Young Farmer Network Ball 2026 & Golf Afternoon
2026-03-13 18:00 - 23:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Horsham Golf Club, 304 Golf Course Rd, Horsham, VIC, 3401, Australia
Proudly supported by the Vic Drought Hub as part of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund
BCG is proud to present the 2026 Young Farmer Network Ball and this year’s event has officially sold out.
Following two consecutive sold-out events, the third annual formal evening has once again demonstrated the strength, energy and connection within our regional agricultural community.
Featuring live music, outstanding food and a thought-provoking panel discussion, the ball celebrates the leadership, resilience and innovation shaping agriculture’s future. While tickets for the evening are no longer available, we look forward to welcoming a full room of growers, industry professionals and community members for a memorable night.

Date: Friday, March 13, 2026
Time: 6:00pm- 11:00pm
Location: Horsham Golf Club,
Dress Code: Formal
Tickets: $80pp

A Day on the Green – Tickets Still Available !
Missed out on ball tickets? You can still be part of the weekend.
On Saturday, the celebrations continue at the Horsham Golf Club with a relaxed 9-hole Ambrose competition.

Saturday 14 March
Tee off: 1:30pm

Join a team or enter with your mates. It’s a great opportunity to connect, unwind and continue the conversations from the night before.
Tickets for the golf day are still available – secure your spot before they close.

Panel Discussion: Cod, Carbon & Clothes: How the Next Generation is Rewriting Rural Industries
What does a career in agriculture look like in 2026?
It’s no longer a single pathway. From aquaculture ventures emerging in regional communities, to carbon advisory roles shaping farm decision making, to rural apparel brands modernising for new markets, a new generation is stepping into traditional industries and reshaping them from within.
This panel brings together three young professionals working across production, sustainability and branding to explore how regional industries are evolving under market, environmental and consumer pressure. Together, they’ll unpack what’s changing, where opportunity lies and what skills are becoming critical in modern agriculture.
If you’re building a career in ag or wondering what the future of regional industries looks like, this conversation will challenge and expand your thinking.
Dress Code
The dress code is formal.
Entertainment
Live music throughout the evening.
Inspiring local leaders will share in a panel discussion.
Attendance
Anyone 18+ is invited. This is an opportunity to bring our rural communities together, so the ball is open to farmers and their friends, partners, family and employees, as well as industry and community.
Don’t be discouraged to attend if you don’t consider yourself ‘young’ or a ‘farmer’. BCG’s Young Farmer Network is targeted at the youngest active generation on farm (regardless of age), but are open to everyone from farmers, students, those involved in the agricultural industry and rural community members.
Accommodation
We encourage you to book a room for the night so you can continue to enjoy the region the next day. There are several accommodation options surrounding the venue.
More from BCG
Become a member of the BCG Young Farmer Network today for exclusive events and the latest opportunities in agriculture delivered straight to your inbox.

This project is supported by the Vic Drought Hub as part of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Machinery Investment - Riskwi$e Workshop
2026-03-19 09:00 - 14:30 | Charlton Park, Calder Hwy, Charlton, Victoria, 3523, Australia
Farm machinery purchase can put pressure on the whole business. Facilitated by Rob Sands (Aglytica), this hands-on workshop will give you the skills to weigh up the pros and cons of purchasing machinery and ultimately, justify the decision based on sound agronomic and economic considerations.
By the end of the workshop you will:

Understand the steps required to justify a purchase
Understand the considerations and risks of machinery purchases
Understand the hidden costs of sowing and harvest including the potential damage to crops at harvest, sowing efficiency and the effects of weather

Morning tea and lunch will be provided.
All members of the business are encouraged to attend
Please register below to confirm your attendance.

RiskWi$e is a 5-year, $30 million national initiative (2023–2028) aimed at helping Australian grain growers navigate increasing levels of risk from weather variability and price volatility. By improving understanding of the risk-reward relationships in on-farm management decisions, RiskWi$e supports growers in making informed, confident choices that maximise rewards and minimise potential losses.
Join us at this RiskWi$e Workshop to learn how to:

Maximise rewards and minimise losses by understanding the risks behind key decisions on your farm.
Make confident choices about farm business management and succession planning with insights tailored to real-world conditions.
Turn uncertainty into opportunity by balancing the upside potential with the downside risks of every decision.

