Shared Ag Solutions by BCG

“One of the issues with P allocation on, say, lentils or chickpeas is that they're not that responsive in terms of yield, but they do respond, in terms of nitrogen fixation. So phosphorus will stimulate growth, which stimulates nitrogen fixation. So your pulses, and even some of the medic pastures and vetch, for example, they're usually the first things we cut phosphorus off, in our crop budget. But in fact, what happens is, by doing that, you actually reduce some of the nitrogen input from the legume nitrogen fixation.” In the final episode in our first series of Planning for Profit, I caught up with Dr Rob Norton to hear his top tips for soil and health and profitability in 2024. About Dr Rob Norton Rob Norton has expertise in crop nutrition, farming systems and agronomy. For the past 40 years he has worked in education, training and research for the Australian grains industry with various organisations including The University of Melbourne, where he still holds an adjunct position. His research projects at the University of Melbourne concerned crop adaptation, soil health, plant nutrition and plant responses to high carbon dioxide and climate change. From 2009 until 2017 he was the IPNI Regional Director (Australia New Zealand) where he led a program of applied plant nutrition research and extension projects across Australia. He has been a regular speaker at industry conferences and national and international science conferences. Following the establishment of his consulting company, Norton Agronomic, he was engaged in soil fertility projects across Africa as well as local consultancies to a range of public and private organisations. He holds a PhD in crop agronomy and has authored 150 refereed scientific publications, as well as many more articles for industry. His work was recognised in 2017 with awards from the Grains Research and Development Corporation and Fertilizer Australia. You can find Dr Robert Norton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-norton-22a99547/?originalSubdomain=au To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au 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, present and emerging. 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.

“…he's got individual nozzle controls, so Hawkeye, he's only spot spraying. That's all he uses the machine for. He's got a few sprayers. This is just his spot sprayer and he thinks that there is no other way to spray. He said he kicks back, watching the footy on his iPad. He's got his height controller controlling the boom. He's got his weed detect turning on and spot spraying his weeds and that's probably the best case scenario.” In the seventh episode of our eight-part Planning for Profit series we caught up with Stephen Richards from Goldacres to learn more about brown on green and green on green spot spraying AI technology and whether it can help you be more profit in 2024. Useful links https://www.goldacres.com.au/ https://youtu.be/xbapksXKJxI https://youtu.be/-5n4jEMeJkE https://youtu.be/zoN_OLD1eU8 About Stephen Richards Stephen began working at Goldacres full time in 1995 after completing a Diploma of Ag Science at Longerenong. He has worked in all facets of the business mostly in parts/sales/marketing in St Arnaud where held the position of site manager. Stephen moved to Ballarat in 2014 to become Goldacres Marketing Manager. This program/project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/drought/future-drought-fund/extension-adoption-drought-resilience-farming-practices-grants To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au 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, present and emerging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“So say 2022, where we had good starting soil water, a very good timing of the break, a very positive forecast, then Yield Profit was really gung-ho and put on by, I think it was 150 kilograms of nitrogen Curyo, which is, well, very few farmers are going to do that commercially, that's over 300 kilo's per hectare of urea, whereas the nitrogen bank treatment tends to only put on about 60, or thereabouts, kilograms per hectare of nitrogen, so about 130 kilos of urea, pretty much year in, year out, thus far as, as what it's done. “So it kind of smooths your input and it puts the expenditure after good years." In the sixth episode of our eight-part Planning for Profit series we caught up with Professor James Hunt who shared his nitrogen planning and decision making research and how it may help you plan your nitrogen requirements this season. Professor James Hunt holds the William Farrer Lectureship in Agronomy at the University of Melbourne. He is an agronomist and crop physiologist specialising in water limited productivity of dry-land cropping and mixed farming systems. His research focuses on using combinations of management and genetics to increase productivity and profitability of grain-based farming systems. Prior to joining the University of Melbourne, he worked for La Trobe University for six years, CSIRO for seven years and the Birchip Cropping Group for five years. He has received awards for research excellence including the GRDC Seed of Light and the outcomes of his research have been widely adopted by grain growers across south eastern Australia. RiskWi$e This podcast was funded by RiskWi$e. RiskWi$e (the National Risk Management Initiative), is a five-year national initiative of approximately $30 million that will run from 2023 to 2028. It seeks to understand and improve the risk-reward outcomes for Australian grain growers by supporting grower on-farm decision-making. Visit: https://grdc.com.au/research/trials,-programs-and-initiatives/riskwise To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au 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, present and emerging. 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.

