Research
Warm and cool season mixed cover cropping for sustainable farming systems in south eastern Australia’ project – upper EP
In this project, a consortium of grower groups and the CSIRO will identify and demonstrate suitable cover crops across south eastern Australia. The impacts of cover cropping on soil health, nutrient cycling, organic carbon, and soil moisture will be measured, and the optimum timing and method to terminate the cover crops will be determined. At…
Warm and cool season mixed cover cropping for sustainable farming systems in south eastern Australia – lower EP
Part of a bigger project across south eastern Australia to identify and demonstrate suitable cover crops. The impacts of cover cropping on soil health, nutrient cycling, organic carbon, and soil moisture will be measured, an the optimum timing and method to terminate the cover crops will be determined.
Addressing barriers to adoption – Building farmer innovation capability
Summary The overall purpose of the project is to implement, refine and adapt an Innovation Capability partnership model developed by Pitt & Nelle (2008) for large agribusiness, and build the innovation capability, systems and culture of farmers (initially through five farmer groups). Andrew Ware of EPAG Research was the Eyre Peninsula participant, and developed the…
Understanding adoptability of techniques and practices for improved soil management
This project builds on existing models of adoption by investigating at a farm and regional scale the social drivers and forms of adaptation and learning that make soil improvement strategies and techniques adoptable.
Surveying farm practices
Working alongside grower groups to develop regionally relevant survey tools, this project will initiate the process of surveying land managers across regions and industries. This will bring about an improved understanding of current practices, including farmer aspirations; motivations and their perceptions of existing and proposed R&D initiatives.
Using soil and plant testing data to better inform nutrient management and optimise fertiliser investments for grain growers in the southern region
Using soil and plant testing data to better inform nutrient management and optimise fertiliser investments for grain growers in the southern region. Project led by Harm van Rees and Sean Mason, Agronomy Solutions. Other partners CSIRO (economic analysis), AgCommunicators (extension), APAL (soil and plant testing), Landmark, private agronomists and farming systems groups (Sarah Noack co-ordinator)….
Copper management for the future
Explore different management strategies to overcome copper deficiency in cereals. Project findings: Field trials to test management strategies to overcome copper deficiency at six Lower Eyre Peninsula sites were conducted over the three growing seasons of 2017, 2018 and 2019 (two sites per year). Yield loss caused by copper deficiency can be devastating to wheat…
Increasing adoption of new techniques combining physical, chemical and plant based interventions to improve soil function on Eyre Peninsula
Increase awareness of methods to address a range of soil constraints, by demonstrating how the combination of deep incorporation of chemical amendments (lime and gypsum) and the inclusion of organic materials can address soil physical and chemical constrains that reduce plant root growth and limit soil biological function. Will conduct a training and extension programme…
Adapting cropping systems to changing climatic conditions to reduce inputs and maximise water use through improving crop competitiveness
This project will address two major threats to no till farming & stubble retention systems, which have been critical to sustaining profitable farming in the region over the past 35 years. Reliance on herbicides for weed control has led to resistant weeds, forcing farmers to return to tillage and burning to control these weeds. Increasing…
Perennial pasture systems for the upper Eyre Peninsula and other dryland farming areas
This project will demonstrate perennial pastures as an option for improving the productivity of low productive cropping land on the upper Eyre Peninsula. The aim will be to turn this land into productive livestock pasture, with only minimal inputs of fertiliser, and without the need for herbicide and tillage. Two farmers will sow demonstration sites;…