AIR EP 2026 Member Days | Program launch

AIR EP 2026 Member Days “Tight budgets, Big yields” Final Program is Here!

The AIR EP 2026 Member Days bring together leading researchers, advisors and local farmers to tackle the real-world challenges facing Eyre Peninsula farming businesses as we head into 2026. With margins under pressure, this year’s speakers will focus on cutting costs without compromising yield — using evidence, experience and on-farm reality.

In planning the 2026 event program, AIR EP Executive Officer Naomi Scholz reflected on the 2025 season and the uncertainty faced by farmers.

“The 2026 Members Day program has been designed with the challenges of the recent seasons front of mind, and we are thrilled to announce the final program and speaker line-up.”

Andrew Ware, EPAG Research will open the technical discussion with insights from recent research, unpacking 2025 learnings and what they mean for 2026. The interactive session will cover getting seeding right, on-row sowing, weed control challenges following dry sowing, and how to use research outcomes to support confident decision-making.

Sam Trengove, Trengove Consulting will dive into strategic phosphorus management, helping growers understand where residual P can be relied upon across different soil types. This session is highly relevant for growers reassessing fertiliser inputs under tighter budgets.

A farmer-led panel session featuring pulse trader Henry Voigt, Centre State Exports will explore lentil successes and failures, alongside discussions on alternative break crop options that could stack up financially. Local farmers, advisors and researchers will share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what they’d do differently — delivering practical, regionally relevant insights.

From a market and business perspective Sean Hickey, Bendigo Bank Agribusiness will provide key commodity forecasts, alongside emerging trends in Eyre Peninsula land values and the agricultural lending outlook.

Royce Pitchford, Pinion Advisory will focus on farm business profitability and efficiency, breaking down the real cost of producing a tonne of grain, managing overheads, and identifying where costs can be reduced without impacting yield potential.

Closing the day, Peter Kuhlmann, Mudamuckla farmer will present ‘Tight budgets, positive views’, sharing real numbers from his own farming operation and the small, practical changes that can make a meaningful difference to profitability when budgets are tight.

AIR EP Member Days 2026 are designed to deliver practical take-home value — combining research, market intelligence and farmer experience to help businesses make smarter decisions for the season ahead.