BCG Expo embraces whole-farm business
The business of farming now and into the future will be the subject of examination at a Birchip Cropping Group Future Farmers Expo at Birchip.
The July 5 event, which will feature presentations from farming and business specialists and exhibits from a range of agricultural goods and service providers, will be at Birchip P-12 School from 11am, with dinner to follow.
Six presentations throughout the day will cover issues of farm and weather-data management and sharing, succession planning, business structures, machinery economics, in-season technical information and the seasonal outlook.
Speakers include Catherine Ganter from Bureau of Meteorology, Jonathan Dyer, 2015 Nuffield scholarship recipient and Kaniva farmer, Simon Craig from Farm 360, Matt Cain, Dad’s Oats, and Kirby Kaye from Settler and Sons. There will be other speakers.
BCG chief executive Chris Sounness will organise a discussion on collecting and sharing weather-station data with farmers Chris Colbert of Watchem and Paul Petering, Murtoa. The two farmers will discuss the usefulness of having real-time weather data on hand to support decision-making about spray timing, fertiliser application and other farm operations.
Mr Dyer will talk about real-time grain marketing and segregation decisions and business efficiencies he can make from the header seat by having an on-board protein machine, as well as a yield monitor.
Mr Sounness said the event would address many of the challenges and opportunities farmers were negotiating both in paddocks and the farm office.
“It will be great to hear how growers in our area are using data in practice, with Paul, Chris and Jonathan all embracing the information available and applying it to decision making,” he said.
“However, the reason why big data is exciting but different to previous farm innovations is the amount of value that may be available to the agricultural value chain, and the fact it will be the farmer who holds the power, and equally, the responsibility.”
This session will complement the rest of the expo program, which includes a detailed look at the farm business and when expansion is appropriate.
Future-proof farming
BCG events manager Ciara Cullen said the expo was designed to showcase how innovative business models were helping future-proof Australian farm businesses.
“The Future Farmers Expo is a holistic farm-business event bringing together exhibitors but also specialist speakers and farmers with experience to share knowledge on a range of topics,” she said.
“As I have said before, some of the best learning farmers can do is from other farmers.
“This will be evident when three farmers share their stories on succession planning and integrating the next generation and new family members into the farm business.
“Matt Cain, Kirby Kaye and Karen Inkster are all members of family farms that have undertaken different approaches to ensure successful integration of new family members to ensure the farm business has a future.”
Ms Cullen said the day would also include a look at the cost of machinery and explore if it was more economical to buy, share or contract.
“The all-important forecast for the season will be presented by Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Catherine Ganter,” she said.
The expo will be followed by a social networking tapas dinner, which this year is at Birchip Hotel.
The BCG Future Farmers Expo runs from 11am to 5pm. Entry is free for BCG members and $50 for non-members. People seeking more information can phone 5492 2787 or visit website www.bcg. org.au.