Welcome to the 2023 BCG Season Research Results compendium. I hope you enjoy what is the culmination of a significant year of research and extension for BCG.
From summer 2022 into the main 2023 winter cropping season, BCG established 31 trial sites, comprising more than 140 small-plot trials and eight paddock-scale trials to operate a total of 155 managed trials across the Mallee, Wimmera, and North Central regions. Thank you to all the farmer members who provided land for research in 2023.
The trials were complemented by more than 30 separate extension activities which ensured farmers in the region had every opportunity to gain more knowledge for their farming business and could connect with other farmers, researchers, agronomists and industry representatives.
A capacity crowd turned out for Trials Review Day, at the Birchip Community Leisure Centre. Attendance at the Main Field Day, hosted by the Lehmann family at Kinnabulla, was impressive, bolstered by 50 secondary students from the North Central Local Learning and Employment Network school cluster and Bendigo, who joined growers keen to learn the latest in agronomic research.
Other highlights include the continued success of our work through the Northwest Broadacre node of the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub. Supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, it is delivering some great work to enhance our drought preparedness and resilience. The further expansion of the BCG Young Farmer Network was another highlight, with some great discussion group activities and the ‘Igniting Resilience’ event in March at Swan Hill. The Chair’s Breakfast in October brought about some great discussion and ideas as Dr Michael Robertson, CSIRO Director of Food and Agriculture, provided an engaging and informative address that appealed to the diverse audience in attendance.
The articles in this compendium will provide a great reference for years to come.
The variety analysis of wheat, barley, canola, vetch and lentils is always interesting as the traits and performance of new and existing crop varieties are compared. After a wet spring in 2022 and summer in 2023, the disease control trials – including those at Kinnabulla, Wallup and Longerenong – will provide some great insight into the most cost-effective fungicide options for a range of crop types. And with the high cost and sometimes scarcity of urea last year, BCG’s nutrition research is as important as ever.
Thank you to the Advisory Committees who provide valuable input into shaping our research and extension activities.
Thank you again to the board. I welcome new board member Cameron Warne and thank outgoing board member Stefano di Pieri for his service to the board.
Thanks to all our partners and collaborators, along with GRDC, who support BCG to make our farmers more profitable and build stronger communities in our region.
Thanks goes to BCG Chief Executive Officer Fiona Best and the BCG staff who have once again delivered an excellent year of research and extension, producing an extensive volume of research and outputs of benefit to our members.
Finally, I express my gratitude to you, our members, for continuing to back BCG. Your support through attending events, providing feedback, hosting trial sites and providing resources is what makes us so successful.
I hope you will take every opportunity to get involved this year, that you enjoy reading this compendium, and it aids in your decision making for what I hope is a profitable 2024 for us all.
John Ferrier
Chair
