EO Report: Connecting with Members and Setting Priorities

By Gabby Carrivick, WMG Executive Officer

It is both an honour and a privilege to present my first Executive Officer (EO) report on behalf of the West Midlands Group (WMG). Guided by our strategic plan, WMG remains focused on supporting farming communities to feed the world while ensuring our members remain profitable, sustainable, and resilient in an increasingly complex environment – as I heard it put so simply recently, changing how we farm as farming changes.

This has been achieved through targeted research, extension activities, and, most importantly, our events. Commencing my role in one of the busiest times of the year for grower groups has been a true baptism of fire, but a rewarding one. The strong attendance and active participation at recent events has been outstanding. It has been a pleasure to meet so many of you, including long-standing active members and those re-engaging with the group. Your feedback and enthusiasm are both noticed and valued.

As your EO, my personal goal is to reconnect with our grassroots and deliver what matters most to you. To support this, WMG will be re-establishing the Research and Development Committee to guide our priorities. We will be reaching out to hear directly from you about where our focus should be and what is most important for your businesses and communities. If you are passionate about shaping this direction, I encourage you to get involved. At WMG, we pride ourselves on our open-door policy, so please stop by our office at the rear of the Dandaragan CRC – whether it’s to see what we’ve been up to, ask for some information or simply for a cup of tea or coffee and a conversation.

I would also like to acknowledge WMG Project Communications Officer Simon Kruger and Project Officer Kate Parker, who have provided outstanding leadership and stability during the recent recruitment period. Their dedication and contribution to our ongoing projects has been invaluable, and I am grateful for their continued efforts.

Looking ahead, we are excited to launch our new five-year initiative, Sustainable Solutions for Sandy Soils. This project is funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and will be delivered across our region in partnership with the Mingenew Irwin Group (MIG) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). The project aims to address the critical challenge of low landscape resilience across 1.6 million hectares of the West Midlands region, driven by climate variability, declining soil health, and reduced farm profitability.

Work on the Sustainable Solutions for Sandy Soils project began in late July with two days in the field, visiting sandy soils across the WMG and MIG regions. We are grateful to the farmers who opened their gates and shared their insights with us – it was the perfect way to begin a new project and there is already great work being led by farmers in our West Midlands area. Fiona Dempster joins us at WMG for this project, taking on a lead project management role. Fiona’s expertise in research and adoption fit perfectly with this project and we are lucky to have her on board.

On topic of new beginnings, I would like to warmly welcome our two new board members Mark Drake from Lawson Grains and Robert Keogh both who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and have already contributed so much to our group. For those that weren’t aware, Rob stepped in and guided the group through the transition period and did such a great job we weren’t prepared to let him go (sorry Rob!).

Whilst we have new beginnings in the form of projects and people, at the same time, we have recently completed the delivery of several key projects including the Stubble Management, Feed365, and Soil CRC Risk Reward Tool projects. That being said, the WMG team are still working on 14 active projects that are keeping us busy in the best of ways.

A personal highlight for me this month was seeing Simon shine at the Soil CRC Conference which was held in Perth this year. Simon contributed heavily to workshops and project meetings on day one, presented not once, but three times, on day two, and led a West Midlands region field tour on the final day, all with resoundingly good feedback from many in the industry.

I will conclude this first EO report by saying whilst there are many opportunities ahead and, as always, challenges, I am adamant the WMG will continue to demonstrate value to its members and the broader agricultural community by delivering high-quality, independent, and locally focused outcomes. Our strength lies in our people – members, staff, and partners – who remain committed to building a sustainable and connected farming future.

I am confident that WMG is on a strong path forward, and I thank the Board and members for their ongoing support and engagement.