Latest News & Resources

Josh Hancock from Kingston SE attended the major containment field day in March 2021 and looked at some of the other containment ewe project sites through the Barossa. He was wanting to build a new containment lot on his Southeast property to preserve pasture and allow him to supplement ewes in a concentrated area prior to the break.

The combined BIGG and Mid North High Rainfall Zone Bus trip to the Fleurieu occurred on the 18th March with 14 participants heading down to visit three different innovative properties in the Sellicks Hill/ Myponga area.

What are the options and strategies you need to consider to help make your property ‘water secure’?

This was examined at a workshop BIGG held on April 13 at the Mt McKenzie Hall, featuring PIRSA Soil and Land Management consultants, Mary-Anne Young and Brian Hughes and BIGG Technical Facilitator, Janie Evans.

BIGG has released it’s annual report for 2021. The report gives an overview of the current projects which include the two new projects, one investigating on-farm water security and the other developing skills to improve climate resilience on local farming systems. These complement the other projects which BIGG has been running including the Containment Ewe Project, Pasture Walks and the Livestock Technology Group.

The Barossa Improved Grazing Group celebrated the second year as an Incorporated Body at it’s AGM on Thursday 21st October at Wanera Wine Bar in Angaston.

BIGG teamed up with Barossa Grape and Wine to deliver a Water Update for the Eden Valley Area on Thursday 8th July. The event updated landholders on current projects which may provide opportunities for those experiencing water shortages.

The Barossa Improved Grazing Group were excited to host internationally renowned soil ecologist Dr Christine Jones during her recent tour of South Australia. Christine presented to over 45 people at the Soil Health and Grazing Workshop held on the 1st of June at Stockwell.

Her presentation encouraged participants, who included graziers, croppers and vignerons to restore their soil by improving soil function using the liquid carbon pathway which centers around photosynthesis and the relationship with plant roots and microbes.

Earlier in the month (April 8) BIGG held an Autumn Pasture Walk, with attendees visiting out of season forage crops and also a centre pivot.

First stop of the pasture walk was John Tuesners at Keyneton, where last September John sowed a paddock of forage brassica (Leafmore). Between December-March, approximately 4.0t dry matter/ha was grown, which provided three separate grazings for his ewes and lambs. Even given the cost to establish the brassica, this level of production compares very favourably to feeding out a similar quality feed source such as vetch hay.

The key messages from the Grow 2021 Conference held by the Barossa Improved Grazing Group on Thursday 18th February were for farmers to stay positive, look at the great things happening in the livestock industry and make the most of the opportunities provided.

BIGG has released it’s annual report for 2020 highlighting the important work BIGG does for the local farming community. The report gives an overview of the current projects which include the two major ongoing BIGG projects, the containment ewe producer demonstration sites and the soil moisture monitoring and climate project.