope the students and casuals have an enjoyable time and are inclined to want to come back, advocate for BCG and equally advocate for careers in agriculture as we need all the people we can get and we want them to stay in agriculture.

Farmers I have been talking to are also going through this challenge of how to attract and retain staff. As farming increasingly becomes mechanised with machines that require skilled operators, many farmers are working through how they get access to the staff they need. 

Some farmers are accessing staff who travel from overseas year-in-year-out so that they are familiar with the farm machinery each sowing and harvest. There is a debate about which country has the best operators and will reliably return each year. 

Others are offering experienced operators very attractive packages beyond just salary and emphasising some of the plus’s the community offers. For instance, the Birchip P-12 School is highly regarded and means families can be attracted to the region.

I do know one fallacy; which is that in rural communities there are no jobs in the country.

Everyone I talk to is forever on the hunt for skilled operators. It is a challenge for our industry and we will have to offer many innovative solutions to create workplaces that are fun, safe and desirable. Having fun, safe and desirable workplaces that removes some hazard and distractions doesn’t make it soft. It recognises that if we want people to want to be here, we as employers must ensure we can demonstrate that we are willing to invest in the people who work for us.

Some songs you listen to resonate with you and you don’t really know why. Drake has just released a new album (if there is such a thing) called Scorpion.

Drake is an artist who is from Toronto and is a mad basketball fan. He goes for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA. During the finals Toronto played Cleveland, who Le Bron James played for. Le Bron and Cleveland wiped the floor winning four to zero. That is the background to these two songs.

First, the original which I think is a great song. 

Then the parody which is very clever. I don’t even think you have to follow basketball to appreciate it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgsur8mTAQk