ORGANISERS for the Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day have released the full agenda for the event which will be among the most anticipated on-farm events for the cotton industry in 2025.
The Field Day will be held at the property of the winner of the 2024 Bayer Grower of the Year, Scott Balsillie, farm manager for Eastern Australia Agriculture in Dirranbandi.
Mr Balsillie oversees Eastern Australia Agriculture’s myBMP-certified operations at Clyde in Dirranbandi and Kia Ora in St George with Clyde producing up to 2000 hectares of irrigated cotton, while Kia Ora grows up to 4500 hectares.
Mr Balsillie, whose family has been involved in cotton since his grandfather and uncles started growing cotton in the Miles and Chinchilla area in the 1980s is passionate about improving water use efficiency.
Under Mr Balsillie’s leadership, Clyde has implemented many major farm improvements including the bankless conversion from siphons, achieving huge benefits in labour and water savings, machine efficiencies and yield benefits.
Traditionally the Grower of the Year hosts the Field Day the following year and in 2025 there is no exception with Scott hosting the event at Clyde, near Dirranbandi on March 5 from 9am with buses organised from Moree, Mungindi and Lightning Ridge, to provide transport options for anyone wanting to attend.
The day includes a farm tour, panel discussions, and various speaker sessions with vital information for industry on new Ag tech, workforce issues, Environmental, Social and Governance issues and the global market trends for Australian cotton.
While Mr Balsillie will speak at the Field Day and make himself available for any questions, other speakers include Nuffield Scholar Catherine Marriott, and Bec Fing who will speak on Overcoming Workforce Woes – What Employers of Choice Do Differently.
One of the keynote speakers is the Royal Flying Doctors Service We’ve Got Your Back campaign champion Brendan Cullen, who manages a sheep station east of Broken Hill with his wife Jacinta and their three kids.
Mr Cullen is a well-known farmer, fitness fanatic and mental-health advocate who is using his own journey through depression to help people, particularly in rural and remote locations.
His mindset and dedication to mental health issues led him to swim from England to France – the English Channel – in 2022, covering a total distance of 64km in 17 hours.
He followed that up the following year, completing the journey for a second time with a team of likeminded individuals. Through Mr Culle’s life experiences, he feels fortunate and grateful for the opportunities that have been bestowed upon him as he continues to support the community through his roles in peer mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
Anyone interested in attending the Bayer Grower of the Year Field Day for 2025 is asked to register to attend.
Assistance and advice can be provided with transport and accommodation needs.
Full agenda here: Cotton Australia Grower of the Year agenda
