BCG is calling young farmers to register to become a member of the newly established BCG Young Farmer Network. The network, which will be made up of seven groups across the Wimmera, Mallee and North Central, will bring young farmers together to socialise, improve their farming knowledge and create and strengthen their professional networks. The first meeting is scheduled post sowing 2022. Register now by calling (03) 5492 2787 or emailing [email protected]
BCG CEO Fiona Best said the network is a reinvigoration of the organisation’s GAPP (Growth, Adoption, Production and Profit) program with the Young Farmer Network placing a strong focus on leadership from within each group: “BCG is led by farmers for farmers. We continue this ethos with the BCG Young Farmer Network. Each group will be given the opportunity to drive their own research and knowledge requirements, supported by a budget of $5,000 for activity expenditure per annum. This can be used to fund whatever each group decides is their priority, whether that be specialist advice or representation, product demonstrations, field trips, BBQs, crop-tours, etc.,” Ms Best explained. “BCG will guide, facilitate and support the groups.”
A further $5,000 will be provided to each group for on-farm trial work using farm scale equipment or BCG’s specialised trial machinery to expand on a research or demonstration idea.
“BCG see the Young Farmer Network as an opportunity to support all young farmers as well as farm advisors, being a BCG Member is not a prerequisite. The emerging generation of farmers have identified that building strong social and professional networks is fundamental to what can be an isolated profession. The Young Farmer Network will act as a catalyst for growth, connectedness and inclusion amongst early career farmers and young local agribusiness professionals and will be a valuable platform to share ideas about best farming business practice and build resilience,” Ms Best said.
The seven groups will be in the local council areas of Gannawarra, Loddon, Swan Hill, Buloke, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh and West Wimmera.
This project is supported by FRRR, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Related article:
https://www.bcg.org.au/social-networking-events-to-build-drought-resilience/
