Latest News & Resources

BIGG is excited to announce that we are now accepting expressions of interest for our 2024-25 Communications Intern – Drought Preparedness placement. This is a fantastic opportunity for students in agriculture, animal, veterinary science, agribusiness, or natural resource management to gain skills and experience while building networks. The intern will be mentored and actively involved […]

The recent ‘Livestock Strategies for the Next 100 Days’ session, hosted by BIGG and led by Pene Keynes from Livestock SA, was an invaluable event for local farmers held on the 27th of June at the Angaston Bowling Club. The workshop featured insightful presentations from industry experts, addressing crucial livestock management strategies for the upcoming […]

Accessible and beneficial to all ages and most fitness levels pilates can enhance both body and mind health. To assist our rural community facing challenging conditions and situations, especially in times of drought, the Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) has developed the Core Strength: Pilates for rural living program. The program seeks to help spread the word on the benefits of pilates and encourage people to give it a try!

BIGG recently welcomed new Executive Officer Alexi Kentish. Alexi has a strong connection with sustainable land management with an Honours degree in Agricultural Science, six years working with a large fertiliser company and 16 years farming in the south east of South Australia with her husband, Nic. Alexi’s role on the farm was to monitor the […]

The 2024 Agricultural Institute of Australia – South Australia (AIA-SA) Division’s Student Compendium serves as an inspirational resource for young individuals considering a career in this vital sector. Featuring contributions that reflect the Barossa’s innovative approach to agriculture, the Student Compendium offers young people the potential for career opportunities within the region. The Student Compendium […]

This latest BIGG case study focuses on an in-paddock pasture comparison at Angaston grape and livestock producer Ben Zander’s property. Ben’s 3.5ha paddock was sown in 2012 with a perennial based pasture mix (phalaris, cocksfoot, perennial ryegrass and sub clover) and in May 2023 3.0ha of the same paddock was sown to a basic annual pasture multi-species mix. The paddock was monitored […]

BIGG delivered a workshop in early April to support sheep producers through the decision-making process and implementation of best practice sheep containment feeding systems. Held in Eden Valley, eight businesses attended the workshop facilitated by BIGG Technical Facilitator Deb Scammell. Attendees also benefited from a visit to sheep producer Pete Mitchell’s newly built containment yards […]

Matt Neldner aims to continually improve the productivity of his feedbase at his Marananga property. After attending a BIGG Soil Health Workshop in 2021, Matt learnt about the benefits of growing and grazing multi-species pastures inspiring him to compare two different pasture types in the one paddock: In 2021 Matt sowed half a paddock to a multi-species pasture and the other […]

Over 95 livestock producers, agriculture students, agribusiness and industry supporters joined together at the Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) Annual Conference. Held at Lambert Estate (Angaston) on Thursday 8 February 2024, the conference was facilitated by Janie Evans, BIGG Technical Officer. Seven presenters spoke on topics in response to this year’s theme ‘Farming Ahead: A […]

On receiving SA Sheep Industry Fund (SIF) sponsored tickets, fifteen local students and early career professionals attended the BIGG 2024 Annual Conference  ‘Farming ahead: a changing landscape’ on Thursday 8 February at Lambert Estate, Angaston. Senior High school students from years 11 and 12 came from local farms or were new to agriculture, with some […]