Riverine Plains is all about farmers learning from farmers. It gives us the opportunity to form a network of like-minded farmers we can bounce ideas off and discuss business issues and opportunities with.
Our strategies for success
Riverine Plains supports our members to achieve prosperity in their farming systems – through increased profitability, productivity and long-term sustainability.
What we do
Riverine Plains delivers the research, trials and projects that help our farmer members run their most efficient farming systems and share what they learnt with other local farmers.
OUR HISTORY
Since 1999, Riverine Plains has had a long and rich history.
- 1999 – Riverine Plains established
- 2004 – Precision agriculture becomes a focus
- 2007 – Supporting farmers during hard times
- 2010 – ‘Stubble Trouble’ Field Walks and discussions
- 2013 – Riverine Plains takes the lead on new projects
- 2014 – First International Study Tour
- 2015 – Riverine Plains hosts first ‘Sykesy’s Buraja Day’
- 2016 – A significant year for events
- 2018 – The John Hanrahan Scholarship established
- 2023 – Riverine Plains delivers value for the region
1999 – Riverine Plains established
Riverine Plains was established in 1999 as a farming systems group to meet the growing needs of farmers in north east Victoria and southern New South Wales, known as the Riverine Plains.
The original steering committee was chaired by Dick Shirley and included: David Cook, Lisa Castleman, Michael Crawford, Andrew Dickie, Geoff Davis, Malcolm Ferguson, Roy Hamilton, Don Hunt, Adam Inchbold, Paul I’Anson, Hamish Sinclair and Corey Uebergang.
Riverine Plains hosted its inaugural event the same year, ‘By the Farmer, For the Farmer’, which was supported by nearly 200 farmers.
2004 – Precision agriculture becomes a focus
A field day at Buraja saw farmers discuss guidance, autosteer and precision spraying technologies. A precision agriculture discussion group was also established and met for several years.
2007 – Supporting farmers during hard times
The millennium drought (2001-2009) required farmers to adopt more water-efficient farming practices. Riverine Plains played a key role in helping farmers access important drought-related farming systems research, business information and personal support during this period.
Large crowds attended Riverine Plains events to learn how they could grow more with less. Our events included the Riverine Plains and GRDC Farmer Update at Corowa, the Riverine Plains ‘Business of Farming’ Update and Farmers in Drought Fun Day Out at Mulwala.
2010 – ‘Stubble Trouble’ Field Walks and discussions
These events were organised in response to local farmers experiencing difficulties with sowing when managing high stubble loads in direct drill systems.
Multiple events were held across the region, attracting over 200 farmers in total.
2013 – Riverine Plains takes the lead on new projects
Riverine Plains takes the lead in the ‘Stubble project’, a landmark local project looking at different stubble management techniques.
At the same time, Riverine Plains was also leading a project looking at soil carbon in cropping systems, with a focus on nitrous oxide emissions and strategies to accelerate stubble breakdown.
2014 – First International Study Tour
Riverine Plains embarks on its first international study tour to New Zealand, with a group of 20 growers learning more about high-yielding crop production and diversity in farming systems.
Since then, Riverine Plains has hosted several interstate farmer tours, as well as tours to South America and Canada.
2015 – Riverine Plains hosts first ‘Sykesy’s Buraja Day’
Riverine Plains takes over the running of Sykesy’s Buraja Day in keeping with the tradition started by the late John Sykes in debriefing the season that was and planning for the season ahead. The day was established by John Sykes in 1983 and Riverine Plains continues to support this important community event.
Image: Sykesy’s Buraja Day 2024, photo by Manifeasto
2016 – A significant year for events
The group hosted or partnered with different organisations to deliver over 21 events throughout the year, attended by more than 1000 people. Events included soil pit days, sprayer training, machinery days and field walks, as well as technical and business updates, with the highlight a farmer tour to South America.
2018 – The John Hanrahan Scholarship established
Riverine Plains established the John Hanrahan Scholarship to encourage and reward excellence in local agriculture students.
The Riverine Plains Scholarship Program has since expanded to include students in other fields, thanks to the ongoing support of our generous Scholarship Partners.
Image: Inaugural John Hanrahan Scholar, Mitch Priestly.
2023 – Riverine Plains delivers value for the region
The value of research, extension and projects delivered by Riverine Plains across the region exceeded $11 million, with 28 current and 14 completed projects under management during the 2022-23 financial year.
