GrainGrowers Blog
Paddock Perspective | Ashton Gray - Tarin Rock, WA
Hi everyone, I’m Ashton Gray from WA, and my wife Georgia and I farm with our children Madelyn and Louie (and Coco the dog) at Tarin Rock, WA with my brother Kael and sister Tahryn, and brother-in-law Damian. Together, we farm 7500 hectares of crop plus run 3500 Merino ewes and lambs with a total of 7000 head.
Paddock Perspective | Tony Zwar - Cleve, SA
My name is Tony Zwar. I am currently the farm manager for Sims Farm, a 400ha commercially operated agricultural training farm, which is part of the local Cleve Area School. The farm is located 5km East of the township of Cleve on eastern Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
How Climate, Cropping and Consumers are Shaping the Future of Food
In this special podcast episode, we explore the critical question: what is the future for sustainable agriculture?
Challenges and opportunities: A recap of the GrainGrowers International Women's Day Farm Finance Event
"I just do the books." is how Carmen Quade began her workshop on finance this International Women's Day. "How many of us have said that at some point? Try and consider that it's not a matter of ‘just’. Why do we negate our roles in farm businesses? You do the books, you don't 'just' do them."
To the incredible women in grains, Happy International Women's Day! | Shona Gawel
Starting conversations about mental health | Steph Schmidt
In the world today, the pace is just one speed. Flat out! And while some of us struggle with getting up in the morning, others juggle a multitude of tasks with seemingly consummate ease.
The power of surveys
Not a day goes by where there isn’t a request to complete a survey – buying shoes: Did you have a good experience when you bought shoes recently? Speaking to your phone provider: Please take a moment to let us know how we did today. It’s fatiguing and seems unrelenting.
Telling stories that resonate | Tegan Buckley
They say everyone has a story. People want to hear stories that resonate with them and have an authentic voice and tone. They want to hear stories that excite and inspire.
Paddock Perspective | Thomas Moloney - Jerilderie, NSW
Hi all, my name is Thomas Moloney, I am a grain grower from Southern, NSW. I am currently working within my Family’s company Molanco Pty Ltd. At Molanco we are focused on broadacre and irrigation cropping, with land holdings in Southern NSW and Central West NSW. Down here at Jerilderie, we grow winter and summer crops – wheat, barley, canola, as well as corn.
Paddock Perspective | Tom & Rhiannon Michael - Barunga Gap, SA
My name is Tom Michael and I farm at Barunga Gap between Snowtown and Bute with my wife Rhiannon and children Margot (7) and Bill (3).
Paddock Perspective | Christine Plant - Manangatang, VIC
I farm at Manangatang with my husband Keith, my son Brad and his wife Donna and their two children. Our farm is 60km from the Murray River in northwest Victoria, between Swan Hill and Mildura. Our rainfall is just under 300mm, so we are in a lower rainfall area. We grow wheat, barley, lentils, and chickpeas.
New work on the Grains Sustainability Framework
Grain grower representatives are in the process of refreshing the Grains Sustainability Framework (GSF) to ensure it is on-farm focused and delivers genuine outcomes for growers.
Biosecurity with Dr Sam Nelson
GrainGrowers has increased its focus on biosecurity in response to heightened concern from growers around pests and diseases. GrainGrowers Policy Manager, Technical Dr Sam Nelson has provided some answers to questions about biosecurity, including the proposed biosecurity protection levy, slated to come into effect from mid-2024.
Paddock Perspective | Nick Rishworth - Padthaway, SA
I’m Nick Rishworth and I farm our property near Padthaway SA. I farm with my Wife Felicity and 4 children continuing on from my parents that have retired. Our land size is 570 hectares of sandy loams with our main production being sheep and lambs with 20 to 50 hectares aimed at lupins. The lupins are used as a paddock renovation tool to help control weeds, cultivating the soil and replacing nitrogen for the following seasons pasture. I have been managing the farm for 2 years and continuing my father’s farming program.
Paddock Perspective | Brendan Taylor - Jandowae, QLD
G'day from the heart of Southern Queensland. We are full tilt spraying weeds and getting our summer crop, sorghum, in the ground. Ideally, we'd have done this sooner, but rain didn't show up until November. It's been a dry one — very low rainfall year. The recent rain in November has been a game-changer, though. Finally we are flat out, working to fallows sprayed and get our summer crops in before Christmas.
Paddock Perspective | Kate Burke - Echuca, VIC
We have a smallholding of 116ha, and we grow crops in conjunction with a local farmer (a share farming arrangement). We have a basic rotation of vetch, hay, canola, wheat, barley. Our soil is a mix of red and grey clay.
Paddock Perspective | Michael Hunt - Cannawigara, SA
I hail from the centre of the universe - Cannawigara, South Australia. Our cropping area covers about 1400 hectares. The majority of our crops are winter varieties, including wheat, faba beans, barley, canola, oats, and lentils. Occasionally, we like to experiment with something a little different, like Chinese cabbage or coriander, not always successfully.