Events roundup: what we've been up to in early 2026

By Chanel Duggan, WMG Project Officer

The first few months of 2026 have kept the WMG team busy, with three events bringing growers, advisers and researchers together across the region. Here is a brief summary of each.

GRDC Farm Business Update — Dandaragan, 9 February

Growers and advisers gathered at the Dandaragan Community Recreation Centre in February for the GRDC Farm Business Update, hosted by WMG. The free, one-day workshop focused on practical farm business topics designed to support stronger decision-making and long-term profitability.

The program brought together a strong line-up of industry speakers. Ken Solly (Solly Business Services) opened the day with a session on business strategy, followed by Peter Newman (Planfarm) on investing a surplus wisely. Dr Jane Foster (Emotional Resilience Training) covered positive communication techniques within farm businesses, Joanne Gilbert (RSM Australia) addressed managing capital in a farm enterprise, and Ben White (Kondinin Group) rounded out the afternoon with a session on optimising machinery investment, examining the repair or replace question that many farming businesses face.

The day provided an opportunity for growers and advisers to step back from day-to-day operations and focus on the business decisions that underpin high-performing and resilient farm enterprises.

GRDC Seeder Set-Up Workshop — Warradarge, 27 February

Over 30 growers, advisers and industry representatives attended the GRDC Seeder Set-Up Workshop held at Judeen Farms, Warradarge, in late February. The event was part of a statewide GRDC series designed to help growers maximise seeding success through practical, in-paddock demonstrations ahead of the 2026 season, delivered in partnership with Facey Group, WMG and Primary Sales Australia.

Despite warm conditions on the day, attendees worked through several key areas including air cart calibration and distribution testing, depth control, press wheel setup and seed placement, liquid system setup and fault-finding, and general seeder bar maintenance. The workshop benefited from having multiple seeder configurations on display simultaneously, giving growers the opportunity to compare setups side by side and handle equipment directly.

Presenters Peter Broley and Brett Asphar (Primary Sales Australia) led the practical sessions, with strong engagement from participants throughout. A consistent theme across the day was that relatively small adjustments to seeder setup can have a meaningful influence on seed placement, emergence and overall crop establishment, a message that carries particular weight heading into a season where getting the most from every hectare sown will matter.

WMG thanks the Judeen Farms team for hosting the event and providing the seeder, GRDC for supporting the workshop series across WA, Facey Group and Primary Sales Australia for their expertise on the day, Jen from Jennovation for catering, and all growers and advisers who attended.

WMG Seasonal Updates — Moora, 10 March

More than 40 growers, advisers and industry representatives gathered at the Moora Recreation Centre in March for the 2026 WMG Seasonal Updates, one of the most important events on the WMG calendar. The day began with the WMG Annual General Meeting before moving into a full program of presentations spanning agronomy, research, technology and markets.

The morning covered local trial results from Summit Fertilisers, presented by Alana Alexander, and a session on high-value legume opportunities for the West Midlands region delivered by Erin Cahill (Agvivo). Paul Joules (Rabobank Australia) provided a market update, followed by a CBH Group presentation on what is currently impacting grain prices.

After lunch, Bindi Isbister (Agrarian Management) presented on automation and path planning technologies under the title Rows to Route, exploring how these systems are beginning to support efficiency and decision-making on farm. Wayne Parker (DPIRD) provided an update on the DPIRD SWAN Project 2025 results, and Andrew Fletcher (CSIRO) covered canola establishment fundamentals. Geoff Moore (DPIRD), alongside WMG and MIG, presented on the Sustainable Solutions for Sandy Soils project, an overview of which appears elsewhere in this edition. Julia Payne and Matt Willis (Bayer) presented on drone mapping for targeted weed control, and Emily Hourigan (CSBP) rounded out the afternoon with 2025 local CSBP trial results.

Running parallel to the afternoon technical program was a Carbon Farming Outreach Program session delivered by Chris Wyhoon (Campfire Ag), covering carbon farming essentials for farm businesses including the Australian Carbon Credit Unit scheme, farm emissions profiles and opportunities to capture value through the supply chain.

The day concluded with a guest presentation from Lynda Cornish of Hurt to Help, a Western Australian initiative that raises funds for individuals and families facing significant hardship, before moving into a Rabobank sundowner with steak burgers and Elders drinks.

WMG extends sincere thanks to all presenters, sponsors and attendees who contributed to another successful Seasonal Updates, and to Coffeelicious for keeping everyone well caffeinated throughout the day.