RiskWi$e 2025 Autumn Update
In 2024, the BCG led, Victoria and South East SA ARG completed 12 nitrogen trials across the region, along with additional trials focused on agronomic factors such as time of sowing, sowing depth, soil amelioration (MSF), and disease management (FAR). These trials generated strong interest from growers and led to a range of extension activities, including crop walks, presentations at main field days, and GRDC updates.
FAR has been developing the Dirt, Diesel, and Dice decision-support tool to analyse grain farm businesses across three key components: land, machinery, and crop production. This was introduced to farmers at a field day and workshops in September.
FAR has also been working on a fungicide decision tree to assist growers in managing stripe rust and Septoria tritici blotch in wheat and net form of net blotch in barley.
BCG conducted 15 grower interviews to gain deeper insights into how farmers make decisions and the key factors that influenced them.
BCG planned three workshops as part of a RiskWi$e Roadshow, focusing on succession planning, farm performance, land expansion, and machinery investment, which will be held in 2025.
Our ARG looks forward to continuing nitrogen and agronomic trials into 2025, along with hosting workshops and events to help farmers enhance decision-making through better insights and research-based recommendations.
Throughout March, members of the RiskWi$e Eyre Peninsula team held a series of farmer discussion group sessions. Facilitated by EPAG Research Agronomist Jacob Giles, over 80 farmers attended at Rudall, Cootra, Minnipa, Port Kenny, Lock and Wangary to share cropping strategies, learnings from the 2024 season, and an overview of the many decisions being made in preparation for the sowing season ahead.
Key topics of discussion included:
See the full AIR EP newsletter article at: Thinking caps firmly on throughout EP Discussion Groups
The 2025 Annual RiskWi$e forum is being held on the 24 - 25 June, 2025 at Toowoomba.
When and where?
Location: Burke and Wills Hotel, 554 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba NSW 4350
Date: Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 June 2025
Time: Tuesday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm, Wednesday 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Each attendee will need to arrange and pay for their travel to/from Toowoomba and accommodation for the event and field trip (if attending).
If you wish to stay at the venue, please use the following to book accommodation onsite – RiskWi$e
When booking please double check the dates you require, as it will automatically populate arrival Monday & departure Friday.
What is included:
On the Monday night, we are planning an informal networking dinner where participants will need to pay their own way (Fitzys – 153 Margaret St, Toowoomba)
If you have any dietary requirements, can you please email Erica McKay (ICAN) with the details.
Field trip
For those going on the field trip, please find below times so you can book your accommodation and flights.
Wednesday 25 June 2025
Depart ~3:30 pm Toowoomba (bus)
Overnight @ Chinchilla Downtown - Chinchilla Accommodation - Southern Cross Motel Group
Dinner: Chinchilla RSL
Thursday 26 June 2025
Depart ~7am Chinchilla
Return to Toowoomba ~ 5pm
Please contact Erica from ICAN for any queries relating to this event - Erica McKay.
RiskWi$e (the National Risk Management Initiative), is a 5-year national initiative with approximately $30 million funding from GRDC that will run from 2023 - 28. It seeks to understand and improve the risk-reward outcomes for grain growers by supporting on-farm decision-making.
For more information about the project visit the RiskWi$e site.