A needs analysis for the barriers to adoption of strip and disc systems on Eyre Peninsula

Project Location
Eyre Peninsula
Project Manager
Naomi Scholz
Start Date
April 2024
Finish Date
June 2025
Funding Source
SA Drought Hub
Funding Amount
$61,130

This project aims to

  • Identify  the  risks  and  opportunities  (including  a  cost  benefit  analysis)  faced  by  growers  using  Strip  and  Disc  systems  to  determine  any  gaps  in  knowledge  to  be addressed for this practice to be adopted in current farming systems.
  • Produce a project needs analysis to direct future investment in RD&E activities for strip and disc farming systems  on upper EP, to improve drought resilience for EP farmers.

The project has been completed, and we have 4 key products as a result:

  1. A needs analysis for the barriers to adoption of strip and disc systems on Eyre Peninsula
  2. A list of potential risks and benefits (pros and cons) for those considering the adoption of strip and disc farming systems
  3. Case studies featuring growers Kelvin Tiller, Pinery, and Paul Bammann, Cleve, as well as agronomist Michael Brougham (Elders Roseworthy) who were invited to share their experience of strip and disc systems with EP growers at a workshop held at Rudall in March 2024.
  4. A podcast with Kelvin Tiller (farmer), Michael Brougham (agronomist) and Royce Pitchford (agribusiness consultant) discussing different aspects of adopting strip and disc farming systems.

You Might Also Like

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…

Learn More

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…

Learn More

Innovative Soil Technologies: Fostering Resilience and Climate-Smart Crop Production in Australia

This project will apply recent advances in Innovative Soil Technologies (IST) to improve water capture and retention and water use efficiency. Through field trials conducted in SA, NSW, TAS, WA,…

Learn More

Drought and climate resilient sheep farms and landscapes tailor-made for low rainfall farming regions

Sheep production underpins farming and rural communities in the low rainfall regions (200 to 400 mm) of southern Australia. With the profitability of sheep farmingdeclining rapidly due to the detrimental…

Learn More

Climate-Ready Livestock: Building Resilient Farming Systems on Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula livestock producers are facing rapidly emerging challenges from climate change, including prolonged dry periods, declining water security, rising input costs, and increasing market pressures. This project will support…

Learn More

Weed Management Initiative

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…

Learn More

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…

Learn More

Young Farmer Peer to Peer Learning Lower EP 2025

AIR EP will establish a group comprised of Lower Eyre Peninsula young farmers (~18-35 years). This group will participate in three field events/workshops featuring speakers on topics that build agricultural,…

Learn More

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.…

Learn More

Risky decisions and addressing soil constraints on EP

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…

Learn More