Birchip Cropping Group

Cashflow Budgeting for 2026 and beyond
2026-05-28 09:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | 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.

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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 | Foley’s Hill farm near Charlton, Yeungroon- Woosang Rd. First stop approx 1km south of Calder Hwy. Paddock on east side of road. Look for BCG signage., Yeyngroon-Woosand Rd, Woosang, VIC, 3518, Australia
Join Birchip Cropping Group and Cesar Australia at the Pastures and Pests crop walk, held at Foley’s Hill farm 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$e initiative, which aims to build growers’ skills and confidence in making sound financial decisions in an increasingly volatile operating environment.
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RiskWi$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 | -35.867366, 142.663047
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 (get your tickets below).
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

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The site is located in Curyo, closest to the intersection of Lehmann rd and Curyo W road
Click the map below to see directions.

GRDC Harvester Set Up - Terrick Terrick
2026-09-16 09:00 - 15:00 | 148 Knight rd, terrick terrick east, 148 Knight Rd, Terrick Terrick East, VIC, 3573, Australia
Join us for a practical workshop in the Terrick Terrick region focused on helping growers maximise harvest efficiency, reduce losses, and improve profitability.
Hear from industry experts and fellow growers on the latest harvest innovations and practical strategies, including:

Understanding harvest losses, how to measure them, and how to adjust your harvester to minimise grain loss.
The latest information on Harvest Weed Seed Control (HWSC), including effective setup and operation of mill systems (iHSD, Seed Terminator and SCU), chaff decks, and chaff lining.
Reducing the risk of harvester fires.
Improving harvester capacity and efficiency.
Managing harvest operations to boost productivity and profitability.
On-farm grain storage considerations.

This is a free event, with catering provided.
This project is funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

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.
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/quQZ5JbifgjxdjW58
This project is funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

GRDC Harvester Set Up Workshop - Bridgewater
2026-09-17 09:00 - 15:00
9 am–3 pm AEST
Wheelhouse AGnVET, Bridgewater
This free, full-day workshop will provide growers and harvester operators with an opportunity to learn from industry specialists and others in the region.
The workshop will cover improving harvester capacity and efficiency, measuring and reducing grain losses, integrating harvest weed seed control options, managing productivity and economics, reducing the risk of harvester fires, and on-farm grain storage.
Catering will be provided. Registration is essential.
This project is funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