Since 1999, Riverine Plains has had a long and rich history.
-
1999 – Riverine Plains established
1999 – Riverine Plains established
Riverine Plains was established in 1999 as a farming systems group to meet the growing needs of farmers in north east Victoria and southern New South Wales, known as the Riverine Plains.
The original steering committee was chaired by Dick Shirley and included: David Cook, Lisa Castleman, Michael Crawford, Andrew Dickie, Geoff Davis, Malcolm Ferguson, Roy Hamilton, Don Hunt, Adam Inchbold, Paul I’Anson, Hamish Sinclair and Corey Uebergang.
Riverine Plains hosted its inaugural event the same year, ‘By the Farmer, For the Farmer’, which was supported by nearly 200 farmers.
-
2004 – Precision agriculture becomes a focus
2004 – Precision agriculture becomes a focus
A field day at Buraja saw farmers discuss guidance, autosteer and precision spraying technologies. A precision agriculture discussion group was also established and met for several years.
-
2007 – Supporting farmers during hard times
2007 – Supporting farmers during hard times
The millennium drought (2001-2009) required farmers to adopt more water-efficient farming practices. Riverine Plains played a key role in helping farmers access important drought-related farming systems research, business information and personal support during this period.
Large crowds attended Riverine Plains events to learn how they could grow more with less. Our events included the Riverine Plains and GRDC Farmer Update at Corowa, the Riverine Plains ‘Business of Farming’ Update and Farmers in Drought Fun Day Out at Mulwala.
-
2010 – ‘Stubble Trouble’ Field Walks and discussions
2010 – ‘Stubble Trouble’ Field Walks and discussions
These events were organised in response to local farmers experiencing difficulties with sowing when managing high stubble loads in direct drill systems.
Multiple events were held across the region, attracting over 200 farmers in total.
-
2013 – Riverine Plains takes the lead on new projects
2013 – Riverine Plains takes the lead on new projects
Riverine Plains takes the lead in the ‘Stubble project’, a landmark local project looking at different stubble management techniques.
At the same time, Riverine Plains was also leading a project looking at soil carbon in cropping systems, with a focus on nitrous oxide emissions and strategies to accelerate stubble breakdown.
-
2014 – First International Study Tour
2014 – First International Study Tour
Riverine Plains embarks on its first international study tour to New Zealand, with a group of 20 growers learning more about high-yielding crop production and diversity in farming systems.
Since then, Riverine Plains has hosted several interstate farmer tours, as well as tours to South America and Canada.
-
2015 – Riverine Plains hosts first ‘Sykesy’s Buraja Day’
2015 – Riverine Plains hosts first ‘Sykesy’s Buraja Day’
Riverine Plains takes over the running of Sykesy’s Buraja Day in keeping with the tradition started by the late John Sykes in debriefing the season that was and planning for the season ahead. The day was established by John Sykes in 1983 and Riverine Plains continues to support this important community event.
Image: Sykesy’s Buraja Day 2024, photo by Manifeasto
-
2016 – A significant year for events
2016 – A significant year for events
The group hosted or partnered with different organisations to deliver over 21 events throughout the year, attended by more than 1000 people. Events included soil pit days, sprayer training, machinery days and field walks, as well as technical and business updates, with the highlight a farmer tour to South America.
-
2018 – The John Hanrahan Scholarship established
2018 – The John Hanrahan Scholarship established
Riverine Plains established the John Hanrahan Scholarship to encourage and reward excellence in local agriculture students.
The Riverine Plains Scholarship Program has since expanded to include students in other fields, thanks to the ongoing support of our generous Scholarship Partners.
Image: Inaugural John Hanrahan Scholar, Mitch Priestly.
-
2023 – Riverine Plains delivers value for the region
2023 – Riverine Plains delivers value for the region
The value of research, extension and projects delivered by Riverine Plains across the region exceeded $11 million, with 28 current and 14 completed projects under management during the 2022-23 financial year.
Our achievements at a glance
The 2022-2023 financial year was another significant period of growth for Riverine Plains as we delivered on our purpose of building member prosperity by enhancing knowledge and skills.
25
Events across the Riverine Plains region of Australia
1,100+
Attendees at events
28
Current projects
14
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Completed projects
6
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Scholarship recipients
$M
Value of new projects
12
Staff
22
Research sites
45
Research partners
469
Members 2022-2023
37
Commercial partners
2
Flagship events: Youth in Ag & Innovation Expo