The Barossa Improved Grazing Group
The Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) is a community-driven livestock and farming network that has its origins from five existing local producer groups; Angaston Ag Bureau, Koonunga Ag Bureau, Mt Pleasant Beef Group, North Rhine Sheep Group and the Barossa Mid North Dairy Discussion Group.
BIGG is committed to delivering greater productivity and NRM outcomes for its members through the adoption of innovative practice. In recognition of this, in September 2017 BIGG were awarded the 2017 Australian Government Excellence in Sustainable Farm Practices Award at the SA Landcare Awards, and the 2018 Ag Excellence Alliance grower group award.
BIGG were also awarded the 2014 Ag Excellence Alliance Sustainability Award by its peers (sponsored by DEWNR), as ‘an outstanding locally based grower group for its achievements in delivering greater NRM outcomes’.
BIGGs vision is to be a trusted and valuable network supporting innovative, sustainable and resilient grazing businesses. BIGG works in collaboration with a range of state and national stakeholders, industry partners, local businesses and grower groups to cultivate a measurable improvement in Barossa farming communities’ practices through effective delivery of innovative and practical solutions for sustainable grazing systems.
BIGG was established in 2012 and receives funding to deliver a range of technical and extension projects. Projects are hosted by local farmers and events are conducted to communicate project results. Projects are managed by Technical Facilitators, Brett Nietschke, Georgie Keynes, Deb Scammell and Janie Evans, under the guidance of our Board.
Check out our
Upcoming Events
Water Innovations Farm Tour
This BIGG event will showcase various water supply and monitoring strategies that have been implemented on three farms in the Flaxman and Eden Valley district. These include a desalination plant which has produced optimal water quality for irrigation, an electronic device to monitor tank water levels, a Hydrosmart unit to manage water quality, and the …
Water Innovations Farm Tour Read More »
Find out more »Winter Beef Snapshot
Providing graziers with decisional support tools / economics on seasonal health and production issues to support graziers to hear today-use tomorrow, or trial on-farm around; Seasonal Herd health – grass tetany, weak calf syndrome / calving difficulties, Cow & heifer nutrition in winter with 2022’s poor quality hay & silage, Seaweed trials to reduce methane …
Winter Beef Snapshot Read More »
Find out more »Mount Pleasant, South Australia 5235 Australia
Angaston Ag Bureau visits BGI Building Group
All Welcome to Attend!!
Find out more »Keep up to date with the
Latest News
NEW VIDEO: Methods of Feeding Ewes in Containment Pens
There are many different ways to set up feeding systems for containment ewe areas. This video hears from five different farmers located across the Barossa Valley, who are using a range of systems including, self feeders, trough feeding in and out of the pens, silage and total mixed rations with feed mixers. These farmers discuss …
NEW VIDEO: Methods of Feeding Ewes in Containment Pens Read More »
Mixed Species Pastures: Invertebrate Study Released
BIGG have released the case study report looking at invertebrates in mixed species pastures vs monocultures. This was developed by Mike Nash from What Bugs You.
Drought Hub Knowledge Broker Visit
On 17th April, BIGG hosted the group of local and interstate Drought Hub ‘Knowledge Brokers’. They all had an interest in producer led on the ground delivery and addressing locally identified issues and priorities. They visited two BIGG sites, which have been developed with the SA Drought Hub, meeting with the producers and BIGG facilitators. The …
Thanks to our
Sponsors
