Farmers have praised the Birchip Cropping Group for staging another successful Main Field Day, despite a challenging growing season.
Regardless of the confronting sight of BCG’s main research trial site – currently a patchwork of struggling, water-stressed and frosted cereal, pulse and canola plots – growers left the Main Field Day encouraged.
“Even in seasons like the one we’re having now, there is always something to learn,” one grower commented.
BCG tackled issues being faced by the region’s growers head-on, with frank and open discussions about risk management, frost, cutting cereal crops for hay, herbicide resistant weeds and disease.BCG research agronomist Simon Craig said while the dry winter conditions had impacted BCG’s ability to properly showcase its research work, the discussions, led by a team of high-calibre researchers and industry specialists, were timely and provided local growers with an excellent opportunity to learn.
During a discussion about sowing timing, Foundation for Arable Research director Nick Poole explained that while later sowing reduced the severity of stubble borne diseases infecting crops, growers needed to weigh up the disease risk against proven productivity gains from earlier (or timely) sowing.
One of the day’s most popular discussion sessions focused on hay production.
Growers keen to hear about the likely consequences of cutting frosted or water-stressed crops for hay heard from a panel that included hay producers, hay buyers and a farm advisor.
Grain growers were encouraged to thoroughly consider the consequences of making hay before cutting their crops.
“You need to have a plan,” Landmark agronomist Greg Toomey said.
“Storage, markets and logistics need to be organised. Just cutting a paddock is risky.”
Growers were reminded of the costs involved in hay making including cutting, raking, bailing, stacking, storing and carting.
Agcor animal nutritionist also urged producers to consider the quality of the hay they were likely to produce and if there was a market for it.
He said the dairy industry had specific nutritional requirements and the hay market was sensitive to supply and demand.
Discussions about weed control and herbicide resistance were also well received with farmers saying they felt more positive about overcoming weed challenges in the future.
The day’s highlight was undoubtedly a keynote address from Croppa Creek farmer, author and trainee helicopter pilot Sam Bailey.
Despite the challenges of the season Sam, who suffered a spinal injury that left him a quadriplegic at 19, encouraged growers to ‘never give up’.
Sharing his remarkable life story, which has included regaining his independence, fulfilling his dream to become a farmer, flying an ultralight aircraft and finding love, Sam left the audience uplifted and inspired.
“One of the greatest things about life is that you never know what’s around the corner,” he said.
After Sam’s address many, including Sam and his wife Jenny, stayed around to enjoy refreshments, chat with friends, colleagues and neighbours and enjoy a spectacular Mallee sunset.
It was a fitting conclusion to another great BCG-hosted event for farmers.
