FARMER OF THE YEAR

WA farmer takes out 2022 Young Farmer and Innovation Awards

Brad Egan from WA is the Kondinin Group and ABC Rural 2022 Young Farmer of the Year.

Staff writer
 WA grain grower, Brad Egan, is the 2022 Young Farmer of the Year and also won the Award for Excellence in Innovation at this year’s Farmer of the Year Awards.

WA grain grower, Brad Egan, is the 2022 Young Farmer of the Year and also won the Award for Excellence in Innovation at this year’s Farmer of the Year Awards.

Brad is also the recipient of the 2022 Award for Excellence in Innovation, sponsored by Telstra.

Together with his parents, Brad operates a broadacre cropping enterprise in Scaddan, about 60km northeast of Esperance, WA.

With a passion for precision ag, Brad has enthusiastically introduced a range of data analysis tools and science into the farm's management toolkit.

"Since returning to the farm, I've had a large part in implementing innovative farm management practices into the business. I manage the Agdata on farm, which helps to better characterise soils, understand production constraints, and gain valuable insight into the farm's financial position," Brad said.

"Understanding how data and digitised farm records can support the business is definitely beneficial, and it is helping us across every area of the farm from identifying farm performance, analysing the results of on-farm trials, through to implementing a diverse cropping rotation."

Ben White, General Manager of Research at Kondinin Group, said Brad's analytical skills together with his agronomy work and focus on precision agriculture showed a young farmer with a very bright future ahead.

"Brad has clearly shown how you can introduce data-driven programs and decision-making tools to support a productive farm. His enthusiasm to share that knowledge with his peers also makes him a standout Award winner," Ben said.

Brad shares his knowledge and experiences with other young farmers in the region and has spoken at various field days, farm visits and industry events and he is the Vice Chair of South East Premium Wheat Growers Association's (SEPWA) Youth in Ag.

Brad and his family have also taken steps to support local businesses in the area and are currently supplying raw grain to the local brewery, Lucky Bay Brewing.

David Howse, SVP, Chief Support Officer at McDonald's Australia, said: "We've worked with Australian farmers and producers for more than 50 years, sourcing ingredients such as beef, chicken, milk, wheat, eggs, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and apples from more than 15,000 Aussie farmers.

"Where our food comes from, and how it is produced matters to our customers, communities, and the environment. We're proud to support the next generation of young farmers like Brad, who bring creativity and passion to advancing the quality of produce and the sustainability of farming practices."

Dr Ben Gursansky, Head of Rural and Regional Affairs at Telstra, said Brad's approach to farming was inspiring.

"Brad is forging a path for himself which takes advantage of the innovations and technology available, while working in synergy with the knowledge and hands-on practices passed down to him from his family. His willingness to get involved, support other growers and share what he has learnt, and adopt new development in data-driven farming is admirable," Ben said.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Research Report: Succession Planning (December 2024)

This month's research report, compiled with the input of John White, Rural Generations, is a great resource for succession planning. A key message from the report is to start succession planning as soon as possible.

editions

Research Report: Field Days Wrap (November 2024)

Kondinin Group's research team has the low down on the latest gear that was on show at various field days held around the country in the past few months.

editions

Research Report: Trailing Sheep Feeders (October 2024)

Trailing sheep feeders are on the menu for Kondinin Group's October Research Report with nine popular models covered.

editions

Research Report: Livestock Management Software (September 2024)

Kondinin Group's September Research Report looks at a range of livestock management software platforms which can make life a lot easier when it comes to efficient sheep and cattle production.