Farmer in Focus: Terry Cox

Dr. Yolanda Plowman sat down with Dr. Corinne Celestina to discuss the findings from RiskWi$e's nitrogen (N) field trials. Corinne and Yolanda cover three main findings from the trials including the value of calculating your partial N balance. This is as easy as calculating N input as fertilizer or fixation (if you are growing a legume) and export as grain. This partial N balance can help you figure out whether you are losing or building N in your system. We hope you enjoy! To learn more head to: RiskWi$e | Birchip Cropping GroupSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Episode 2 of Decision Fit, Claudia returns to the kitchen table to chat with her family. In this episode she dives into the decision making processes that occur between Terry and Charlie and gains insights into how they approach machinery purchases, nitrogen decisions and communication methods. We hope you enjoy! To learn more head to: RiskWi$e | Birchip Cropping GroupSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Episode 1 of Decision Fit, Dr. Yolanda Plowman has a chat with farmer and farm advisor Cam Nicholson to discuss what it means to be a good decision maker, how you can train your decision-making skills, and what role biases and rules of thumb play in all of this. Cam also shares insights into the value of new technology and the importance of having business partners that think differently to one another. We hope you enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Decision Fit! The Birchip Cropping Group is launching a new podcast series exploring the thinking behind on-farm decision making. We will be interviewing farmers, researchers and industry experts to talk about decision making in the face of risk and uncertainty in agriculture. This series is made possible by RiskWi$e, a CSIRO led and GRDC funded project. Learn more about RiskWi$e here: RiskWi$e | Birchip Cropping Group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BCG's Communications Officer Claudia sat down with her Dad, Terry for a conversation close to home. Terry is a fifth-generation farmer from Boigbeat.  On December 4, 2023, Terry sustained a serious hand injury during harvest. He reflects on what happened, how the farm has changed since, and how the accident has shaped Terry’s outlook on the future and retirement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“A lot of us at harvest, when pressure's on and we're trying to get more harvest hours in a day, more grain in per day, if we're limited by a grain moisture, we go and look at, I'll get a contract harvester in, I'll buy a bigger header next year, I'll go to a second or a third header next year.  What if we could manage moisture in grain do it with less headers? Because we get more hours in a day.   “So we can start harvest a few hours earlier or run it a few hours later or those overcast days where the moisture is just sitting, a percent above our deliverable. What if we could run our headers on those days and not have as much infrastructure, capital tied up in harvest equipment aeration cooling to blend moisture in storage.    “So then, all of a sudden, we get grain storage paying itself with harvest logistics.” Chris Warrick  In the final episode of the series Planning for Prosperity, BCG’s Janine Batters chats with grain storage expert Chris Warrick about the economics of grain storage and some of the key things to consider before investing in grain storage. The conversation covers aeration cooling, cone and falt bottom silos, grain sheds, bunkers, grain bags, logistics and people management.”  This podcast is sponsored by Action Steel. Visit https://www.actionsteel.com.au/ today  For more information on chemical storage visit: https://www.actionsteel.com.au/downloads/standard-chemical-sheds-brochure-size-price-guide/   Resources  Call 1800 WEEVIL (1800 933 845)  Grain Storage GrowNote manual including economics   https://storedgrain.com.au/grdc-grownotes-grain-storage/  Research report by the Kondinin Group on ground level storage options   https://storedgrain.com.au/ground-level-grain-storage-2024/  Recent grower examples  https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/farm-business/grain-storage/grain-storage-keeps-harvest-operations-on-a-roll  https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/farm-business/grain-storage/the-automatic-advantage-of-grain-cooling    About Chris Warrick  Growing up on a farm near Horsham, Victoria, Chris has pursued a career in agriculture focusing on helping farmers make informed decisions.  After obtaining a Bachelor of Business from Marcus Oldham Collage Chris worked for Kondinin Group as a research officer based in Wagga Wagga, NSW and later Toowoomba, QLD. During his time with Kondinin Group Chris broadened his experience of different farming systems around Australia and gained an insight into various drivers for key business decisions.  With a broader scope of knowledge, Chris moved back to Victoria to take up a position as a management consultant before venturing out to become an independent consultant operating as Primary Business. Chris enjoys continually learning new and innovative approaches and tools to assist clients and help them achieve their goals.  Chris also manages the GRDC-funded National Grain Storage Extension Project with a team of researchers and extension specialists. He is also the specialist contact for the southern region of Australia (Southern NSW, Vic, TAS and SA) for all things grain storage. Chris travels the region conducting workshops and assisting growers with their on-farm storage management.    