Corrigin Farm Improvement Group
Description
The Corrigin Farm Improvement Group (CFIG) is a local, grower driven group covering the Shires of Corrigin, Bruce Rock, Narembeen, Kondinin and Kulin. The group was formed on 13th April 1981 by a group of local farmers who had attended a Kondinin Farm Improvement Group seminar at Hyden and following on from a few ales thought it would be good for Corrigin farmers to have a group of their own. These farmers wanted to trial many aspects of agriculture such as technology and variety trials in their local conditions. CFIG now have over 120 business members.
During the first year the group held a spring crop inspection field day which was a huge success and that trend has continued ever since. The CFIG recruitment policy was to identify young, enthusiastic and energetic farmers who wanted to learn more, getting them to join the group and groom them to become committee men and women. This policy has continued until today and is one of the elements that make the CFIG such a successful organisation.
Over the years the group has held numerous events from seminars to field walks, bus trips, field days and a host of other events. There have been two AgriChem days held in 1991, and 1993 where speakers and manufacturers came together to discuss and display their products. A Pod to Bin lupin day that was very well attended. We held a rust information morning only a few years ago that had over 100 farmers attend. A couple of months ago we held our annual winter field walk which focused on 12 different seeding systems and their crop establishment which attracted 60 plus local farmers. The paddock field walks that have been held every year in the Corrigin area, looking at local issues and inviting a wide variety of guest speakers. There have been many other events to promote, encourage, help, enthuse and support farmers in the Corrigin shire and its surrounds.
Since 1981 the group has evolved and has recently employed an Executive Officer to assist with the groups purpose to provide the latest information to agricultural businesses in the local community by conducting appropriate local research to enhance our social and economic well-being. CFIG still aim to promote farmer education in all aspects relevant to an agricultural environment, including extension that is creative and attractive to members, encourage farmers to experiment and make available results to members and industry.
CFIG host annual field days, meetings, seminars and conferences on such topics related to the business and social needs of members. Whilst encouraging cooperation with agricultural and other research institutions to conduct research and compile results of officially recorded work.
CFIG�s membership structure hasn�t changed a great deal over the past 10 years except for a small increase in renewal fees given that the group has recently employed and EO to allow the group to offer more activities and information to their members.
During the first year the group held a spring crop inspection field day which was a huge success and that trend has continued ever since. The CFIG recruitment policy was to identify young, enthusiastic and energetic farmers who wanted to learn more, getting them to join the group and groom them to become committee men and women. This policy has continued until today and is one of the elements that make the CFIG such a successful organisation.
Over the years the group has held numerous events from seminars to field walks, bus trips, field days and a host of other events. There have been two AgriChem days held in 1991, and 1993 where speakers and manufacturers came together to discuss and display their products. A Pod to Bin lupin day that was very well attended. We held a rust information morning only a few years ago that had over 100 farmers attend. A couple of months ago we held our annual winter field walk which focused on 12 different seeding systems and their crop establishment which attracted 60 plus local farmers. The paddock field walks that have been held every year in the Corrigin area, looking at local issues and inviting a wide variety of guest speakers. There have been many other events to promote, encourage, help, enthuse and support farmers in the Corrigin shire and its surrounds.
Since 1981 the group has evolved and has recently employed an Executive Officer to assist with the groups purpose to provide the latest information to agricultural businesses in the local community by conducting appropriate local research to enhance our social and economic well-being. CFIG still aim to promote farmer education in all aspects relevant to an agricultural environment, including extension that is creative and attractive to members, encourage farmers to experiment and make available results to members and industry.
CFIG host annual field days, meetings, seminars and conferences on such topics related to the business and social needs of members. Whilst encouraging cooperation with agricultural and other research institutions to conduct research and compile results of officially recorded work.
CFIG�s membership structure hasn�t changed a great deal over the past 10 years except for a small increase in renewal fees given that the group has recently employed and EO to allow the group to offer more activities and information to their members.
Activities/Projects
Recent projects the group have run or were collaborative project partners: Regeneration of old salt bush stands, Improving Soil Health through establishment of the perennial legume Lebeckia on non-wetting deep sands, eConnected Grainbelt Project (DPIRD), Investigating double break (or stacked rotation) options, Strategies to Mitigate Salinity through pastures, Putting SBAS into the hands of farmers
Ongoing projects the group are running or collaborative project partners: Corrigin Focus Paddock - Management options for water repellent soils, Supplying out-of-season Merino Lamb to the world, Grazing crops to increase farm profitability, Forage systems for optimal weaning management and finishing,Perennial legume Lebeckia � Harvest demonstrations, Seeding systems to improve cereal crop establishment on heavy textured soils, Amelioration to incorporate soil amendments to improve soil health and fertility on sandy soils, Demonstration of Legume crops for profitability in the Western Region, Demonstrating the benefits of soil amelioration and controlled traffic practices across a broad range of soil types in Western Australia, Optimising plant establishment, density and spacings to maximise crop yield and profit in the southern and western regions, Increasing profit from N, P and K fertiliser inputs into the evolving cropping sequences in the Western Region, Corrigin Focus Paddock - Management options for water repellent soils, Boosting profit and reducing risk of mixed farms in low and medium rainfall areas with newly discovered legume pastures enabled by innovative management methods, Nutrient requirements after Reefinating, Utilising weather data, frost sensors and NPK Soil Moisture Probes for in-season crop management, Survey of vertebrate and invertebrate pests and beneficials harbouring in harvest weed-seed control systems.
Collaborations with Group Sponsors: Pre-emergent herbicide trials on pastures and crop species, Fungicide trials in cereals,
Ongoing projects the group are running or collaborative project partners: Corrigin Focus Paddock - Management options for water repellent soils, Supplying out-of-season Merino Lamb to the world, Grazing crops to increase farm profitability, Forage systems for optimal weaning management and finishing,Perennial legume Lebeckia � Harvest demonstrations, Seeding systems to improve cereal crop establishment on heavy textured soils, Amelioration to incorporate soil amendments to improve soil health and fertility on sandy soils, Demonstration of Legume crops for profitability in the Western Region, Demonstrating the benefits of soil amelioration and controlled traffic practices across a broad range of soil types in Western Australia, Optimising plant establishment, density and spacings to maximise crop yield and profit in the southern and western regions, Increasing profit from N, P and K fertiliser inputs into the evolving cropping sequences in the Western Region, Corrigin Focus Paddock - Management options for water repellent soils, Boosting profit and reducing risk of mixed farms in low and medium rainfall areas with newly discovered legume pastures enabled by innovative management methods, Nutrient requirements after Reefinating, Utilising weather data, frost sensors and NPK Soil Moisture Probes for in-season crop management, Survey of vertebrate and invertebrate pests and beneficials harbouring in harvest weed-seed control systems.
Collaborations with Group Sponsors: Pre-emergent herbicide trials on pastures and crop species, Fungicide trials in cereals,
Past Accomplishments
Over the last 35 years CFIG have achieved many local trials and farm demonstrations with assistance from many agribusiness bodies and funding sources. Most recently CFIG have been fortunate to investigate how chemical fallow performs in our local conditions and the effects of mouldboard ploughing to increase production.
Sponsors
Shire of Corrigin, CBH Group, Bayer Crop Science, ANZ, Imtrade Australia, Summit Fertilizer, CSBP Limited, GrainGrowers, Rabobank, Pacific Seeds, Emerald Grain, Western Engineering and Agrimaster.
Corrigin Farm Improvement Group
PO Box 2, Corrigin WA 6375