Brian Barry farms with his wife, Donna, and parents Brian Barry Snr and Maureen. He and Donna live with their three children, James, Marie and Jack on the farming property, ‘Cocamba’, south of Managatang. Brian recently retired from the BCG Board after eight years of service. He continues to juggle his family, farming and community commitments and remains a member of the BCG Mallee Advisory Committee.
How was harvest?
Not too bad. We didn’t set any yield records because, apart from one corner of our property, we didn’t get the January 2016 rains. We actually got more grain in 2010, but this harvest was still very good.
We stayed on track this year by calculating our yield potential based on estimated plant available water and water use efficiency calculations. So we matched our inputs to our yields accordingly. The previous season (2015) was one of our worst cash flow years ever so one of our strategies last year was to put in more legumes. We also store most of what we grow. Feed barley will be hard to get off the farm (because of low prices) and we lose a lot of value through freight costs so my strategy will be to keep the grain as long as long as I can on farm.
How do you juggle farming, family and community commitments?
I am a member of the local Victorian Farmers Federation, Country Fire Association, Road Rescue group, Secretary of local Landcare and I joined the Managatang School Council last year. Donna has been heavily involved with the pre-school and school Parents and Friends Association. It gets harder to manage as our little town gets smaller and there are less people to share the volunteer work. This is the main reason I stepped down from the BCG Board.
Why did you join the BCG board and what were your highlights?
I have been involved with BCG for 20 years. I joined the Advisory Committee after Rodney Mitchell (founding board member) called to invite me – I was 21 or 22. At the first BCG Field Day I went to they were talking about chasing a 6t/ha wheat crop. I enjoyed meeting farmers and researchers from other places so when the opportunity came to join the Board, I thought it was a good next step from the Advisory Committee and a good learning opportunity. And I felt I could add something from the perspective of an ‘on-the-ground’ farmer.
Our networks are getting bigger and bigger and I think it’s important to get out of your own little nest and to travel. I have enjoyed rubbing shoulders with different people to learn more and witnessing the different leadership styles of staff and Board members. The committee trip to Western Australia in 2003 was a ripper because we were got to visit some great places and got to know each other more.
What do you value about BCG’s services?
Our research. It is important to have local content – it means a lot to people but we can also have members from 110kms north of Birchip through to Nhill and it can still be translated to a member’s farm. It’s a critical point.
The BCG network is also important. These networks are evident at our events and are also benefiting the new GAPP groups. We are part of a real club and feel we are tied in. I think it’s important to have events once or twice a year that strengthen and widen that network.
What qualities does a person need to be an effective board member?
Go by the ratio: “you have two ears to one mouth” so listen twice as much as you speak.
It takes time but if you do get on a Board, try to get some formal board training. It helps to gain extra skills and you can apply the training with your personal experiences.
What is the best advice you have been given as a farmer or in life?
Leave it (the farm) better than when you found it.
It’s too late to start saving money during a drought.
You haven’t got a good enough memory to remember all your mistakes so it’s better to be honest and have integrity in what you do.
Reading recomendation
A great article from my former board member, Zvi Hochman, about Climate change and wheat yields
https://theconversation.com/changing-climate-has-stalled-australian-wheat-yields-study-71411