Find Chris on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-warrick-67985989/?originalSubdomain=au     Find Janine on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-batters-a5083b166/     If you loved the podcast, you can show your support by rating it five stars and sharing it with your friends.   To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au or linktr.ee/bcg_birchip   In the spirit of reconciliation, BCG acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.  Disclaimer:  The Birchip Cropping Group Inc. (“BCG”) makes no warranties regarding merchantability, fitness for purpose or otherwise with respect to this podcast. Any person relying on this report does so entirely at their own risk. BCG and all persons associated with it exclude all liability (including liability for negligence) in relation to any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast and any consequences arising from the use of such opinion, advice or information to the full extent of the law, including but not limited to consequences arising as a result of action or inaction taken by that person or any third parties in reliance on the report. Where liability cannot be lawfully extinguished, liability is limited to the re-supply of the report or payment of the cost of resupplying the report. You should seek independent professional, technical or legal (as required) advice before acting on any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Controlling mature fleabane is tricky. With funding from the Hugh Williamson Foundation and the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund BCG’s Research Agronomist Angus Butterfield completed a research project on controlling mature fleabane.  The information shared is based on research conducted for the purpose of exploring flea bank control options and should not be considered direct advice.  Please note, some herbicide rates and applications discussed may not align with registered labour requirements or maximum residue limits. We strongly encourage you to consult your agronomist or local advisor before implementing any of the strategies covered here. They can provide guidance tailored to your conditions, ensure compliance with current labour requirements and help you adhere to MRL guidelines.  The conversation covers the two different double-knock trials Angus undertook to ascertain the most effective mature fleabane control options. In the first trial the first pass was altered with a standard second pass knock. In the second trial, the second pass was altered with a standard first pass knock. In the second trial many of the rates were camera sprayer rates.   This podcast is sponsored by Action Steel. Visit https://www.actionsteel.com.au/ today  For more information on chemical storage visit: https://www.actionsteel.com.au/downloads/standard-chemical-sheds-brochure-size-price-guide/   About Angus Butterfield  Angus Butterfield joined BCG in March 2022 as a Research Agronomist. He holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology majoring in Agronomy from Latrobe University and has relocated to BCG from the outskirts of Melbourne. Angus has a passion for high quality research and is keen to improve agricultural practices and production as well contributing the BCG’s large scope of research to benefit growers.   Find Janine on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-batters-a5083b166/   If you loved the podcast, you can show your support by rating it five stars and sharing it with your friends.   To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au or linktr.ee/bcg_birchip   In the spirit of reconciliation, BCG acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.    Disclaimer:  The Birchip Cropping Group Inc. (“BCG”) makes no warranties regarding merchantability, fitness for purpose or otherwise with respect to this podcast. Any person relying on this report does so entirely at their own risk. BCG and all persons associated with it exclude all liability (including liability for negligence) in relation to any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast and any consequences arising from the use of such opinion, advice or information to the full extent of the law, including but not limited to consequences arising as a result of action or inaction taken by that person or any third parties in reliance on the report. Where liability cannot be lawfully extinguished, liability is limited to the re-supply of the report or payment of the cost of resupplying the report. You should seek independent professional, technical or legal (as required) advice before acting on any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I'm talking dry sowing because we've got a whole range of new pre-emergent herbicides, mostly from other groups, so group 13 and so on, and group 15, which have completely different properties to what we had 20 years ago.  “We've actually now got an opportunity where we can use that set of chemistry to deal with our ryegrass issues and add to that our crop competition from getting our crop in early in the season. So it's just thinking, I think, about the whole system and saying, well, instead of trying to make knockdown herbicides work all the time, what if we replace knockdown herbicides with something that's different?” - Professor Chris Preston  In the sixth episode of the BCG’s podcast series Planning for Prosperity BCG’s Janine Batters speaks with The University of Adelaide’s Weed Management Professor Chris Preston about the possible implications of the APVMA’s review of paraquat and diquat and alternative weed control options. The conversation also includes Chris’s top herbicide and planning tips to control weeds to maximise moisture capture this summer.  This podcast is sponsored by Action Steel. Visit https://www.actionsteel.com.au/ today  For more information on chemical storage visit: https://www.actionsteel.com.au/downloads/standard-chemical-sheds-brochure-size-price-guide/   About Dr Chris Preston   Dr Chris Preston is Professor of weed management at the University of Adelaide. He works on understanding and management of herbicide resistant weeds.  The research of the weed science group at the University of Adelaide is focussed on better management of weeds in agricultural cropping systems. Areas of current research activity include: the evolution, biochemical mechanisms and management of herbicide resistant weeds, ecology and biology and management of emerging weeds in agriculture, gene flow from herbicide tolerant crops and its implications for farm management, risk assessment for weeds and herbicide tolerant crops and patterns of genetic diversity in weed populations.    Find Janine on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-batters-a5083b166/     If you loved the podcast, you can show your support by rating it five stars and sharing it with your friends.   To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au or linktr.ee/bcg_birchip   In the spirit of reconciliation, BCG acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.  Disclaimer:  The Birchip Cropping Group Inc. (“BCG”) makes no warranties regarding merchantability, fitness for purpose or otherwise with respect to this podcast. Any person relying on this report does so entirely at their own risk. BCG and all persons associated with it exclude all liability (including liability for negligence) in relation to any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast and any consequences arising from the use of such opinion, advice or information to the full extent of the law, including but not limited to consequences arising as a result of action or inaction taken by that person or any third parties in reliance on the report. Where liability cannot be lawfully extinguished, liability is limited to the re-supply of the report or payment of the cost of resupplying the report. You should seek independent professional, technical or legal (as required) advice before acting on any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I find if you make the time, efficiencies come, if you're rushing around and always in a hurry to get to the next job, you find things break. Things happen, things go wrong, things get missed and that's when you lose time and then you're further behind.” Warakirri Farm Manager Jono Robinson.  In the fifth episode BCG’s Janine Batters chats with Warakirri Farm Manager Jono Robinson. The conversation covers why the corporate farm always puts safety first, what structures and procedures the team have in place to ensure everyone arrives home safely, farm safety apps and policies, tool box meetings and leading by example.     This podcast is sponsored by Action Steel. Visit https://www.actionsteel.com.au/ today  For more information on chemical storage visit: https://www.actionsteel.com.au/downloads/standard-chemical-sheds-brochure-size-price-guide/     About Jono Robinson  Jono Robinson is the farm manager at Warakirri. The property he manages spans 14000 hectares and is located between Donald and Warracknabeal in Victoria’s Wimmera. He managers nine full time staff plus harvest casuals. He believes prioritising farm safety is simple “everyone deserves to go home safe”.    Helpful links:  https://www.vff.org.au/project/making-our-farms-safer/  https://www.safeagsystems.com/farm-management-software  https://www.lucidity.io/  https://www.warakirricropping.com.au/     Find Jono Robinson on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jono-robinson-8b1563a0/?originalSubdomain=au  Find Janine on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-batters-a5083b166/     If you loved the podcast you can show your support by rating it five stars and sharing it with your friends.   To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au or linktr.ee/bcg_birchip     In the spirit of reconciliation, BCG acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.    Disclaimer:  The Birchip Cropping Group Inc. (“BCG”) makes no warranties regarding merchantability, fitness for purpose or otherwise with respect to this podcast. Any person relying on this report does so entirely at their own risk. BCG and all persons associated with it exclude all liability (including liability for negligence) in relation to any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast and any consequences arising from the use of such opinion, advice or information to the full extent of the law, including but not limited to consequences arising as a result of action or inaction taken by that person or any third parties in reliance on the report. Where liability cannot be lawfully extinguished, liability is limited to the re-supply of the report or payment of the cost of resupplying the report. You should seek independent professional, technical or legal (as required) advice before acting on any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Because the fossil fuel sector has started reducing its emissions, the transport sector started reducing its emissions and agriculture stayed the same. Suddenly, this year, we're not 14 percent like we were last year, we're 17%. It's a percentage game. So what's going to happen over time is if agriculture does nothing, we'll become the only sector of greenhouse gas emissions while all the other sectors go to zero.” Professor Richard Eckard.  