Three decades ago, a group of local farmers was inspired to form a discussion group which would evolve to become the Birchip Cropping Group.
Recently appointed CEO, Fiona Best, one of the early employees of BCG, felt that current staff would benefit from hearing of the beginnings of the organization and its initial inspiration. She invited inaugural Chair of the group and current Board Member, Ian McClelland, to speak to current staff and present a summary of BCG’s background.
During 1989 and for the first year or so, the twelve farmers met to discuss farm financials to a level of frank detail which had not before been contemplated. In the course of these revelations, they found themselves regularly circling back to their place in the local community and their role in it as farmers.
Stimulated by a trip to the Hart Field Day in South Australia in 1992, the group determined to design and undertake local research trials with the objective of improving the financial viability of farmers in the Wimmera and Mallee. The overarching aim was to ensure that the region remain viable as a community, ensuring the continuance of services such as supermarkets, hospitals, shops and schools by developing the knowledge, practices and profitability of growers.
By November 1992, a sub-committee had been formed to provide more detail about the process, and to prepare a project proposal for the establishment of a research and demonstration site for cropping and pasture in the South Eastern Mallee.
Quambatook farmer Peter Mann was employed in 1993 to run the first research trial into the ways in which a range of chemicals affected various crops. This was also the year of the first Main Field Day held on John Jones’s property, north-west of Birchip. The first field-day book was compiled and written by local farmer David Smith.
Over 500 people attended the event, which consolidated the group’s determination, and established the standing of the BCDS (Birchip Cropping Demonstration Site).
Not long after, agronomist Harm van Rees and a busload of growers from Bendigo travelled to Charlton to view the site. Fortunately for the group, at about this time Harm was transitioning into full-time agricultural consulting and accepted an offer to assist on a one-day-per-week basis.
It soon became clear that a more rigorous approach was required if a bunch of farmers were to be taken seriously, with the result that funding was sought to expand their ability to run high-quality research trials. Eighty growers paid a fifty-dollar membership fee and sponsorship was sought and received from Rural Bank, Incitec-Pivot and many other supportive partners.
In 1994, Tasmanian Ag-Science graduate twenty-one-year-old Felicity Pedley (later to become Felicity Harrop) was employed to undertake the trial work alongside Harm, and soon after Tony Fay was co-opted from Ag-Victoria.
In that year, over one thousand interested growers turned out to the Main Field Day.
As the organisation continued to grow, a more formalised management structure was established. Alexandra Gartmann, whose previous designation was Manager, was appointed as the first CEO. Another milestone.
Over the past twenty-seven years, BCG has had a substantial impact on farming practices. One clear example was its research in nitrogen management. This was led by New Zealander Nick Poole who, during the ‘90s, emphasized the need for nitrogen fertilizer. The result was a change in practice for many growers. Subsequent ongoing research undertaken by BCG gave growers an even better understanding of nitrogen management.
Today, BCG has almost three decades of experience in delivering research and extension projects in the Wimmera and Mallee. A measure of its effectiveness and influence is BCG’s delivering on over 30 publicly funded research and extension projects, partnering with organisations such as the GRDC, National Landcare, Major Australian Universities and Catchment Management Authorities. These range from local to national and are focused on cropping, livestock, hay, soils, natural resource management, climate, agricultural technology, community development and renewable energy
Throughout its history, BCG has always striven to maintain the same spirit intrinsic to those first meetings. Even now, conversations often circle back to the community and BCG’s role in the continued enhancement of the livelihoods of the people of the Wimmera-Mallee.
Right now, with the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, times are tough for local businesses which provide the services required to make our towns livable and which ensure an attractive and functioning community. They need our support now and when, inevitably, normality returns.
We know that our communities will rally together as they always have and that, when the siren sounds on the hiatus in our economy, life will return to the streets of our towns.
Three decades later, as they sow the first trials of 2020, BCG is determined, as ever to improve the prosperity of Australian broadacre farming, through applied science-based research and extension.
