Grassroots Grants open to back on-farm projects

News article | 13 April 2026

Kangaroo Island primary producers are encouraged to apply for a share of $62,000 through the Grassroots Grants program, open from 1 April to 5 May 2026.

Grants of between $1,000 and $8,000 are available to support one-year projects across the Island, backing practical, local initiatives that improve the health of land, water and nature, while strengthening community connections to the landscape.

KILB Chair Andrew Heinrich said the Grassroots Grants program continues to deliver real, on-ground outcomes for Kangaroo Island.

“Grassroots Grants are about backing local people with practical ideas that make a difference,” Mr Heinrich said.

“Whether it’s improving soil health, protecting water quality, restoring habitat or supporting community-led projects, this funding helps turn good ideas into real outcomes on the ground.”

Grassroots Grants open to back on-farm projects — Lachlan Florance on his property “Sip Sip” near Parndana, where he’s using Grassroots Grant funding to establish perennial pastures and improve groundcover.

IMPROVING PASTURES AND PROTECTING SOILS ON KI

Kangaroo Island sheep producer Lachlan Florance is one of last year’s successful applicants, using Grassroots Grant funding to establish 40 hectares of perennial pastures on his property “Sip Sip”, near Parndana.

Fittingly, “sipsip” (spelled as one word) means “sheep” in Tok Pisin, an English-based creole language widely spoken in Papua New Guinea — a name that reflects the focus of Lachlan’s enterprise.

After purchasing the property following the 2019–20 bushfires, Lachlan identified erosion and water runoff as key challenges across the hilly landscape.

Lachlan said perennial pastures help build more resilient farming systems for tougher seasons.

“I wanted to slow the water down and prevent erosion — the gullies were washing out,” Lachlan said.

“Perennial pastures have done a really good job of that.”

Running around 1,000 merino sheep across 170 hectares, Lachlan has introduced a mix of perennial grasses and herbs including phalaris, cocksfoot, chicory and plantain to improve productivity and land condition.

For Lachlan, the benefits are both environmental and economic.

“Perennial pastures help hold soil, keep the paddocks covered, make better use of rainfall by growing more feed and reduce nutrient loss into waterways,” he said.

“They have allowed us to run more sheep on this block.”

He said deeper-rooted perennial species are particularly valuable in Kangaroo Island conditions.

“They access moisture deeper in the soil profile, meaning we grow more feed during late spring when annual pastures have stopped, which then means groundcover is easier to manage through dry periods,” Lachlan said.

“A big advantage I have found is that I can grow a lot of feed quickly after the break of the season which means I can set paddocks up for lambing more easily, even in seasons with a later start”

Lachlan has also adopted rotational grazing, using shorter grazing periods followed by longer rest.

“It makes grazing management easier and I think we’re growing more feed by allowing paddocks more time to rest,” he said.

SUPPORTING LOCAL SOLUTIONS

The Grassroots Grants program supports projects aligned with the Kangaroo Island Landscape Plan, with applications open to individual landholders, community groups and volunteers, schools, First Nations organisations and not-for-profit groups working locally across Kangaroo Island.

Funding is provided through the regional Landscape Levy and the South Australian Government.

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