Sykesy’s Buraja Meeting back for 2024

This long-standing community event continues the tradition started by the late John Sykes and is an opportunity for grain and mixed farmers to debrief the 2023 season and harvest, as well as discuss the key issues for 2024.

Long-time Riverine Plains member, Jan Davis from Rennie, explained that the day has special significance for many farmers in the region.

“John Sykes was a highly respected private agronomist who established the day to give local farmers free access to independent advice, to help improve the productivity and profitability of their businesses.

“For us, the day has always been an important way to share experiences and hear about what worked and what didn’t during the previous season – from varietal performance to fertiliser strategies, weed and pest management, through to market updates and bigger picture issues to do with soils, sustainability and economic challenges,” said Mrs Davis.

“We always come away with a broader understanding of the previous season, as well as things to think about for the future. It’s also a great chance to catch up with other farmers and agribusiness representatives, so it’s an event we look forward to,” she added.

The day is renowned for its informal feel and wide-ranging discussions, with lots of practical information and experiences shared across the sessions to help farmers make decisions next season.

The day will kick off with a harvest debrief to tease out the things that worked well and the shared challenges that might impact farmers across the region in 2024.

There will also be a panel session featuring IK Caldwell AGnVET agronomist Grant Goonan and local farmers, including John Bruce from Barooga, that will delve into last year’s production issues. Fertiliser remains a hot topic, so this will no doubt be a focus of audience interest and discussion.

The 2024 planning session will again be facilitated by Chris Minehan from Rural Management Strategies, who will focus on wrapping up harvest, as well as emerging issues and what farmers can be doing now to prepare.

Andrew Retallick from Market Check will also provide an update on the global commodity market and the current drivers of market activity.

Sykesy’s Buraja Meeting will be held on Wednesday 7 February, 2024 at the Buraja Recreational Ground Hall, from 8:30-1:00pm, followed by a complimentary BBQ lunch.