Fine tuning farming systems to maximise profitability will be a theme at this year’s Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) Trials Review Day on Friday 21 February from 9am at the Birchip Community Leisure Centre. The members-only event will deliver growers, advisers, and industry the latest and most relevant local research to set them up for a successful 2025.
“Trials Review Day brings together presenters who will provide in depth analysis and learnings from 2024 on topics such as disease, soil moisture status and variety performance” said Senior Manager Extension and Communications, Grace Hosking. “There are also topics designed to provide thought provoking approaches and prompt growers to consider profitable and sustainable changes to their farming businesses” she added.
Setting the scene is Dale Boyd, Seasonal Risk Agronomist, Agriculture Victoria. He will provide an analysis of seasonal conditions, drawing from Victoria’s 15 year old soil moisture probe network. Mr Boyd will examine how last year’s below average yields, late season rainfall in October and November and minimal rain over summer in some districts could shape decision making.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation’s National Variety Trial (GRDC NVT) variety results will be summarised by BCG staff, Ashlee Tierney, Anna Marcus and Matthew Lade highlighting the performance of wheat, barley, canola and pulses in Wimmera, Mallee, and North Central regions.
Outcomes of the GRDC-funded Hyperyielding Cereals research will be discussed by Dr Kenton Porker, Farming Systems Agronomist, CSIRO. The research focusses on optimising crop management tactics, such as time of sowing, and attendees will learn more about meeting critical growth windows in cereals that set crops up for success without increasing risk during challenging seasons.
The management of summer weeds, and the influence it can have on changing farming systems, will also be a highlight in the program. BCG’s Flaxleaf fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) research, led by Research Agronomist, Angus Butterfield, has attracted local interest in 2024 and he will present the results of research that is currently underway. Mark Congreve, senior consultant at iCan Rural, will join him in the line up to share his experiences of 15 years of research into controlling the weed in New South Wales highlighting the successful control measures he has observed.
Bailey Kilpatrick from SwarmFarm Robotics, will conclude the day and offer growers an insight into how autonomous tractor technology is being adopted on farms across Australia.
BCG Trials Review Day is a members’-only event. To become a member visit www.bcg.org.au/memberships . To secure your place at BCG’s Trials Review Day, and access the full program, register at https://www.bcg.org.au/event/trials-review-day-2025/
This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