“So once you've had a reasonable population that's got through, it's just taken moisture off the predominant crop, which in this case, we're talking about wheat, and that yield loss, let's call it, uh, 400 kilos at a, you know, 300 gross value per ton. There's a big input there that they could have factored in. He's talking 120 gross return for a 30 input. It's just such a smart move. And there was a reason why we put it in the plan.” In the fifth episode of our eight-part Planning for Profit series we caught up with Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Rik Maatman who shared his agronomic tips to plan for profit this season. About Rik Maatmann Rik is an agronomist with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Birchip. He grew up on a dairy farm and studied agriculture and business at La Trobe University. He has worked extensively throughout the district as well as spending time in Esperance and Northern Queensland. To connect with Rik: rik.maatman@nutrien.com.au or 0437 168 167 To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au 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, present and emerging. 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.

“It's not something that you implement and then you're finished with. You have to keep thinking about it… keep talking about it. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and you probably are going to have to change the tactics along the way. It's about that re-evaluation process,” - BCG CEO Fiona Best. In the fourth episode of our eight-part Planning for Profit series we caught up with BCG's Fiona Best to learn how we can better prepare our farm business (and ourselves) for the next inevitable drought. About Fiona Best In her position as BCG CEO, Fiona works to bring relevant agricultural research and extension opportunities to farming communities by attracting investments to improve the prosperity of broadacre farming locally, regionally and nationally. Fiona is excited to lead BCG because of the large part the organisation plays in the community and its role supporting farmers to be viable and prosperous. She is proud of BCG’s achievements and contributions over the last 31 years and has a strong desire to contribute positively to the ongoing journey and evolution of the group. Fiona is also Regional Director, Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Australian Government Future Drought Fund) and is committed to enhancing the drought preparedness and resilience of Victoria’s agricultural industries, the environment and regional communities, encompassing broader agricultural innovation. Engaging with a range of industry and community stakeholders. After growing up on her mixed enterprise family farm, cropping and producing sheep, Fiona studied a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne. Victoria Drought Hub Led by the University of Melbourne and with headquarters at UM’s Dookie Campus, the Vic Hub is a Partnership between five farming organisations (Birchip Cropping Group, Food & Fibre Gippsland, Mallee Regional Innovation Centre, Riverine Plains and Southern Farming Systems), four universities (UM, Deakin, Federation and La Trobe), and the State Government (through Agriculture Victoria). One of eight hubs established nationally under the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF), the Vic Hub works to enhance the drought preparedness and resilience of Victoria’s agricultural industries, the environment and regional communities, encompassing broader agricultural innovation. Engaging with a range of industry and community stakeholders, the Vic Hub links research with community needs for sustainable outcomes. Other useful resources: Victoria Drought Hub https://www.bcg.org.au/research-results/drought-hub/ https://vicdroughthub.org.au/ Ross Kingwell, UWA School of Agriculture and Environment paper: How drought affects the financial characteristics of Australian farm businesses https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-8489.12195 BCG staff contacts https://www.bcg.org.au/about/team/ To learn more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au This program/project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/drought/future-drought-fund/extension-adoption-drought-resilience-farming-practices-grants 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, present and emerging. 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...

“In terms of profitability and working more hours to make more profit. The first thing I tell people is at what point do you reach maximum? You max out pretty quickly because you can only work a certain number of days in a row at a certain number of hours before you just collapse from physical exhaustion. So you reach maximum pretty quickly. Now, if you're talking about making good decisions, you don't max out. And that essentially is where you make more money.” Is there such a thing as work-life balance? If, so how do you achieve it? I caught up with AgriFocused’s Carmen Quade recently who shares some of her insights into some of the simple things you can do right now to get the balance more in your favour. Read the blog on the same topic: https://agrifocused.com.au/why-is-work-life-balance-so-hard/ About Carmen Carmen Quade runs AgriFocused, a training business specialising in farm business skills. She has worked as a University lecturer in Accounting and Agribusiness and enjoys working with people to improve their business skills. She also has extensive experience in Local Government, both in economic and community development as well as corporate governance. Together with her husband and other family members, she is a partner in a mixed farming business at Tallimba, in the Northern Riverina. She works her magic in the office, not the paddock. Carmen holds a Bachelor of Business (Agricultural Commerce), a Master of Professional Accounting and a Cert IV in Training Small Groups. You can learn more about Carmen by visiting her website: https://agrifocused.com.au/ and following her on X @AgriFocussed or Instagram @AgriFocused To find out more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au 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, present and emerging. 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.

