Rural Bank CEO Alexandra Gartmann will return to Birchip on February 22 to discuss ‘Big Data’ with farmers at Birchip Cropping Group’s (BCG) second data farmer workshop.
Ms Gartmann, who was BCG’s CEO from 2001 to 2011, will focus her presentation on the ‘real and perceived’ value of data from the banking and finance sector, and how this relates to farm businesses.
At the first workshop 25 farmers took the opportunity to hear about the value and challenges of on-farm data collection and use from CSIRO researcher Ross Searle.
Mr Searle discussed the issues encountered and the ultimate outcome of The AgData Challenge, in which his team took first place.
The two key issues identified from the challenge pertained to the difficulty in accessing data and then interpreting and using it to assist in management decisions.
Quite consistently these are issues raised by many farmers who are seeking to use their data to improve management practices. This workshop series aims to demystify some of the issues around ‘Big Data’ and provide some insight into how to proceed.
BCG CEO Chris Sounness said that while many farmers are now collating information, getting all data into one format that can be analysed, manipulated and presented can be difficult.
Mr Searle identified the two main formats that data should be in to be able to make use of it, but he did concede that getting current data into appropriate formats can take time and expertise.
Particularly when it comes to spraying, growers are being increasingly motivated to retain data (spray records) to protect themselves from litigation. At the third data farmer workshop at Warracknabeal on March 14, these issues will be explored by Griffith University associate professor Leanne Wiseman.
The workshop series will conclude at Berriwillock on March 27 with farmers invited to consider the value of a data co-op with Business Council for Co-ops CEO Melina Morrison.
The data farmer workshops are free with dinner and drinks provide. Please RSVP via the BCG website, email (info@bcg.org,au) or phone the office on (03) 5492 2787.
