Blogging with the Guyra BPP
Blogging with the Guyra BPP - Beef CRC - Beef Genetic Technologies
| This blog has been established for the Guyra BPP members. It’s a snapshot of what’s happened and what has to happen. If you have any queries about the information posted here, please contact Cynthia Mulholland on 02 6773 3525 or click here to email Cynthia. |
 |
| NSW BPP Christmas Cheer |
 On the evening of the 16th of December, members from the Guyra, High Altitude and Ebor BPPs got together to celebrate the end of an eventful year and to spread the Christmas Cheer.Members have faced a range of challenges this year, from floods to drought all in a few months. But all of that was forgotten for a few hours when members participated in a six course extravaganza of foods from the New England region. The menu included, Guyra tomatoes filled with cheese, Guyra free-range deep-fried eggs, Glen Innes goat, New England Wagyu and New England Trout. This was finished off with a triple choc cake with cassata! All was lovingly prepared by a BPP colleague, Loch Rodgers at Rafters Restaurant in Guyra. |
 The meal and the company were thoroughly enjoyed by all and many Christmas greetings were exchanged.From Bill, Wayne and Cynthia we thank all the members of the NSW BPPs for their commitment, their enthusiasm and their participation. We look forward to continuing our successes in 2010 and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2010. |
| BPP Meeting - 19 November 2009 |
 Our last meeting was held at Graham Clark’s place in the comfort of his lounge room. We were fortunate to have Steve Eastwood, District Vet, in attendance who explain Pestivirus to us. We were also able to look at individual results for four herds that had blood samples taken. The results were discussed and shared with everyone. The key message when it comes to Pestivirus is to get more information. Test a sample of your herd, allowing you to make an informed decision. Individual Cost of Productions were given out with a group average being shared for discussion. More work will continue on these over the next few months. However, the discussion did offer opportunities for the members to determine their individual focuses and to plan their action before the next meeting. To celebrate the end of the year and strengthen the network across the other two nearby groups, the members have decided to get together for a Christmas Function on 16 December 2009 in Guyra. Our next meeting will be in February where members will be reporting on the action taken to achieve their Focus. Each member present was given a BPP book to track their progress and keep their notes. |
| BPP Meeting - 27 May 2009 |
 A meeting of the Guyra BPP was held on Wednesday, 27 May 2009 at “Urandangie”, just south of Guyra. A “refresh” session was held on the continuous improvement and innovation process. This included conducting the “Beer In The Esky” tool as well as conducting a hypothetical CI&I cycle on increasing the weaning percentage in a herd. Members of the Guyra BPP explained the Group’s focus and what work has been done to date. The Group’s focus was concerning alternative pasture management. The group has made significant progress to date, including: |
|
 The Group decided to continue with this focus and to explore the potential of applying for funding through MLA for a “Producer Demonstration Site” (PDS). Information on this application process will be brought to the next meeting for further discussion.The PDS will measure the difference in dry matter between A and B using four methods: Single Super; (Nutriments / Natrimin – don’t think this was the right terms? Maybe high fertility pastures); Composting; and doing nothing. Measurements of the PDS will include pasture yield; ground cover % / dry matter and species present. The costing of the products will also be investigated. An economic analysis using the fertiliser calculator will be carried out at the next meeting. Other focuses are to be investigated by the Group, however, an emphasis has also been placed on targeting rapid improvements as well as individual improvements. With this in mind, the following is a list of those focuses that members are asked to score using the “Impact, Influence and Desire Tool”. |
| a) Winter Feed Gap b) Mob size c) Health Treatments – Pestiguard d) Kilograms per hectare – Cost of Production e) Pasture utilisation f) Fertility in herds g) Enterprise Mix / Risk |
| All members were asked to review their Cost of Production data and send it to Bill Hoffman prior to the next meeting. Bill Hoffman will analyse the data for the Group’s benefit and provide each member with a confidential individual report which will enable each see how they compare to the average across a number of KPIs. For those that have given results to Matt previously it is requested that they provide the workings so division of the costs can be attempted. |
| Visit by the Povery Bay (NZ) BPP Members |
 During April 2009 members of the Poverty Bay BPP in Gisborne, New Zealand spent a week travelling south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales. The 9 farmers, along with their Facilitator, were able to visit farms of all sizes as well as interact with BPP members from the NSW BPPs. Reports from the New Zealand farmers were overwhelmingly positive with strong commitment to the BPP process, and appreciation of value of being part of a wider network of BPPs. The benefits to the NSW BPP members were also positive as it provided an opportunity to share information with other BPP members. The visit finished with an information day on CRC science as well as a joint BPP meeting on the Friday. |
|
| NSW Mini-BPP Forum: Tuesday, 3 March 2009 |
 On 3 March 2009 members of the three NSW BPPs came together at a BPP member’s farm in Glen Lomond.The day was deemed a great success as it not only allowed BPP members to share their knowledge and identify new improvement opportunities, it also allowed each member to see how the process of CI&I is used within other BPPs. While the forum was primarily for BPP members, producers not currently involved in BPP also attended. As a result of this event, two new BPPs have been established on the north Coast. |
