Projects: Farming Systems
Improving phosphorus use efficiency and return on investment in high Phosphorus (P) fixing soils of the Southern and Western Regions
Aims to improve growers’ certainty about managing phosphorus (P) in high-fixing soils, which have chemical properties that bind applied P, making it unavailable to crops. The project outcome is that by 2030, growers in the Southern and Western regions will access improved P fertiliser application strategies to maximise return on investment (ROI) in high P…
Stress Testing Regenerative Agricultural Practices – STRAP
Drought resilience in novel emerging dryland farming practices – A scientific and economic basis (Stress Testing Regenerative Agricultural Practices – STRAP) The project aims to rigorously study regenerative cropping and pasture management to boost drought resilience in southern Australia’s dryland farming systems. It is farmer-led with scientific support from CSIRO, involving five long-term trials across…
Drought and climate resilient sheep farms and landscapes tailor-made for low rainfall farming regions
The profitability of sheep farming is declining due to the impacts of drought and extreme heat on pasture growth, soil stability and sheep performance. This project will enhance resilience of sheep production systems by combining climate resilient sheep with novel, drought tolerant pastures, shrubs and trees which enhance consistency of feed supply, stabilise and improve…
Weed Management Initiative
This page was last updated on 6 January 2026. Delivery of one herbicide trial on EP for 2025-2029 (5 trial years) On an annual basis, establish, conduct, analyse and report on field trials as agreed with the Lead Researcher and in line with Project Outputs detailed in the Head Agreement; Provide extension of results from…
Future Drought Fund Long Term Trials SA Discovery Farms – Sustainable phosphorous strategies for Eyre Peninsula
AIR EP has partnered with SA Discovery Farms, with co-investment by SAGIT, in a new project aimed at improving P fertiliser applications in variable paddocks/landscapes and refining long-term management strategies on highly P responsive soils. The overall aim of this project is to increase the profitability from phosphorus (P) fertiliser applications and determine sustainable P…
Building resilience – Break Crop Suitability Across Landscapes (Stage 2)
Upper North Farming Systems and AIR EP have worked to bring this common theme across the 3 farming groups and 4 Node regions together into the one project in 2024. It is proposed to continue the project work and establish several paddock scale demonstration sites, tailoring each to the needs of the group region. The…
Risky decisions and addressing soil constraints on EP
This page was last updated on 18 November 2025. This project has two key objectives that address the priorities of the SA Drought Hub 1. Arming farmers and advisors with tools to assist in decision making that considers risk and reward, through two major extension events on Eyre Peninsula, directly addressing the SA Drought Hub…
Growing lentils on challenging soils on Eyre Peninsula
A new 3-year project has been funded by GRDC to explore growing lentils on ‘challenging’ soils across EP. The project, led by AIR EP will fund 4 trials per year, which will be delivered by the EPAG Research team. The four sites on EP in 2025 are located at Rudall, Wangary, Poochera and Lock. Two…
De-risking the sowing program on EP in 2025
SA Drought Hub Project Page This page was last updated on 18 November 2025.
Understanding herbicide residue on challenging soil types within the southern region
To develop a better understanding of the nature and scope of herbicide residues issues, paddock surveys will be conducted in soil types of concern in SA. To determine phyto-toxicity thresholds, glasshouse dose-response bioassays will be conducted for these soil types for two herbicides and two crop types relevant to each region.Six demonstrations will be implemented…