Sustainable agriculture groups funded

Eight community and farming systems groups have received a total of $23,800 through Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula Sustainable Farming Systems Group Support small grants program.

Sustainable Farming Project Officer Mary Crawford said there was strong competition and excellent applications requesting more than $52,000 in funding.

“The groups who received funding covered a broad range of topics including local community groups working with farmers to address soil acidification, soil moisture probes, bus tours, demonstrations of new technologies, expos, linking women in agriculture and state conferences,” Ms Crawford said.

Natural Resources EP Presiding Member Dianna Laube is pleased that the Board can support the 2016 Society of Precision Agriculture Australia Annual Expo in Wudinna this year.

The Expo will be held in February and will demonstrate that protecting soils is a viable and economically rewarding means of lifting productivity.

“We will continue to support Eyre Peninsula’s farming system groups LEADA and EPARF with their expos and field days as well as new groups at Wudinna and Cockaleechie,” Ms Laube said.

“Partners in Grain will provide training to increase the skills of PinG Volunteer coordinators to provide development opportunities for women in the local community.”

The projects were funded through the Commonwealth National Landcare Program and State Soils Funds.