Berin Gibbons

Passionate about Agriculture - Geek Dad - Maker - Aviator - Mental Health Advocate - ex VFRS - Grower Relations Manager @ GRDC - Tweets are my own.

[Berin Gibbons @Bezzalenko]

On farm connectivity is a constant challenge for growers. This new @theGRDC investment delivered by @ConnectedFarms looks at practical solutions. It includes 3 self-paced modules with an online workshop at the end of June followed by regional workshops later in the year!

[Connected Farms @ConnectedFarms]

📢 Module 1 is now live!

“Connectivity Foundations: What Every Grower Needs to Know” is the first free online module in the Agricultural Connectivity Out-of-the-Box project.

Practical, grower-focused learning designed to help Australian grain growers and agronomists better understand on-farm connectivity and digital farming systems.

👉 Find module 1 here: https://t.co/uOtNapVpUj

This project is a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment delivered by Connected Farms.

#GRDC #ConnectedFarms #AgTech #DigitalAgriculture #AustralianAgriculture #GrainGrowers #Connectivity #SmartFarming #GrainAdopt
@theGRDC

[Facey Group @FaceyGroup]

🤔 Can we sow oats earlier while still managing frost risk?
That’s the question we’re exploring in our 2026 Time of Sowing Oats Trial, delivered as part of the @TheGRDC RiskWi$e initiative.

The trial has kicked off with early oats sown at two different times. The first sowing, planted on 17 April, has established well, followed by a second sowing last week into moisture-holding soils.

Earlier sowing can increase biomass and yield potential, but it can also push flowering into higher frost-risk windows. Across the season, we’ll be tracking:
1️⃣ Crop development and flowering timing
2️⃣ Frost exposure during the reproductive period
3️⃣ Impacts on yield and stability

This work is helping build local evidence for oats in time-of-sowing strategies, while also growing @FaceyGroup's capacity to deliver more regional trials under commercial conditions using our own seeder.

We’ll keep sharing updates as the season unfolds 👀

#GRDC #RiskWise #TimeOfSowing #FrostManagement #growergroups #localagresearch

[GRDC @theGRDC]

Applying #phosphorous (P) fertiliser to high P fixing soils will result in it being locked up and converted into forms that plants can’t easily absorb.

It means plants can’t get the nutrient they need, reducing yields by up to 50%, and lowering the return on your fertiliser investment.

A new 4-year GRDC project, led by @VicGovAg, brings together grower groups, advisers and university researchers from SA, Vic and WA to strengthen confidence in P management in these soil types.

Want to find out more? https://t.co/q1JQaCH5Xw

@BCropGroup @AgSolutionsOz @FaceyGroup @AIREP @DirtSouthern @uwanews @latrobe @AgCommunicators Trengove Consulting @SEPWA_ag Adelaide University

#HighPFixingSoils

[ifarmwell @ifarmwell_]

Tracy is proud to be a farmer, because she believes that what we do actually matters. We produce food and look after our land – and are ultimately part of something far bigger than ourselves. 🍞🚜

She also talks about how it sometimes feels like big decisions which affect our farming businesses are being made elsewhere and we don’t have much control over them. But she encourages us to take a step back and know that a tough period isn’t the whole story, and this is just the season we are in.

To manage this, Tracy tries to just focus on the things which are in her control, and not on the things which aren’t. Including something as simple such as mowing the lawn, where she can see what she has done, what is left to do – and it can be ticked off in an afternoon. ✅

Thanks, Tracy, for sharing with us today, and also pointing to the power of connection with family, friends and other farmers as a way to manage perspective, and also our own personal wellbeing. 🙏

#proudtobeafarmer

[Grant Thompson @grantcropcircl1]

Agricultural businesses in the northern Ag region of WA are under serious threat. In my experience, label rates of registered baits are not enough to control a population that has gone exponential. Recent inspections of baited paddocks show significant removal of planted seeds despite recent baiting after seeding - in fine weather. Growers will need to apply baits more than once, which is costly. The common sense approach would be to have registered mouse baiting products that have a rate range on the label, where higher rates can be used for higher pressure. Emergency permits required asap.
@APVMA @GRDCWest @theGRDC

[Facey Group @FaceyGroup]

📢 @FaceyGroup is on the lookout! 💡
Are you passionate about agriculture and making a difference in the paddock? 🌱

We’re hiring a full-time Agricultural Research & Extension Coordinator to help deliver local trials, support growers, and drive innovation across our region.

👩‍🌾 Be part of hands-on research
🤝 Build strong connections with growers & industry
🌾 Help shape practical, on-farm outcomes

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and make an impact where it counts, we’d love to hear from you 🌱
Read the full position description here 👉🏻 https://t.co/AyjwHfbOrV

#agriculturejobs #ruralcareers #agresearch #extensionwork #farminnovation #australianagriculture #careersinag #growerengagement #sustainablefarming #growergroups #localagresearch

[GRDC West @GRDCWest]

FERTILISER RESOURCES
In response to concerns about #fuel and #fertiliser supply, these GRDC resources and tools help growers prepare and act:
🌱Webinar: https://t.co/y4OfjTCgJs
🌱Paddock Practices: https://t.co/FreWkYWYv4
🌱Publication: https://t.co/IQXEryHrav

[GRDC @theGRDC]

Chela Dempster and family are based at Arrowsmith, south-west of Mingenew, WA. The farm is largely wheat, canola and lupins across 5 blocks, with approximately 1,000 Merinos and cross-bred sheep in rotation. Find out the latest from Chela in this month's #GroundCoverOnline Grower Series catchup ▶️ https://t.co/OjluROPwwL

#GRDC #GrowerSeries #WAgrowers

[GRDC @theGRDC]

Wise words from @rebetzke_0. Check out these GRDC resources for deep sown wheat:

Video ➡️ https://t.co/8BwIcmfYaE

Paddock Practices ➡️ https://t.co/9hwplRFQDW

Fact Sheet ➡️ https://t.co/R6t4uzkTpo

@CSIRO #GRDCPublications #GRDCVideo #LongColeoptileWheat

[MADFIG @MADFIG14]

🔥Harvest Fire Conversations - Merredin🔥

WA is seeing more harvest fires and DFES wants to hear from those who know harvest best!

