More than 300 growers and industry representatives gathered at Wilkur for Boolah’s first Victorian Trial Farm Field Day, putting margin and sustainability under the microscope.
Thank you to the more than 300 growers and industry representatives who joined us as Boolah’s newest Trial Farm at Wilkur opened its gates to the public for the first time.
The day brought growers, researchers, agronomists, suppliers, financiers and end users together to explore how sustainability goals can translate into practical change on farm, while keeping margin front and centre.
Across paddock trials, keynote presentations and panel discussions, the focus stayed practical: what can change, what will it cost, what will it deliver, and does it stack up commercially for the grower?
Thank you to our National Platinum Field Day Partner
Click here to download the 2026 Trial Farm Field Day Program Booklet
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Who You’ll Hear From on the Day
Richard Flavel
Associate Professor at the University of New England
Associate Professor Richard Flavel is a soil scientist whose research explores how soil function, plant roots and nutrient availability influence crop performance.
At Margin Matters, Richard will bring the focus below ground, translating soil science into practical insights that can help growers improve input efficiency, productivity and farm margin.
Visit Richard on LinkedIn
Dr Joss West
Chief Operating Officer, Terragen
Dr Joss West is Chief Operating Officer at Terragen, an Australian biotechnology company developing microbial solutions across livestock and crop production.
A veterinarian by training and farmer based in North East Victoria, Joss brings experience spanning production animal practice, agricultural biotechnology and commercial farming. At Terragen, she leads research and commercialisation programs focused on translating biological technologies into practical, measurable outcomes for producers.
At Margin Matters, Joss will bring a practical perspective on how science, innovation and commercially relevant research can support productivity, sustainability and stronger farm margins.
Visit Joss on LinkedIn
Andrew Whitelaw
Co-Founder Episode3
Andrew Whitelaw has spent more than 20 years working across the Australian and European agricultural sectors, with a focus on market analysis, strategy and industry insight.
He is Founder and Director of Episode3, now part of the ACM Agri network, and co-host of the AgWatchers podcast.
Andrew will facilitate the Margin Matters panel, bringing a broad understanding of agricultural markets, commodities and the forces influencing farm profitability.
Visit Andrew on LinkedIn
John Woods
Chair Lawson Grains | Chair Grains Australia | Grain Grower
John Woods is Chair of Grains Australia and a grain grower based near Goondiwindi on the Queensland–NSW border, with extensive experience across broadacre cropping, agribusiness and grains industry leadership.
He previously served as Chair of the Grains Research and Development Corporation and has been closely involved in industry research, innovation and grower decision-making.
At the 2026 Boolah Trial Farm Field Day John will MC the event, in addition to facilitating the Future Opportunity panel.
Simon Fritsch
Founder, Agripath
Simon Fritsch is an experienced farm business adviser with more than 20 years’ experience across irrigation, dryland farming and grazing enterprises.
At Margin Matters, Simon will examine where margin is being won or lost in farm businesses, using financial and operational insights to help growers understand which decisions can strengthen performance when costs are rising and margins are under pressure.
Visit Simon on LinkedIn
Rachel Kerlin
Sector Lead Agribusiness, Westpac
Rachel Kerlin is Sector Lead Agribusiness within Westpac’s Business & Wealth Sustainability team, working at the intersection of agriculture, finance and sustainability.
Her work focuses on helping the sector navigate emerging sustainability requirements and access credible tools and information that can support practical business decisions.
Rachel brings a finance and whole-of-supply-chain perspective to discussions around productivity, resilience and long-term value in agriculture.
Visit Rachel on LinkedIn
Dean Ganino
Director of Supply Chain, Barrett Burston Malting
Dean joined BBM in 1996 as an Agronomist at our Richmond site in Victoria Following a range of roles in Raw Material procurement, Dean became General Manager Commercial in March 2012.
In 2023 he accepted the role of Director of Supply Chain with responsibility for barley and raw material procurement, planning, customer service, logistics, transportation, warehousing and distribution.
Dean holds a BSc in Agriculture. At the Field Day, Dean will be joining the Future Opportunity panel, exploring how data, market signals and stronger supply-chain alignment can create new value for growers and industry.
Visit Dean on LinkedIn
Wes Lawrence
Founder & Managing Director, AxisTech Group
Wes Lawrence is the Founder and Managing Director of AxisTech, an Australian agrifood technology company helping bridge the gap between emerging technology and practical on-farm adoption.
Raised on a mixed farm in Western Australia’s Great Southern, Wes combines hands-on agricultural experience with more than 20 years in hardware and software development.
His work focuses on using mapping, devices, connectivity and data to give producers greater visibility across their operations, improve decision-making and use resources more efficiently.
Wes will join the Future Opportunity Panel at the 2026 Boolah Trial Farm Field Day.
Visit Wes on LinkedIn
Cameron Wilson
Category Manager, Asahi Beverages
Cameron Wilson is a Category Manager at Asahi Beverages, working across raw materials procurement and the agricultural supply chain.
His role connects the needs of one of Australia’s major beverage producers with the growers, suppliers and industries responsible for producing its key inputs.
Cameron brings an end-user perspective to the Field Day, with particular insight into sustainable barley sourcing, evolving market expectations and how stronger connections across the supply chain can create value from paddock through to processor.
Visit Cameron on LinkedIn
Grant Statton
CEO of KIVAS (formerly Mort & Co Fertilisers)
Grant Statton is CEO of Kivas, formerly Mort & Co Fertilisers, and brings more than two decades of leadership and strategic planning experience across regional business and agribusiness innovation.
He is leading Kivas through its next phase as the business expands beyond traditional fertiliser products and explores new opportunities for Australian agriculture. Grant brings commercial and innovation-focused perspective to the Margin Matters panel.
