Grants awarded to agriculture innovators

Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board Presiding Member Diana Laube announced the grants today to enable new and existing local groups to initiate some exciting community driven agricultural practice changes.

“Eyre Peninsula farmers have always been innovators and the Board sees this funding as a way of backing local leaders, start-ups and small trials that have potential to evolve into much broader whole of community changes.

“With funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme the Board continues to work with agricultural industry groups and organisations to deliver regional outcomes that include farming practice change across Eyre Peninsula,” Ms Laube said.

Franklin Harbour Agriculture Bureau was one of the successful groups. They will trial a new approach to controlling the pest plant species Onion weed (Asphodelus fistulosus) using wick wipers, during the medic pasture phase, in broad acre farming systems.The trial has the potential to decrease soil erosion due to reduced tillage in the cropping phase and better soil conservation, as well as the reduction in weeds, are among the Bureaus’ desired outcomes.

Farming Systems and Landcare Officer Mary Crawford said there are plenty of opportunities for farming women to become further involved in their sector.

“Eastern Eyre Partners in Grain (PinG) received funding to hold a series of five ‘Understanding Crop Production’ workshop sessions aimed at increase women’s knowledge and skills in crop production. Western Eyre Peninsula women looking increase their understanding of the sheep industry will be interested to hear that Minnipa PinG have also received funding to run ‘EP Sheep Sheila’s’ workshops,” Mary said.

Other successfully funded projects include using the latest monitoring technology to understand available water throughout the growing season to improve production.

For further information, contact Mary Crawford on 8688 3074 or 0407 187 878.

List of successful recipients 2016-17 funding round

• Eastern Eyre Peninsula Partners in Grain - Understanding crop production

• Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation Inc. - Farming systems alternatives workshop

• Lower Eyre Agricultural Development Association (LEADA)

- Demonstrating best practice knowledge transfer on lower Eyre Peninsula

- LEADA Spring field walk

• Partners in Grain – Eyre Peninsula Sheep Sheilas

• Society of Precision Agriculture Australia - Using moisture probes technology from better farm decisions

• South Australian No-till Farmers Association - SANTFA AGM & field tour of Eyre Peninsula

• The Agricultural Bureau of SA, for the Franklin Harbour Agriculture Bureau branch - Wick boom onion weed control

• Wudinna Yaninee Mount Damper Sustainable Ag Group - Knowing what available moisture is under your feet.