No registration required. Come along for an open community chat facilitated by Karen Chappel AM JP.

📅24 Mar
🕑10 – 12
📍Cummins Theatre, Merredin

[Facey Group @FaceyGroup]

🚨 WA Growers – We need your input!
The @GGA_WA is gathering feedback from growers and primary producers across WA on current fuel supply challenges.
Your local insights on fuel availability and pricing will help inform the WA Government’s policy response and guide support to regional areas.
Complete the survey here: https://t.co/2YInvh2D5j
#WAFarming #RealImpact #FuelSupply #RegionalWA #Survey

[GRDC West @GRDCWest]

Time to walk your paddocks - conditions are ripe for mouse breeding🐭

[Facey Group @FaceyGroup]

Big soils. Big results. Big impact. 🌱🔥

@FaceyGroup is proud to welcome Dr Gaus Azam @DPIRDbroadacre to our 2026 Trials Review & Pre-Seeding Catch Up.

Bringing practical, research-backed insights on:
🌱 Tricks & Tips for Re-Engineering Soils Across Different Environments

From tackling soil constraints to unlocking water-limited yield potential — this is real science delivering real on-farm impact.

If you’re planning for a stronger 2026 season, this is a session you can’t afford to miss.

📅 Thursday, 5 March 2026
⏰ 4:00pm
👉 Register now: https://t.co/uC2FlOsSx7

Proudly sponsored by @TheGRDC & @GrainGrowers
Sundowner to follow thanks to @SummitFertz

#FaceyGroup #GRDC #TrialsReview #PreSeeding #SoilHealth #WAGrain #GrowerUpdate #GrowerGroups #TrialsNight #AgResearch #LocalResearch #GrowerLed

[Berin Gibbons @Bezzalenko]

Register now to put your investment ideas forward!

Guest Speakers
- Trent Butcher from @ConsultAg will be talking oat agronomy - biomass or grain yield?
- Ella Shaylor from @SLR_Agriculture discussing Canola Establishment in the MRZ & LRZ

@GRDCWest #NationalGrowerNetwork

[GRDC West @GRDCWest]

Kondinin growers – this one’s for you.
GRDC National Grower Network Summer Forum.
Thursday 26 Feb, Kondinin Country Club.
Bring your ideas, constraints and opportunities and help shape future RD&E investment.

Free. Register: https://t.co/xABfIVAvjg
#GRDC #NationalGrowerNetwork

[Stirlings to Coast Farmers @Stirlings2Coast]

Happening NEXT WEEK.

The GRDC Seeder Set-Up Workshop is your opportunity to sharpen seeding decisions with local agronomists & independent machinery specialists — before seeding begins.

2987 Chillinup Rd, South Stirlings
Monday 23 Feb | 9:00am–1:30pm

Machinery walk-arounds • practical stations • real-world insights

Book now: https://t.co/CpGrWs7MhI

@TheGRDC @PrimarySales @FaceyGroup @GRDCWest
#SeederSetUp #Seeding #Broadacre #Workshops

[West Midlands Group @WMG_WA]

Once seeding starts, there’s not much time to pull up and change things.

The GRDC Seeder Set-Up Workshop is a practical morning in the paddock, working through seeding depth, seed rate, air cart set-up, fertiliser placement and residue handling under local conditions. It’s about knowing your machine is doing what you think it is before the season begins.

📍 1206 Rose Thompson Rd, Warradarge | Fri 27 Feb | 9:00–1:30

FREE to Register 👉 https://t.co/yoW0igD045

@theGRDC @PrimarySales @FaceyGroup

[CFIG @CFIG_AG]

🚜NEXT WEEK: @theGRDC Seeder Set-Up Workshop - sharpen your seeding decisions with local agronomists & independent machinery specialists before seeding begins.
📍 Hickey Farm, Bilbarin
📅 25th Feb | ⏰ 9:00am–1:30pm
🔗 Book now: https://t.co/vK4a3KAMMK
@PrimarySales @FaceyGroup

[GRDC West @GRDCWest]

Grain growers in Miling, join us Monday 23 Feb, 4–7pm at Miling Recreation Centre for the GRDC National Grower Network Summer Forum. Have your say on local RD&E priorities and issues shaping your farm.
Free event. Register https://t.co/xABfIVAvjg
#GRDC #NationalGrowerNetworkGrain

[MADFIG @MADFIG14]

🚜@theGRDC Seeder Set-Up Workshops are back to help fine-tune your seeding setup. Practical tips, hands-on & designed for local conditions. All welcome!

📍 59 Totadgin Hall Road, Merredin
📅 Thurs Feb 26
⏰ 8am – 12pm

Register: https://t.co/B4Va2wp6SN

@PrimarySales @faceygroup

[Grower Group Alliance @GGA_WA]

🌱 Farmers and advisors can now explore a new collection of resources​​​​​​​ showcasing recent @DPIRDbroadacre research and practical liming strategies for managing soil acidity, developed by @SoilsWest with DPIRD soil scientists.

The summaries cover shallow lime incorporation, soil amelioration, and guidance on estimating maintenance lime rates.

Learn more: https://t.co/0u7jA6nax7
This work was supported by the #WADroughtHub.