Tom Considine recently spent four weeks work placement at BCG for his advanced diploma in agribusiness studies at Longerenong College. Students enrolled in this course take part in industry placement for eight weeks over their course to get an understanding of the wider industry.
Growing up on a family farm at Berriwillock, I have always known BCG to be an excellent source of information and I enjoy reading the BCG Season Research Results at the end of every season. Although I didn’t know what went on behind the scenes and I was very interested to find out. I have never been involved with research and development before, and therefore took the opportunity to learn.
Seed packing has been a big task for BCG over the last four weeks which is very important to the program. While it can get a little repetitive, it gave me firsthand experience in the sheer volume of trials occurring this season.
One of the trials that I have been able to watch over my time is the GRDC-funded managing early sown wheat at the main research site at Curyo. The trial has four times of sowing, therefore I was able to assist in growth staging on time of sowing one and emergence counts on time of sowing two and three, while helping pack and sow time of sowing four. Watching this trial developing has been something I have really enjoyed, as well as seeing the initial results come in.
During the time at BCG I have spent a lot of time outdoors and traveling the Wimmera and Mallee. Soil testing has seen the BCG team travel some vast distances, and while the first day soil testing wasn’t the most satisfying due to the wet, muddy, boggy conditions, I did enjoy it once I got the hang of it. Getting a glimpse of the Sheep Hills and Rupanyup silos along the way was an added bonus.
Experiencing the variety of trial sites and the variation between them was evident in the four weeks as I assisted at Longerenong, Goschen, Nhill, Lake Boga and Curyo. These are only a handfull of the site the BCG team will be working on this year.
My time at BCG has been a blast. I have picked up a few new weed names and a greater knowledge of the differences between crop varieties and characteristics from listening to the knowledgeable BCG staff.
I’m very glad I had the chance to understand what goes on in research and development, and thank BCG for having me for the last four weeks.