RiskWi$e is conducted in partnership with grower groups, 6 action research group leads, research/extension partners, CSIRO and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). BCG is leading RiskWi$e work on the ‘Decision Making & Machinery Investment Workshop. Find out more at www.bcg.org.au.

Soils workshop
2026-03-24 10:00 - 14:00 | Drury Rd, Berriwillock, Drury Road, Berriwillock, Victoria, 3531, Australia
Join us for a soil-focused workshop in the Berriwillock region with Dr Cassie Schefe (AgriSci). This practical session will explore how to identify common soil constraints, interpret soil test results, and consider management options.
Key features of the day:

Understanding common soil constraints in the region and how they impact crop growth
How to interpret soil test results and what they mean for management decisions
Practical options for addressing issues such as sodicity, compaction and nutrient limitations
Exploring machinery and management approaches to help improve soil structure and function

Delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Carbon Farming Outreach Program in collaboration with the Grower Group Alliance
This event is run as part of the MCMA DAFF funded soil project – Sus Ag Climate Smart Agriculture Program which was: Farmers are supported to drive agricultural growth, while adopting sustainable NRM practices that protect soil.

Travelling Trials Review Day - Kaniva (Postponed)
2026-03-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Kaniva Community Hub, Kaniva Showgrounds and Recreation Reserve, Kaniva, Victoria, 3419, Australia
Join BCG staff to hear the latest on BCG’s Wimmera Research & how results can be applied on farm.
Join us from 10am at the Kaniva Community Hub
10am – 10:20am hear from Lucy about Slug Monitoring
10:20am – 10:40am hear from Ben about Durum Wheat update
10:40am – 11:00am hear from Dr Yolanda Plowman on Biostimulants
11:00am – 11:20am hear from Dr Yolanda Plowman on Nitrogen and Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers.
11.20am-12pm: Join us for a casual advisory committee meeting over a light lunch.
Registrations are essential. Please register here
This event is delivered by Birchip Cropping Group on behalf of Agriculture Victoria as part of the Victorian Government’s statewide Drought Support Package.

Mallee Seeps Workshop in Speed
2026-03-31 09:00 - 11:30 | 2 golf course rd, speed, 2 Golf Course rd (off Sea Lake, Speed Rd), Speed, VIC, 3488, Australia
Bring your Mallee seeps back into production!
A Mallee Seep is an area affected by a localised perched water table that brings water and salt to the surface soil layers that can result in surface ponding and bare saline scalding over time.
If this is a problem on you farm, join us and other local growers for a free workshop to learn more about options for mitigating Mallee seeps with guest presenter Dr Chris McDonough, Farming Systems Consultant, Insight Extension for Agriculture.
Key features of the day:

Learn how to identify a Mallee seep

Learn about the five steps to identify and then rehabilitate the problem.

How to establish living soil cover to limit capillary rise and evaporation, while restoring soil health.

How to lower or dry up the perched water table by intercepting and utilising the excess water.

See a piezometer demonstration to identify water levels.

The same workshop will be delivered at two locations on the one day and will include an interactive discussion indoors then an inspection of a seep in a nearby paddock. Attendees to bring their own vehicle for the paddock inspection component.
This project is being delivered by BCG and the Mallee Landcare group.

Details:
Tuesday, 31 March, FREE event with light refreshments provided.
Speed – 9am to 11:30am.
Speed Golf Club, 2 Golf Course Road (off the Speed-Sea Lake Road).

For more information, contact BCG at info@bcg.org.au or call 03 5492 2787.

This event is run as part of the MCMA DAFF funded soil project – Sus Ag Climate Smart Agriculture Program which was: Farmers are supported to drive agricultural growth, while adopting sustainable NRM practices that protect soil.
Delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Carbon Farming Outreach Program in collaboration with the Grower Group Alliance

Mallee Seeps Workshop in Ouyen
2026-03-31 13:30 - 16:00 | Ouyen Golf Club, Cooper Street, Ouyen, VIC, 3490, Australia
Bring your Mallee seeps back into production!
A Mallee Seep is an area affected by a localised perched water table that brings water and salt to the surface soil layers that can result in surface ponding and bare saline scalding over time.
If this is a problem on you farm, join us and other local growers for a free workshop to learn more about options for mitigating Mallee seeps with guest presenter Dr Chris McDonough, Farming Systems Consultant, Insight Extension for Agriculture.
Key features of the day:

Learn how to identify a Mallee seep

Learn about the five steps to identify and then rehabilitate the problem.

