BCG is a hive of activity with harvest, manual article writing, funding bid applications and event planning all occurring at once.
Over 80 per cent of our trials are now harvested, but this doesn’t mean the headers can stop anytime soon! The BCG team also contract harvests trials at Yarrawonga, Inverleigh and Tasmania. Hopefully with a good run, we will be finished next week and contract harvesting early in the new year.
The new BCG laboratory, which was officially opened in July, is full of people busily processing the huge volume of trial samples. It is pleasing to see the facility with a full workload providing a safer environment to work and the improved workflow we planned for.
Writing reports for our funders and manual articles for members is the next focus and despite the tough year, the manual will be jam-packed with this season’s crop reports.
In livestock news we have a new project: ‘Using standing crops to finish lambs and improve summer soil cover of mixed farms’ thanks to the National Landcare Program. Activities will commence early in the new year.
The Mallee Advisory Committee met this week and offered the 12 attendees a chance to reflect on 2018 and discuss a range of potential research and extension topics for delivery in 2019.
The group reported on some surprisingly positive yield results but some equally disappointing outcomes due to frost, soil type, the challenges of decision making around hay making, enterprise mix and moisture.
The Data Farmer weather station and moisture probe network increased in 2018 with 38 weather stations and 30 soil moisture probes being installed alongside the existing 50 weather stations across the Wimmera and Mallee.
Technology is continuing to be a big part of BCG’s future as solar panels are currently being installed at the BCG offices as part of the microgrid project. This project provides an opportunity for BCG to utilise battery storage for our solar generated power and trading available excess back into the system.
The coming summer and autumn events calendar looks likely to be fuller than usual with project-funded extension activities that BCG will either lead or support. This includes sharing information on spray application technology and drift, Integrated Pest Management and Pulse Extension.
We are also looking at holding a ‘Stop GAPP’ event targeted at participants in the GAPP (Growth, Adoption, Productivity and Profit) program, plus a number of other workshops during this time.
In the new year, staff will begin different training opportunities including statistical analysis, to continue to improve the quality of service we offer.
2019 will also see the return of the Shared Solutions Dinner, which provides a great opportunity for BCG staff and Board members to discuss industry trends and developments with partners and collaborators.
We look forward to seeing you in the new year at the BCG Trials Review Day to be held on Friday 15 February at the Birchip Leisure Centre. This day is a highlight of the BCG calendar providing members a day of information, discussion and networking.
