The BCG Women’s Agronomy Group held its third meeting for the year on Thursday 20 August, with fifteen women attending. Unlike the previous two meetings, which were held indoors, this day was spent outside exploring and discussing topical agronomic issues.
The day started with the group visiting the polymer trial at Barber’s property. Polymers have been placed over Yitpi wheat, Hindmarsh barley and Kaspa field peas to assess how each of these crops grow. BCG is investigating the effect of polymers over crops sown late. Cherie Reilly, BCG, discussed several observations including leaf area, temperature and moisture differences under the polymer compared to the same crops grown without the polymer covering. Other topics of discussion included varieties and early versus late sowing.
Following this, the group of ladies moved to a cereal crop where everybody’s skill in assessing growth stages was refreshed.
Lunch was at Max and Dorothy Reid’s wildlife pond while Jonathan Starks, BCG, gave an overview of the work he has conducted during the past four years to determine the best approach to conserve wildlife, including frog populations, in the Wimmera and Mallee once the channel system is de-commissioned.
The day finished with a brief update on stripe rust and the Bureau of Meteorology’s rainfall outlook for the next three months.
