The original GAPP program ran between 2015 and 2017 with the aim of increasing on-farm production and profitability, particularly among young farmers. The program brought in a range of agricultural professionals to present at discussion group meetings and crop walks over the course of the project. In the years since the project ended, we have sought funding for, and have been able to run, a few events under the GAPP banner.
This year, with support from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, we have been able to run a series of online workshops and webinars, and facilitate another round of discussion group meetings for the GAPP groups.
The GAPP groups are spread across the Wimmera and Mallee and are based in the West Wimmera, Southern Mallee, Quambatook, Manangatang, Rupanyup and Hopetoun as well as an Agri-Women’s group (based in Birchip).
In the coming months (depending on COVID regulations) there will be GAPP meetings held with each group. It will be an opportunity for GAPP members to get together and discuss the content delivered through the online workshops and webinars held throughout June and to connect with other growers. More details for these discussion group meetings will be released as information becomes clearer on the state of restrictions.
Digital workshops and webinars have been delivered as part of the NLP GAPP project so far – providing content which will be discussed at the GAPP group meetings when they are held later in the year. Starting with a series of four interactive digital workshops with Kate Burke in the first week of June, which focused on preparing for adverse events by building a more robust and resilient farm business powered by resilient people.
This was followed by an interactive digital workshop on Understanding Crop Potential and Calculating Nitrogen to Improve Crop Biomass presented by Dr James Hunt, from La Trobe University, and Harm Van Rees, from CropFacts and BCG, in the second week of June.
Webinars on Climate Forecasts, Best Practice Grazing Management have been delivered and are available for veiwing on our website and the final webinar providing information on Understanding Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will be undertaken soon. Visit the BCG website for more information.
You do not have to have attended a meeting, workshop or webinar before to join a GAPP group and joining a group is not restricted to only BCG members. Contact us at info@bcg.org.au to get more information on how to sign up.
