Members of the Grower Group Alliance have returned from a study tour of Victoria and South Australia with new ideas on how to improve productivity and sustainability.
The GGA tour began in Melbourne where a visit to Dairy Australia allowed the groups to learn how extension was undertaken in the dairy industry and how they have moved beyond a reliance on State Government extension officers to being supported by private consultants and DA directly.
This was followed by a grower group meeting hosted at Rabobank, a key commercial partner for many groups across WA.
On the second day the group travelled to Geelong to meet with Southern Farming Systems executive officer Jon Midwood to hear how the group operates across multiple regional branches in the high rainfall zones of Victoria and Tasmania.
"What really stood out about the SFS operations was their membership and sponsorship structures, plus their capacity to deliver benefits to members across a large geographical area," North East Farming Futures innovation officer Jenny Thomas said.
"The group uses tiered membership and sponsorship levels that provide more targeted value that is delivered to members and partners."
A visit to farmer Melville Charles' Windermere property, Berrybank Farms, allowed the group to see a fully integrated approach to grain and pork production and waste management, and sparked thoughts about post-farm gate opportunities.
"It was interesting to see the efficiency of their farming system that has zero waste. Grain is produced to feed the pigs, piggery waste is converted into bagged fertiliser and energy," Corrigin Farm Improvement Group committee member Andrea Blake said.
Another highlight was visiting the Birchip Cropping Group, one of the largest grower groups in Australia with 430 members and 20 staff.
The group heard from chief executive Chris Sounness, the extension and communications team and the trials manager to learn how they operate and get tips on how to improve some of their own activities.
The Grower Group Alliance is a non-profit, farmer-driven organisation connecting grower groups, research organisations and agribusiness in a network across WA.
The GGA co-ordinates WA and interstate study tours every two or three years.
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