For MIG staff to work most effectively in their fields, two grower-based consultative groups formed to provide support to the research & development and environmental divisions.

The division committees meet on a regular basis with project staff to provide feedback on progress, develop new themes and ideas for new projects and make sure that the growers are maintaining ownership of the growth and direction of their group.

The committees support the staff to ensure the successful delivery of all their tasks. Some of these include:

Research & Development Division:

• Incorporation of wheat, lupin, canola, barley, pulse and pasture trials into the annual program, with crop nutrition, varietal selection, diseases, herbicide tolerance, weed management and pasture production evaluated across these areas.

• Approximately 70-80 trials per year
• Collaborative work with government and corporate bodies

• Farm scale demonstrations throughout the region covering all soil types and environments
• Two major sites for small plot trials each year.  One on the lighter sand plain and the other on the red, heavy clay/loam.  A field day is held at each of these sites

• Annual publication of “Highlights of Farming System Research”.   This is a compilation of the year’s work displaying results of trial and farm scale demonstrations from the region.
• Annual Crop Update Day, highlighting relevant R&D from the previous year’s work and any current issues

Environmental Division:

• Pursual of State and Federal Government funding for fencing and revegetation projects
• Deliver of over $1.5 million dollars since 1997 to members for revegetation and other landcare works
• Form a partnership with the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) who are the overarching NRM body controlling NHT and NAP funds
• Develop new and innovative NRM based projects to preserve pristine areas and rehabilitate degraded areas
• Support the Mingenew and Irwin LCDC’s
• Support local community groups develop projects and seek funding to support these projects
• Provide Environmental Management System (EMS) training to other grower groups in the Northern Ag Region

Developing an innovative, all encompassing “Healthy Farms” program, which integrates EMS with chemical accreditation, farm safety and grain quality assurance