Are you focusing on what you need as a business in terms of labour? Do you know specifically what tasks a prospective employee might be undertaking and have you thought about how much farm culture can affect your staff and long-term profitability? In this podcast we caught up with people and safety expert Denise McLellan who shares her insights on how to attract and retain good employees and how they directly relate to running a profitable business. https://denisemclellan.com.au/resources You can learn more about Denise by visiting her website: https://denisemclellan.com.au/ and following her on X @DeniseAMcLellan or Instagram @denise.mclellan To find out more about BCG visit www.bcg.org.au 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, present and emerging. 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.

Farming and Profit: While we know the weather plays a huge role in whether a season comes off or not, knowing where your money goes and why, as well as where you want your farming business to be in five, ten years, is crucial in running a profitable farm business. This is the first episode in an eight part series “Planning for Profit”, featuring Daniel Toohey, a Farm Business Advisor at Planfarm Advisory, who uses his wealth of knowledge and experience to provide strategic guidance and support to farming enterprises. He has a Bachelor of Science with a major in Agricultural Science from The University of Melbourne. Daniel is also a fifth-generation beef, lamb and potato farmer at Springbank, Victoria, so he understands the intricacies of a farming business! In this episode Dan steps us through some of the easy things we can do now to make our business more profitable and make some of our decisions a lot easier too! You can hear more from Dan on Generation Ag here and find out about some of Planfarm Advisory's clients experience here. To find out more about BCG, visit www.bcg.org.au 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, present and emerging. 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.

Welcome to the Shared Ag Solutions podcast by BCG, with your host Janine Batters. Janine is a partner in a mixed farming operation in the northern Wimmera and looks after media and communications at BCG. She has been busy revamping the BCG podcast and is excited to present a new, eight part series: Planning for profit. Janine will be talking with farmers, researchers and experts in their field, covering topics such as how to organise your farm for profit AND work/life balance, how to attract good employees in peak seasons and how to keep them, profit margins and where to spend them to reach your goals and the steps you can take to drought-proof your farm. This show is for those curious to hear the latest news and agricultural research and how to apply it on-farm to improve profitability, decision making, safety, community development and overall wellbeing. It is focused on the listener’s needs with BCG staff and renowned agricultural scientists unpacking growers’ agronomic and business challenges. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grain paddock feed and timing operations to make the best use of that feed are key determinants for the production and profitability of a livestock enterprise. This podcast explores standing crops within a pasture rotation, and we hear from local farmer Bailey Petering and how he implements grazing of standing crops within his families mixed farming business. This project is funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It's important to stop and take stock of where you are and what you're doing. It's easy to become consumed by a task or in a series of events.” BCG Senior Manager – Corporate and Business Services Vin Delahunty on how he stays grounded and focussed on his goals. He also shares his passions, and why, as a highly skilled ag professional, he chooses to work at BCG. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BCG Research and Extension Officer Genevieve Clarke shares why she loves long distance running and what spurs her on to complete the last few kilometers, the real reason she loves to travel and the unexpected profession that inspires her to be the best version of herself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BCG Research and Extension Officer Kate Finger shares how her mother’s advice brought her to Birchip, her family’s tradition of making the Russian Latvian dish pierogi and the unexpected item Kate couldn’t go a day without! Kate also shares how she stays involved in her family’s stud in Mansfield, succession planning and how her Russian grandmother inspires her every day to live her best life. For more information visit https://www.bcg.org.au/podcasts/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Say yes and then find out what it involves later. Don't be scared to be a little bit vulnerable... ” BCG CEO Fiona Best shares some of the best advice she’s been given. Fiona also discusses how she deals with challenging situations, building strong relationships as well as why you will never see her in a brown skivvy! For more information visit https://www.bcg.org.au/?p=924481&preview=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This show is for those curious to hear the latest news and agricultural research and how to apply it on-farm to improve profitability, decision making, safety, community development and overall wellbeing. is focused on the listener’s needs with BCG staff and renowned agricultural scientists unpacking growers’ agronomic and business challenges for the fortnight BCG Podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.