Visit Grant on LinkedIn
Phillip Janes
Senior Marketing Manager, Fendt
Phillip Janes brings a lifelong connection to agriculture and agricultural machinery, with his family’s involvement in farming and Fendt stretching back to some of the brand’s earliest days in Australia.
After studying Marketing and Management, Phillip joined AGCO and has held a range of leadership roles across the business. Today, he works across the Fendt and Valtra brands, combining commercial experience with a practical understanding of machinery, customers and the opportunities technology can create for more productive and profitable farming.
Visit Phillip on LinkedIn
Stuart Tighe
CEO and Co-Founder, Boolah
Stuart Tighe is CEO and co-founder of Boolah, an Australian agricultural business spanning farming, supply-chain services and commercial-scale research. With more than 20 years’ experience in agriculture, Stuart is driving the expansion of Boolah’s national Trial Farm network and Regen4real® sustainability framework.
At Margin Matters, Stuart will bring a whole-of-supply-chain perspective, exploring how practical innovation, better data and stronger connections between growers and end users can help create more resilient and profitable farming systems.
Visit Stuart on LinkedIn
About the Trial Farms
Boolah’s trial farm model is designed to test, learn and report at commercial scale.
It provides a practical environment for exploring different practices, technologies and input products, helping turn ambition into action through real-world trials and data-backed insights.
By showcasing trials and on-farm learnings in a commercial context, the field day helps connect paddock decisions to broader supply chain outcomes, including sustainability, traceability, profitability and long-term resilience.
Plan Your Visit and Frequently Asked Questions about the Event
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Horsham International Hotel : https://horshamint.com.au/
The Capital Horsham: https://thecapitalhorsham.com.au/
Golden Grain Motor Inn: https://www.goldengrainmotel.com.au/
Comfort Inn May Park: https://www.mayparkmotorlodge.com.au/Glynlea Motel: http://glynleamotel.com.au/
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Complimentary return bus transfers will run from Horsham RSL to the Boolah Trial Farm on Field Day.
Seats are limited, so please reserve your place in advance. Reserve your seat on the bus from Horsham. -
Boolah welcomes partnership enquiries from businesses and organisations that align with the Field Day’s focus on practical agriculture, innovation, supply chain collaboration and stronger outcomes for growers.
A range of partnership opportunities are available for businesses wanting to support the event, connect with attendees and be part of the broader Trial Farm Field Day program.
View the 2026 Partnership Prospectus here, or contact holly@groevents.com.au to discuss the best fit for your business.
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Boolah is planning a hosted four-night Southern Field Day Bus Tour from Pallamallawa, NSW to Victoria and return, running from Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September 2026.
The tour is designed for growers and industry representatives who want to take part in key field day events, visit relevant industry stops and connect with others across the supply chain.
The tour will include the BCG Field Day, the Boolah Trial Farm Field Day and other relevant stops along the way, with more details to be released soon.
Expressions of interest are now open, with places expected to be limited.
To enquire or register your interest, please email trialfarms@boolah.com.au.
Keep an eye on the Trial Farm Field Day Page for more updates! 🚌 -
To receive updates about the Boolah Trial Farm Field Day, Southern Field Day Bus Tour, Trial Farm Walk and future Boolah events, you can join the Boolah mailing list or contact the team directly.
Click here to request to be added to the mailing list or email trialfarms@boolah.com.au. -
The Boolah Trial Farm Field Day is Boolah’s major annual event. It has been held in NSW for the past two years, but in 2026, the Field Day will be held in Victoria on Thursday 10 September.
It is a full-day industry event bringing growers, agronomists, industry partners, end users and supply chain representatives together for speakers, panel discussions, trade displays, networking and trial farm insights.
The Pally Trial Farm Walk is a smaller, more local on-farm event held at the Dimboola and Popinguy Trial Farm sites near Pallamallawa, NSW.
It gives attendees a closer look at the NSW trial sites, with the opportunity to hear directly from trial participants, ask questions and explore the work being carried out on the ground.
The Pally Trial Farm Walk will be held on Wednesday 30 September, 2026.
LONG-TERM TRIAL FARM PARTNERS
PLATINUM FIELD DAY PARTNERS
GOLD FIELD DAY PARTNERS
BRONZE FIELD DAY PARTNERS
SOUTHERN FIELD DAY TOUR PARTNERS
TRADE PARTNERS
Looking back at 2025
The 2025 Boolah Trial Farm Field Day held in Pallamallawa at the NSW Trial Farm drew more than 400 growers, agronomists and industry leaders for a full day of panels, presentations, networking and discussion.
The strong response reinforced the appetite for practical, commercially relevant conversations that connect what happens on farm with what matters across the wider supply chain.
MEDIA PARTNER
About the Trial Farms
Starting in 2021, the Dimboola Trial Farm now hosts 18 active trial participants across 434 hectares and acts as the test bed for different practices, technologies and input products that can help achieve our sustainability goals.
In addition, the second trial farm in Donald, Victoria was launched in 2025, with plans to expand into other areas of Australia in 2026 and beyond.
Whether it’s tracking carbon sequestration, trialling low-emissions cropping systems, or implementing agtech software, the trial farm model has been designed for testing, learning, and reporting - translating ambition into action.
Crucially, the value we create is shared as we showcase cutting-edge trials and real-world practices aimed at helping growers meet evolving sustainability, traceability, and low-emissions targets.
As our trials continue to grow, we’re expanding into new regions with the intention of building out trial farm network to cover each major grain growing region in Australia.
If you're looking to strengthen your supply chain involvement, improve environmental performance, or simply connect with others leading change in Australian agriculture — this is your opportunity.