How to establish living soil cover to limit capillary rise and evaporation, while restoring soil health.

How to lower or dry up the perched water table by intercepting and utilising the excess water.

See a piezometer demonstration to identify water levels.

The same workshop will be delivered at two locations on the one day and will include an interactive discussion indoors then an inspection of a seep in a nearby paddock. Attendees to bring their own vehicle for the paddock inspection component.
This project is being delivered by BCG and the Mallee Landcare group.

Details:
Tuesday, 31 March, FREE event with light refreshments provided.
Ouyen – 1.30pm to 4pm.
Ouyen Golf Club, 33 Cooper Street.

Morning session in Speed 9am – 12pm.

For more information, contact BCG at info@bcg.org.au or call 03 5492 2787.

This event is run as part of the MCMA DAFF funded soil project – Sus Ag Climate Smart Agriculture Program which was: Farmers are supported to drive agricultural growth, while adopting sustainable NRM practices that protect soil.
Delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Carbon Farming Outreach Program in collaboration with the Grower Group Alliance

Cashflow Budgeting for 2026 and beyond
2026-05-28 09:00 - 12:30 | 73 Cumming Avenue (BCG)
Join farmers from across the region to an informative and interactive morning with Greg Kuchel and Daniel Toohey from Planfarm advisory to learn about the fundamentals of cashflow budgeting and how it can assist your business in 2026 and beyond.
Discover how it can be used for best effect, who it is for (spoiler: it’s you, the farmer), how to adjust it if the season changes and how often it should be done.
This workshop, held on Thurs 28 May 9am until 12.30pm in the BCG conference room, will provide practical tools and worked examples that participants can apply immediately on their own farms, as well as frameworks to support clearer conversations with family members, business partners and advisers involved in key decisions.
It is part of a series of workshops supported by the GRDC RiskWi$e initiative, which aims to build growers’ skills and confidence in making sound financial decisions in an increasingly volatile operating environment.
For more information, contact BCG at info@bcg.org.au or 03 54922787
‘Cashflow budgeting for 2026 and beyond’ workshop. Thursday 28 May 9am til 12.30pm, BCG Conference room, 73 Cumming Avenue, Birchip. Free event. Morning tea and lunch provided.
Registration is essential.
The GRDC’s RiskWi$e initiative is led nationally by CSIRO with BCG leading the Victorian Action Research Group.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RiskWi$e is a 5-year, $30 million national initiative (2023–2028) aimed at helping Australian grain growers navigate increasing levels of risk from weather variability and price volatility. By improving understanding of the risk-reward relationships in on-farm management decisions, RiskWi$e supports growers in making informed, confident choices that maximise rewards and minimise potential losses.
RiskWi$e is conducted in partnership with grower groups, 6 action research group leads, research/extension partners, CSIRO and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). BCG is leading RiskWi$e work on the ‘Decision Making & Machinery Investment Workshop. Find out more at www.bcg.org.au.

Pastures and Pests Crop Walk
2026-07-15 10:00 - 13:00 | Matt McGurks, Yeungroon- Woosang Rd, Yeyngroon-Woosand Rd, Woosang, VIC, 3518, Australia
Join Birchip Cropping Group and Cesar Australia at the Pastures and Pests crop walk, held at Matt McGurks property near Charlton.
Visiting Cesar’s Red Legged Earth Mite (RLEM) TIMERITE trial, attendees will explore:

How to identify RLEM and avoid confusing them for other common mites.
Results from the new TIMERITE dates, and understand how the tool works to support managing RLEM.
Gain insight into what other invertebrates might be in the paddock.

The crop walk will also visit BCG’s pasture soil amendments trial, ran in collaboration with LaTrobe University. The project team will cover interim results and findings so far, including:

How different pasture species and mixes perform on challenging sodic soils.
Understand the role of soil amendments, including manure and gypsum, in improving pasture productivity.
Discuss practical strategies to build more resilient feedbases under increasingly variable seasonal conditions.

