Eyre Peninsula internship in applied grains research 2024

Alex Busch was appointed as the Eyre Peninsula intern in applied grains research for 2024, hosted by EPAG Research. Alex successfully completed his 12 months internship and associated project, which focused on repairing historical poor or unsuccessful soil amelioration efforts, to improve productivity of soils.

Throughout the internship, Alex attended various extension events targeting farmers on EP, including farmer meetings, research updates and crop walks, as well as professional development activities such as facilitation and extension training and conferences such as the Soil CRC conference in Wagga Wagga. Alex also assisted with various research trial field work throughout the season.

While undertaking his internship, Alex commenced his master’s with the University of SA, and in 2025 returned to Adelaide to complete his masters in managing soil constraints post amelioration. He is returning to the EP intermittently to monitor project field sites.

Overall Alex has gained new knowledge on different soil types; a better understanding of trial design and improved skills in how to prioritize issues and critically evaluate ideas and how they might be beneficial for others, as well as improved articulation of ideas and arguments for research proposals; improved practical application of soil chemistry theory to farming systems; increased agricultural research networks; and gained a greater understanding of the area of research he would like to work in.