The event – organised by the Boort Development Committee in conjunction with Loddon Shire Council – will feature crop walks, expert speakers and a farm tour.

Farmer and BDC member Troy Perryman said Wednesday’s event was prompted by concerns about a decline in the amount of irrigation in the town, about 100km north-west of Bendigo. 

“When a farm is sold, the land and water are usually offered separately, so if the water is purchased by someone outside the district, it’s lost to the local economy,” he said. “We’re currently seeing Boort district farmers holding back from buying water because they can’t make a return on it. We need to make our water more profitable, but to do that we need more research and development into that issue. 

“If we can achieve that, it could mean more jobs, more machinery and more inputs – potentially a massive flow-on effect for the community.”

Loddon Shire Council agribusiness development manager Darryn Hartnett said the council was “actively working to broaden investment and grow employment in the shire, mindful that agriculture-related industries constitute our largest employer”.

The field day will be held at Alan and Amanda Wilson’s Leech Road farm from 10am. For more information, call Mr Perryman on 0428 947 448.