Farming is more than just hard work, it’s about working smart to maintain peak performance, make sharper decisions, and building a resilient, high-performing farm business and team.

Join us for Farming Stronger, a practical, results-driven workshop designed to give farmers and service providers the science- backed strategies used by top performers to sustain energy, manage stress, and optimise their operations even in the toughest seasons.

What you'll cover

• Strategies to improve decision-making under pressure

• Practical approaches to managing stress and maintaining wellbeing

• Techniques to boost productivity and operational efficiency

• Building resilience for long-term farm business success

• Leadership skills to effectively motivate, delegate and support staff

• Creating a positive farm culture that drives performance and wellbeing

• Sustaining energy and focus through demanding seasons

What you'll take home

• Practical tools to strengthen personal and business resilience

• A framework for making better decisions during challenging periods

• Strategies to improve team performance and workplace culture

• Techniques for managing stress and maintaining peak performance

• Actionable ideas to improve productivity and business outcomes

Who should come?

This workshop is suited to farmers, farm managers, family farm businesses, agricultural service providers, and anyone looking to improve wellbeing, leadership, productivity and resilience in a farming business.

Presenter

Cynthia Mahoney

Cynthia Mahoney is an Agricultural Scientist with a passion for helping farmers and rural communities lead well, work smarter, and perform at their best. She combines science-backed principles with practical, real-world experience to help farming businesses thrive.

Key details

• Date: 17 September

• Time: 9:30am - 3:00pm

• Location: 783 Whitton Darlington Point Rd, Whitton NSW 2705

• Venue: Whitton Malt House

• Catering: Morning tea and lunch provided

• Cost: Free to attend. Registration essential.

Contact:

Cynthia Mahoney Pty Ltd, 0427 622 654, cynthia@cynthiamahoney.com.au or NSW Farm Business Resilience Program farmbusiness@dpird.nsw.gov.au for further information.

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded by the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and the NSW Government.

Event details:

• Date: Wednesday 16 September 2026

• Time: 12:00pm – 3:00pm

• Location: 201-207 Banna Avenue, Griffith

A practical workshop focused on financial planning, budgeting and business decision-making for farm businesses.

Event details:

• Date: Wednesday 16 September 2026

• Time: 10:00am

• Location: 2431 Newell Highway, Finley

Join local growers and industry representatives for seasonal updates and discussion ahead of the summer cropping season.

Event details:

• Date: Wednesday 16 September 2026

• Time: 12:00pm – 3:00pm

• Location: 201-207 Banna Avenue, Griffith

A practical workshop focused on financial planning, budgeting and business decision-making for farm businesses.

Looking for practical, local advice ahead of sowing your summer crops this season?

Event details:

Murray Local Land Services invites you to the Mayrung summer crop update to hear about the latest challenges, lessons, and management considerations for the 2026-27 summer cropping season from Nutrien, IK Caldwell, Sefton Agronomics, and other local experts.

Topics include:

• corn update

• cotton update

• rice update,

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions, discuss challenges, and hear from other local producers and challenges.

Additional details:

• Morning tea is provided.

Contact: Nick O’Connor, Senior Land Services Officer – Mixed Farming Systems M: 0429 481 203 E nick.oconnor@lls.nsw.gov.au

Event details:

• Date: Monday 14 September 2026

• Time: 10:00am – 3:30pm

• Location: Meet at the Griffith Tourist Information Centre

What to Expect:

• Grower to grower discussion on practical bed formation and management

• Advantages and pitfalls of bed farming for rice-based farming systems

• Toolbars and implements used for bed formation

Open to all growers and advisors, lunch will be included. Registration essential for catering and transport options from Griffith.

Join the Wakool farmer discussion group for a practical look at the way the season is progressing, how local growers are using soil moisture probes and thinking about their irrigation decisions. 

Event details:

Following discussions, come out and inspect the Noorong winter variety trial containing wheat, barley and faba beans to see how they’re performing in the wet, heavy clay soils.

What’s on the agenda:

• Soil moisture probe data trends – Alex Schultz (NSW DPIRD) and local growers on how they’ve used probes this season and how they might fit their system.

• Irrigation decisions – Damian Jones (Irrigation Farmers Network) to share insights and facilitate discussion on irrigation plans this season.

• Around the region – Anthony McInerney (trial hosts agronomist, Driscoll Ag, Swan Hill) to cover what he’s seeing in the area and summer preparation.

• Field walk at Noorong variety trial – see firsthand how varieties are fairing in the local soil. 

Contact: Kimberley Beer via email at: Kimberley.beer@lls.nsw.gov.au or on 0439 531 306

TIME AND LOCATION TBC

Automation in irrigation and rice management is becoming a valuable part of the grower toolkit. Over the years, numerous automation projects have been underway with systems implemented on many farms across the rice growing region. Deakin’s Field Day will showcase the results of the research and demonstrate the options available for growers to adopt automation technologies for themselves.

Rice Extension invites you to join us ahead of drainage and dry-down to discuss best practices and tools to maximise yield quality.

What to expect:

• Understanding the drainage decision

• Drainage timing to achieve high Whole Grain Yield (WGY)

• Utilising tools such as the Dashboard

• Moisture prediction

• Grain quality

Key details:

• Date: Friday, 20 February 2026

• Time: 8:30am - 10:00am

• Location: Griffith, venue to be confirmed

• Inclusions: Morning tea

What to expect:

• Understanding PaddyVision

• CY26 Payment structure

• Drainage timing to achieve high Whole Grain Yield (WGY)

• Utilising management tools such as the Dashboard

• Moisture prediction and grain quality

Key details:

• Date: Thursday, 12 February 2026

• Time: 8:30am arrival for a 9:00am - 11:00am town hall, with morning tea to follow

• Location: Deniliquin RSL Club, Deniliquin

• Inclusions: Morning tea

What to expect:

• Understanding PaddyVision

• CY26 Payment structure

• Drainage timing to achieve high Whole Grain Yield (WGY)

• Utilising management tools such as the Dashboard

• Moisture prediction and grain quality

Key details:

• Date: Wednesday, 11 February 2026

• Time: 8:30am arrival for a 9:00am - 11:00am town hall, with morning tea to follow

• Location: The Southside Griffith Leagues Club, Griffith

• Inclusions: Morning tea

Join us at RRAPL for a hands‑on field day showcasing how irrigation automation delivers real water‑use efficiency on farm.

You’ll see the systems in action, including pump control, channel flow monitoring, and bay irrigation controllers. As well as practical workshops that unpack connectivity considerations, the hardware and software required, and a clear setup pathway you can apply back on your farm. Hear directly from experienced growers about what’s worked and what to avoid.

This event is suitable for growers at any stage of the precision water management journey.

As the industry moves toward more aerobic rice systems in the coming seasons, you’ll gain timely, practical insights to reduce water use, improve control, and plan for the future.

Key details:

• Date: Wednesday, 4 February 2026

• Time: 7:30am - 12:30pm

• Location: “Old Coree” 1850 Conargo Road, Jerilderie NSW 2716 (15km E of Jerilderie)

• Inclusions: Breakfast, morning tea and lunch provided

• What to bring: Closed footwear and hat/sun protection

Join Rice Extension at the 2026 rice weed control field day for agronomists, hosted by Malcolm Taylor of Agropraisals Pty Ltd.

Topics will include programs for weed management in both drill-sown and water seeded rice. Join us in the paddock from 9:45am for a 10am start.

After the trial inspections, a light lunch will be served around midday at Malcolm's home at 283 Torgannah Road, Koonoomoo, 3644 (-35.86158174266596, 145.57452278368592).

The Rice Crop Protection Working Group meeting will be convened after lunch at 1pm.

Key details:

• Date: Postponed due to extreme heat to Tuesday, 3 February 2026

• Time: 9:45am - 1pm

• Location: usual site on Sheehans Lane, Koonoomoo. Use the following coordinates to assist with directions (-35.86763404703442, 145.5473609949563)

• Inclusions: Lunch provided

• What to bring: Gumboots and hat/sun protection are essential

These activities are supported by Australian ricegrower research levies administered by Agrifutures Australia.

Rice Extension will be facilitating a series of Soil Pit Workshops with Dr Cassie Schefe to build confidence in interpreting soil test results and understanding of soil characteristics. CSU students are also invited to attend.

What to expect:

• Led by industry leading soil scientist, Dr Cassandra Schefe

• Understanding soil characteristics

• Addressing soil constraints and limitations

• Understanding and interpreting soil tests specifically for rice systems

Key details:

• Date: Thursday, 22 January 2026

• Time: 8:30am - 10:30am

• Location: Steve Morona's, Lindifferon Lane off Conargo Road, Deniliquin (35°26'20.5"S 145°07'58.5"E - Google Maps)

• Inclusions: Morning tea to be provided

• What to bring: Closed-in shoes and hat/sun protection are essential

Rice Extension will be facilitating a series of Soil Pit Workshops with Dr Cassie Schefe to build confidence in interpreting soil test results and understanding of soil characteristics. CSU students are also invited to attend.

What to expect:

• Led by industry leading soil scientist, Dr Cassandra Schefe

• Understanding soil characteristics

• Addressing soil constraints and limitations

• Understanding and interpreting soil tests specifically for rice systems

Key details:

• Date: Wednesday, 21 January 2026

• Time: 8:30am - 10:30am

• Location: Fasham Farms, Wakool (35°28'46.7"S 144°18'49.9"E - Google Maps)

• Inclusions: Morning tea to be provided

• What to bring: Closed-in shoes and hat/sun protection are essential

Rice Extension will be facilitating a series of Soil Pit Workshops with Dr Cassie Schefe to build confidence in interpreting soil test results and understanding of soil characteristics. CSU students are also invited to attend.

What to expect:

• Led by industry leading soil scientist, Dr Cassandra Schefe

• Understanding soil characteristics

• Addressing soil constraints and limitations

• Understanding and interpreting soil tests specifically for rice systems

Key details:

• Date: Tuesday, 20 January 2026

• Time: 8:30am - 10:30am

• Location: Nathan Crowley's, Bilbul (34°17'29.1"S 146°09'25.2"E - Google Maps)

• Inclusions: Morning tea will be provided

• What to bring: Closed-in shoes and hat/sun protection are essential