Episode 150: The Great Work of Birchip Cropping Group, with Harm van Rees

‘Farm Systems’ or ‘Grower Groups’ play a pivotal part in our farming landscape. 
 
Of these, Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) is the pinnacle. 
 
Providing large-scale, in-season crop & pasture production trials, the latest research intelligence and important production improvement training to progressive farmers across Victoria’s Wimmera & Mallee for over 30 years, BCG is one of our nation’s major contributors to in-paddock production advancement. 
 
Perhaps equally important is the community assembled, the farm management support provided, the collaboration now possible, and the knowledge-sharing and the boundary-pushing outcomes achieved for bringing many hundreds of passionate, forward-thinking farm owners together. 
 
In this episode, I speak with Harm van Rees, a legend and gentleman of our industry, who has been part of the BCG story since its inception. 
 
With BCG Founders Ian McLelland and John Ferrier, and as an independent agronomist for over 30 years, Harm has pioneered countless research and extension projects that help farming families push the boundaries of production. He has consulted directly to many hundreds of farming families over his career, and travelled the world on behalf of GRDC, CSIRO and other research institutes always with a dedication to pushing production boundaries. 
 
Farm Owners Academy is proud to be partnering with leading Grower Groups across Australia, and bringing our business education and coaching capability to their communities. If you are part of a leading Grower or Farming Systems Group in Australia or New Zealand, please reach out to us here to explore opportunities to collaborate. 
 
I hope this discussion with Harm van Rees does both his important career and the BCG story justice. 
 
To CEO Fiona Best and the entire BCG team, and on behalf of our industry (if I may be so bold), I want to say thank you, well done and congratulations on your passion, dedication and support to Australian Farming Families. 
 
Thank you Harm, wonderful to connect, and here’s to a positive finish to this production season! 
 
Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team 
 
P.S. If you're looking to tackle stress and improve your well-being, we have just released our FREE 2024 Edition of The Low-Stress Farmer’s Handbook. Discover essential strategies for reducing stress, avoiding burnout, and building resilience. It's packed with practical advice tailored to farmers' unique challenges . Click here to get your copy now: Download the Handbook.