Sustainable agriculture

The agricultural area of Eyre Peninsula ranges from broad-hectare agricultural production with largely mixed cereal and livestock grazing on annual pastures to intensive cropping in the more reliable rainfall areas with pulse and oilseed crops in the rotations. Annual rainfall varies from a reliable 600mm at Port Lincoln to a highly variable 270mm west of Penong.

Soils vary from shallow calcrete and calcareous loams to dune-swale and sandy plains with a range of management issues affecting the sustainability and profitability of framing enterprises. Our Land Management Control Policy provides more details on land system descriptions and land management risks; as well as setting out land management principles.

There are a number of ways we can assist land managers and farming groups to improve the region’s farming practices including: developing new technologies, increasing soil health, improving farm profitability and risk management for the long-term viability of farming on the Eyre Peninsula.

Regenerative Agriculture Program

Up to June 2023, we supported a five-year Regenerative Agriculture Program through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. The Regenerative Agriculture Program on Eyre Peninsula was about increasing awareness, knowledge and adoption of land management practices to restore soil pH levels, increase soil organic carbon levels and reduce the risk of nutrient loss from wind erosion. Our Regenerative Agriculture Program page has a range of case studies from demonstrations undertaken.

Our Regenerative Agriculture Program was delivered by grower group Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP) and included support for farmers through a sustainable agriculture officer.

Land management resources

We have a range of information that Eyre Peninsula land managers may find useful.

• Soil management is a significant aspect of farming. Our soil management page includes a range of information about managing this critical farm asset.
• Property planning is beneficial to all properties.
• For property managers who are currently farming in hard times or planning for upcoming tough times, we have some links to information which may be useful.
• Future water security is an important aspect of farming to consider. This page includes resources for water planning on a property.
• We have previously worked with local farmers and research agencies to investigate alternative farming techniques for cropping and pastures. Read information about stubble management, pasture recovery, herbicide resistance and pest snail management.
• We have a range of information about grazing including case studies on different techniques including using temporary electric fencing to improve stocking rates.

Carbon storage and reducing nitrous oxide emissions

Find out more about soil carbon on the Eyre Peninsula through this research project which aimed to identify land management practices with the potential to change soil carbon content in red-brown earth soils of the Mid-North and Eyre Peninsula. This project was led by CSIRO.

The CSIRO has developed a map of Australia's stored soil carbon which it will use to track changes in soil carbon stocks and assist with strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through soils. Read more about the development of the CSIRO map.

Eyre Peninsula farming networks

There are local farming networks which can also be a useful resource.

• The Agriculture Bureau of South Australia is a not-for-profit organisation run by farmers for farmers who are interested in farming, agricultural development and education. The Bureau helps to bridge the gap between scientists and farmers.
• The Ag Excellence Alliance links South Australian grower groups; and works with broad-acre grain and livestock farmers to improve their profitability and sustainability.
• Ag Innovation and Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP) is a professional farmer owned organisation that leads RD&E of agriculture technologies and innovations for farmers on the Eyre Peninsula. Connect with them on their Facebook page or their Twitter account.

Find out about the latest research

These organisations undertake a range of agriculture research.

• The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
• The Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA)
• South Australian No-Till Farmers Association (SANTFA)
• Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
• Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)
• Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA)
• Sheep Connect SA

Keep up-to-date

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