Project title: Birchip Cropping Group GRDC Harvester Set Up Day
Project manager: MFMG / Birchip Cropping Group
Project duration: September 2025
About the Project
MFMG's Operations Committee (grower representatives) identified a need to improve capabilities of local growers in optimising machinery performance through set up as a priority for the region. A number of areas for this set up improvement were identified including for sprayers, spreaders and harvesters.
GRDC Harvester Set Up Clinic, Glenroy
In late September 2025, close to 50 grain growers and industry stakeholders attended the GRDC Harvester Workshop at Glenroy in the lead-up to harvest 2025, as part of a rollout of workshops across Victoria and South Australia.
Presenters included:
Murray Skayman – Harvest Specialist (International)
Ben White – Kondinin Group
Brett Asphar – Harvest Specialist (Australia)
Kassie van der Westerhuizen -
Harvest Specialist (Australia)
Peter Broley – Primary Sales Australia
Chris Warrick – Primary Business
Resources
A range of resources are available, including webinars, podcasts, short videos and back pocket guides.
Harvest setup
Article: GRDC Harvester Set Up Guide
YouTube Channel: Primary Sales Australia
Harvest losses
Short video: GRDC harvester forums
HWSC
Website resources: Weedsmart
Short videos: GRDC Harvester setup series
Herbicides in winter crops
GRDC Fact Sheet: Preharvest herbicide use-fact-sheet
Canola harvest resources
GRDC publication: 2021 Rethink your approach to canola harvesting to optimise crop performance
GRDC publication: Canola – Windrow on time, reap the rewards
Harvest Front set-up
Short video: Frontloss reduction - Kojonup GRDC Harvester Forum 2020 - Ben White.
Short video: New vs Old knives and guards Macdon
Keeping it in the machine
Short video: Improving thrashing performance in red headers (Loose is fast) – with Brett Asphar
Short video: Moving the pinch points to improve performance (CaseIH) - Brett Asphar
Short video: Reducing sieve loading in JD – Kassie van der Westhauizen
Short video: Improving Harvester performance set-up – Kassie van der Westhauizen
How to measure
Short video: Why measuring is important with Peter Newman - GRDC Forum
GRDC article: GRDC Resource on harvest
Harvesting in rain affected season
Podcast: Kassie van der Westhauizen - Harvesting tips for big wet Cereal and Canola Crops
Storing grain
GRDC Resources
Article: Aeration cooling can help save moist grain
Article: Dealing with high moisture grain
Article: Grain aeration
Recovery
Portal: Grain Growers Safety Portal
Back Pocket Guide: Reducing Harvester Fire
This project is funded by:
