Upper EP SARDI farmer meetings summary 2023

March 16, 2023
| Posted in

During February and March, AIR EP supported the SARDI Minnipa Ag Centre team to deliver a series of eight harvest report farmer meetings across the upper Eyre Peninsula to over 140 farmers and advisors.

Discussion around the 2022 season identified priority topics such as crop and pasture weeds including barley grass and ryegrass, fertiliser management, and  making pulses profitable in the rotation. Snails have also resurfaced as a major issue for farmers.

SARDI staff extended the findings from AIR EP supported projects and trial sites across the Eyre Peninsula. Topics covered included:

  • Calcareous soils project funded by the Soil CRC and GRDC
  • Herbicide resistant barley grass project funded by GRDC
  • Rhizoctonia management project funded by GRDC
  • South Australian Drought Hub farmer demonstrations including the strip and disc and early sowing projects
  • The saline soils and sandy soils projects funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Soils and Landscape grants
  • Legume pasture options for the upper EP funded by the National Landcare Program

Farzad Aslani, the new soils research officer based at MAC provided a brief overview of soil microbiology and Kym Zeppel provided an update on the PIRSA “Ag Tech” demonstration program. The meetings also gave the opportunity to introduce Elijah Luo, he will be based at the SARDI Minnipa Ag Centre working with the SARDI staff as an intern for 2023. This is the third year of the AIR EP intern program funded by SAGIT to help increase research capacity on Eyre Peninsula. If you see Elijah out and about he is always looking to learn more about farming systems on the Eyre Peninsula.

If you weren’t able to attend one of the meetings please keep an eye on your post box for the Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2022 booklet, due out in April. If you have not received this publication previously and would like to, please contact nicole.baty@sa.gov.au

Elijah Luo, SAGIT funded intern for 2023, introducing himself at the Goode Ag Bureau farmer meeting.

Amanda Cook, SARDI Minnipa Ag Centre, presenting at the Wirrulla meeting.

 

Share this on social media