This is a free event.
A light lunch will be provided following the session.
This event received funding from the Grains Research Development Corporation
This research was funded by the Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Climate-Smart Agriculture program through the project ‘Pasture diversification and management to promote climate resistance and resilience’. It is a collaboration with project partner La Trobe University for Activity 3: Trialling soil amendments leading to improvement in productivity, soil organic matter and soil carbon.

Grain marketing in volatile times
2026-07-28 09:30 - 13:30 | Horsham Golf Club, 304 Golf Course Rd, Horsham, VIC, 3401, Australia
Join farmers from across the region at an informative and interactive workshop to learn the fundamentals of grain marketing and how they can be applied in your own business. To support this, BCG are hosting a free workshop, ‘Grain marketing in volatile times’ on Tuesday 28 July at Horsham Golf Club, Horsham.
Joe Boyle from Bendigo Bank will guide attendees through a current market outlook, followed by Ed Scamps and Darren Arney from CloudBreak Grain Marketing who will share insights into the challenges currently facing growers and highlight opportunities to support a profitable 2026/27 grain marketing season. Topics will include:

The drivers of current market volatility, are these opportunities and how to take advantage?

what market leading indicators to look for to assist in selling your grain at an optimum price,

strategies to ‘open up the grain marketing window’ to achieve higher prices,

how to identify, and understand, the ‘one percenters’ that can improve the bottom line such as grade spreads, parcelling grain, contract optimisation, and dealing with off spec grain; and

seasonality, don’t swim against the tide. Understand the four key periods to market lentils.

This event is part of a series of workshops supported by the GRDC RiskWi$e initiative, which aims to build growers’ skills and confidence in making sound financial decisions in an increasingly volatile operating environment.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
RiskWi$e is a 5-year, $30 million national initiative (2023–2028) aimed at helping Australian grain growers navigate increasing levels of risk from weather variability and price volatility. By improving understanding of the risk-reward relationships in on-farm management decisions, RiskWi$e supports growers in making informed, confident choices that maximise rewards and minimise potential losses.
RiskWi$e is conducted in partnership with grower groups, 6 action research group leads, research/extension partners, CSIRO and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). BCG is leading RiskWi$e work on the ‘Decision Making & Machinery Investment Workshop. Find out more at www.bcg.org.au.

BCG's Main Field Day 2026
2026-09-09 08:30 - 16:00
BCG’s Main Field Day will be held on Wednesday 9 September at our Main Research Site at Birchip.
The Main Field Day is our flagship event, showcasing the latest in local agronomic research. Each year, it draws growers, advisors, and industry professionals together to explore advances in crop management, weed control, soil nutrition, new varieties, and farming systems.
Attendees can expect:

Hands-on field demonstrations and guided trial tours
Expert presentations from BCG staff, researchers and industry
Focused discussions on disease control, herbicide innovation, yield optimisation, and environmental resilience

The event offers both practical insights and strategic perspectives to assist farmers as they navigate evolving conditions and market expectations.
Attendee information

Entry is free for BCG members; non-members tickets are $50. If you are a BCG member, please log in to claim your free tickets.
We encourage the purchasing of tickets before the event to streamline your experience on the day

What to expect on the day

The day starts at 8:30am and coffee will be available onsite
Trial tours led by researchers and agronomy specialists
Networking opportunities to connect with peers and industry reps
Latest agronomic research specific to Wimmera-Mallee farming systems

Why should you attend?

Discover the latest in varieties, weed control, nitrogen management and more
Meet with agronomists, researchers, industry representatives and other farmers
Gain tools to adapt practices that improve your farm’s profitability

GRDC Harvester Set Up - Echuca
2026-09-16 09:00 - 15:00
Save the date! More details to come.
Held in the Echuca region, this workshop will provide attendees an opportunity to learn from others in their region about improving harvester capacity and efficiency, reducing and measuring harvester losses, integrating harvest weed seed control options, productivity and economics, reducing harvest fires and risks, and on-farm grain storage.
This is a free event with catering provided on the day.
This project is funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

GRDC Harvester Set Up Workshop - Ultima
2026-09-17 09:00 - 15:00
Save the date! More details to come.
Held in the Ultima region, this workshop will provide attendees an opportunity to learn from others in their region about improving harvester capacity and efficiency, reducing and measuring harvester losses, integrating harvest weed seed control options, productivity and economics, reducing harvest fires and risks, and on-farm grain storage.
This is a free event with catering provided on the day.
This project is funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