In the fourth episode of our series Planning for Prosperity, sponsored by Action Steel, BCG’s Janine Batters chats with soil carbon royalty: The University of Melbourne’s Professor Richard Eckard. The conversation covers:  What are greenhouse gas emissions  What is meant by scope 1, scope two and scope three emissions  What the difference is between NetZero and carbon neutral  What is carbon sequestration   What are carbon credits and how they are being used  The difference between offsets and insets and why knowing the difference is crucial  Whether planting trees or locking up vegetation is counted in reducing emissions and whether it’s a good option  Commercial nitrogen plants using solar panels and how they can help farmers reduce emissions  Why it’s important to know your greenhouse gas emission per tonne of grain/wool etc number, how to calculate it and how it is likely to be used  The Carbon Farming Outreach Program  This podcast is sponsored by Action Steel. Visit https://www.actionsteel.com.au/ today. For more information on chemical storage visit: https://www.actionsteel.com.au/downloads/standard-chemical-sheds-brochure-size-price-guide/   The information in this episode is general in nature. Before making any financial decisions, speak to your trusted financial adviser.   About Professor Richard Eckard  Richard is Professor of Carbon Farming at the University of Melbourne and National program leader in the Carbon Research Centre for Net Zero Agriculture. His research focuses on carbon farming and accounting towards carbon neutral agriculture, managing extreme climate events and options for agriculture to respond to a changing climate. He developed the first carbon accounting tools in Australia in 2001, these tools now form a national agreed standard in Australia for on farm carbon accounting; his research and expertise provided the science basis for the development of six carbon offset methods in Australia. Richard is a science advisor to the Victorian, Australian, New Zealand, Ireland, UK and EU governments, the International Livestock Research Institute and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on climate change adaptation, mitigation and policy development in agriculture. In 2021, Richard was named on the Reuters list of the world’s 1,000 most influential climate scientists.   About Grace Hosking  Grace joined BCG in Jan 2023. Grace studied a Bachelor of Agriculture, majoring in Economics at The University of Melbourne. Grace grew up on a broadacre cropping and livestock farm at Quambatook, where her passion for agriculture began. Stemming from her own experience growing up in a rural community, Grace has a strong desire to see farmers and their communities thrive and she enjoys working at an organisation that plays a pivotal role in providing opportunities for industry to improve in both productivity and profitability. Outside of work, Grace enjoys staying involved in her family farm, cooking, walking her dog Mae and spending afternoons at the lake.  Helpful links:  Professor Richard Eckard  https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/2680-richard-eckard   Calculators  https://aginnovationaustralia.com.au/ea-platform/  https://ruminati.com.au/  https://piccc.org.au/resources/Tools.html  The Carbon Farming Outreach Program   https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/emissions-reduction/agricultural-land-sectors/carbon-farming-outreach-program  Find Professor Eckard on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-eckard-23936042/?originalSubdomain=au   Find Grace on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-hosking-32449b237/  Find Janine on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-batters-a5083b166/   If you loved the podcast you can show your support by rating it five stars and sharing it with your friends.   To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au or linktr.ee/bcg_birchip   This project is delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, under the Carbon Farming Outreach Program in collaboration with the Grower Group Alliance. In the spirit of reconciliation, BCG acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.  Disclaimer:  The Birchip Cropping Group Inc. (“BCG”) makes no warranties regarding merchantability, fitness for purpose or otherwise with respect to this podcast. Any person relying on this report does so entirely at their own risk. BCG and all persons associated with it exclude all liability (including liability for negligence) in relation to any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast and any consequences arising from the use of such opinion, advice or information to the full extent of the law, including but not limited to consequences arising as a result of action or inaction taken by that person or any third parties in reliance on the report. Where liability cannot be lawfully extinguished, liability is limited to the re-supply of the report or payment of the cost of resupplying the report. You should seek independent professional, technical or legal (as required) advice before acting on any opinion, advice or information contained in this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.