Amy Bennett is currently spending her second summer with BCG while home on university holidays. In between spending time in the field and lab, we were able to ask her a few questions about the family farm at Wilkur and her first year at university.
Mum and Dad currently manage our family farm, to which Dad is the fifth generation Bennett to farm the same property. The Bennett family have been farming in the area since 1882.
The mixed farm crops canola, wheat, barley and peas, and we also run merino ewes and prime lambs. The lambs are sold to Woolworths.
Average growing season rainfall at Wilkur is 204mm, with the soil being a varying Mallee loam.
What are the biggest challenges your farming family have faced over the years?
The biggest one would have to be drought, considering that not only does it impact on the viability of the business, but it can be mentally difficult too.
Mice and locust plagues are natural issues that we have faced over time. The mice situation including high numbers in 2017 and the favourable season, will be something we will need to be on top of for 2018.
Resistance weeds are something else we have to be mindful of because it has/could have a significant impact on the viability of the farm.
What do you enjoy about living in the Birchip community?
The community of Birchip is one I have enjoyed growing up in and have made so many lifelong friends. Having a close-knit community makes the town even more special, which includes how important the sporting clubs are to the community.
What do you enjoy about working at BCG?
BCG is such a friendly environment, everyone is willing to answer any questions I have. This makes it especially special to me as I work towards completing my Bachelor of Agricultural Science at La Trobe University.
What have you enjoyed about your first year at University? What are you looking forward to in 2018?
The best thing about moving to Melbourne for university is meeting new people and experience life outside a rural community. You learn so much from other people and about yourself when you move from the town you grew up in.
The thing I am looking forward to most in 2018 is the more specialised and/or applied agricultural subjects, as first year is very science-based and generalised.
