New break crop case studies now available

Two new case studies from the Building Resilience – Break Crop Suitability Across Landscapes: Stage 2 project are now available. The case studies share findings from paddock-scale demonstrations conducted at Minnipa and Ungarra during the 2025 growing season, exploring how different break crops performed across variable Eyre Peninsula soils and seasonal conditions.

Together, the case studies examine a range of topics including,

• Field peas and vetch on sandy soils
• Faba beans and lentils across variable soil types
• The influence of soil type, acidity and waterlogging
• Crop establishment, biomass, ground cover and yield
• Economic performance across different paddock zones
• The value of matching break crop choice to soil constraints and production goals

The results reinforce that break crop selection is rarely a simple whole-paddock decision. Soil variability, drainage, seasonal risk and the purpose of the break crop all need to be considered.

The full case studies include detailed paddock results, crop performance data, economic analysis and key considerations for future adoption.

Visit the “Building Resilience – Break Crop Suitability Across Landscapes: Stage 2” project page to access both case studies

Building resilience – Break Crop Suitability Across Landscapes (Stage 2)

This project is led by Upper North Farming Systems, funded by the SA Drought Hub with AIR EP and SARDI delivering the Eyre Peninsula component.