BCG hosts a record crowd at the Main Field Day!

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BCG hosted a record crowd at the Main Field Day on Thursday 11 September, 600 farmers and industry representatives came to be part of what has become one of the regions premier agricultural events. The theme for the field day was ‘Changing climate- changing practices’ with the morning tours and afternoon discussion sessions developed around this theme. David Shannon, Chairman of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Southern Panel, officially opened the field day stating that BCG is at the forefront of applied research and continues to demonstrate excellence in delivering information to the Mallee Wimmera farming community.

The site looked fantastic with over seventeen agronomic research trials being showcased covering a range of agronomic issues. In the morning the crowd was spilt into four tours to view the various trials, where BCG staff, guest presenters and farmers discussed a range of issues. Some of the hot topics and trials were the new imi-tolerant mustard lines, fluid fertiliser trials, alternative sources of nitrogen, GM canola and some of the new, wheat, barley and pulse varieties.

The afternoon began with the panel session, “Future Investment in Agriculture”, chaired by Shane Kelly from Advisor Edge. Panel members were Chris Brooks Managing Director of Glencore grains, Andy McBain Managing Director of AACL, Lachlan Beaton from Warakirri, local farmer Andy Delahunty and Trevor Stoney a farmer from Western Australia. The panel members shared their company’s investment philosophy and visions for the future of agriculture.

Following the panel session was Professor John Chudleigh’s presentation,“Agriculture’s future in a changing world”. The professor was well received by the audience with his presentation highlighting the likelihood that commodity prices particularly in the grains sector will remain buoyant given the shortage of global food stocks.

The afternoon sessions concluded with participants given the choice of three sessions. Nick Poole facilitated a question and answer session on stripe rust, Mark Slatter from Nufarm hosted a summer spraying session with spray technology demonstration and Tim Dawes from Ridley Agri Products, Shyamal Das from Pro Dairy and Lindsay Davies Horsham Stock Feeds spoke about livestock nutrition in containment areas.

BCG’s Extension Manager Fiona Best said, “to be able to showcase the work of BCG and bring together such a diverse range of quality speakers is a highlight for BCG as an organisation. Such a successful event cannot be achieved however, without support from the local community and BCG would like to thank all those from the community who gave time, energy and resources to make the field day what it was”.

BCG would particularly like to acknowledge the site hosts, the Doran family, for their continued support and contribution to making the 2008 Main Field day such as success!

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