The Ballinger family swung open the gates and welcomed a large number of landholders to the Field Day, which showcased the changes the Ballingers have made to their farming operations as they work towards creating a better balance between production and sustainability in their farming business.  

Sean, Kevin, and Nigel Ballinger and their families run a mixed farming enterprise that includes sheep, cattle and crops.  Their philosophy is to do more with less, more quickly and efficiently and with a kinder environmental impact.

In 2011 the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA Sustainable Farming Practices project was offering assistance to land-holders to implement manage-ment changes that complement agricultural production and build resilience in the landscape.  

The Ballingers submitted an application highlighting the environmental benefits that could be achieved through the adoption of a ‘tramline’ cropping system.

Reducing soil compaction was a key focus for the Ballingers, prompting the move to a tramline regime and a shift to minimum and no till cropping.  

These changes required the implementation of GPS tech-nology and the conversion of all cropping machinery to the same wheel track widths to restrict compaction damage to set wheel track or tram lines. 

The Field Day was hosted by the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA together with Grain & Graze 2.   

Landholders attending the Field Day heard from Grain & Graze 2 guest speakers explaining the theory behind the latest agronomy and cropping tech-nology.  Field Day visitors also had the opportunity to inspect the machinery and the results in the paddocks, leaving them with plenty of food for thought about what might work at home on their own properties.

“The Field Day gave us lots of good ideas for transforming what we are doing at home to a new way of farming,” said Ross Scott.  “Obviously these are huge changes and it is a gradual process to implement them but it is good to see that it is worthwhile."

Ross was particularly impr-essed with the GPS technology on display.

“You hear people say we can't use GPS technology in our country because it is too hilly, so it was good to see firsthand that GPS technology is working well.  We can use it in our country."

Dual purpose cropping, where a crop is grazed by stock before being locked up to produce grain at the end of the season and which is being trialled at the Ballinger’s property by Grain & Graze 2, was an innovation that sparked a great deal of interest on the day.  

"It was a really interesting day that reaffirmed a lot of things by demonstrating what is working and what is not. Grazing a crop is an excellent way of maximising your return," stated Ian Duncan. 

Field day participants also learnt about green manure cropping and how to minimise the cost of nitrogen application. 

Before embarking on their new farming regime, a Farm Planning Course run by the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA helped the Ballingers to clarify their long term goals and prioritise necessary changes.  

The Ballingers are already seeing savings in seed and chemical inputs as a result of investment in new machinery and the changes in farm management.  

During the Farming Efficiency & Innovation Field Day at Delungra, funded by the Caring for our Country Program and Catchment Action NSW, the Ballingers were able to share the lessons they have learnt from their new farming program with their neighbours and others in the district.  

The Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA is always keen to work with farmers interested in increasing productivity and environmental sustainability.