Sustainable Ag Update

Welcome producers, agribusinesses and agricultural organisations! Here we share the latest information and opportunities for people working in agriculture in the Northern and Yorke region. You'll find details about current grants, upcoming events near you, as well as scholarships and research opportunities. Visit regularly to stay up to date, or subscribe to receive updates once or twice a month via email. You can contact Molly O'Dea to get your next event or news out there.

NYLB - Waterwise Field Day, Melrose March 12 - free water testing, desal plant demo, water monitoring tech, landscape rehydration + water quality for productivity talks.
Landscape Boards - carbon farming workshops, Kadina March 18, online webinars Feb-May
NYLB - Soil salinity workshop with Chris McDonough, Southern YP 26 March

Carbon Farming

Carbon Ready Ag Conference recordings are now available to watch.

Carbon farming webinar series Feb 17 - May 8

We're wrapping up our carbon farming outreach program over the next few months. Reach out to me (molly.odea@sa.gov.au or 0456 538 224) to chat one-on-one about carbon farming, or keep your eyes peeled for our last few workshops under this program. Want a personalised workshop for your group or business? Just ask!

General

PIRSA - kangaroo culling - eligible primary producers can apply for $7 financial incentive for each humanely shot kangaroo (min. 100 roos)

Livestock

Expanded eID rebate for sheep – expanded to 8 colours

Tough times assistance

Check out our dry times resources
PIRSA - SA Drought Loan Scheme
PIRSA - Free advice service (livestock management, agronomy, soil management)
RDA Yorke and Mid North - Business 2 Business Drought Program - one-on-one business support
RDA Barossa, Gawler, Light and Adelaide Plains - Business Fundamentals and Business Bouncebank programs
PIRSA assistance guide - including Farm Household Allowance information + more
PIRSA - South Australian assistance guide for grape growers and winemakers
PIRSA's Family and Business (FaB) Mentors are available to help primary producers navigate challenging times. Free service in SA, identifying assistance specific to your situation
Rural Business Support - Free Rural Financial Counselling Service and relief funds incl. South Australian Government’s Rural Support Grants (up to $1500)
Rural Aid | BlazeAid - Give a Farmer A Break | Need for Feed | Rapid Relief Team | Farmers Relief Agency - drought relief, incl. fodder
Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) low-interest loans, incl. drought loans
UnitingSA - free and confidential mental health support
Algal bloom support
Varroa mite support

For organisations

NYLB - funding for events (workshops, field tours, bus trip, etc)
NYLB - Bite-sized grants (up to $2k)
FRRR - Communities - Capacity Building - for community groups to upskill - coming in 2026
FRRR - Community Led Climate Solutions - incl. sustainable ag activities (up to $20k) - closes 12 March
FRRR - Strengthening Rural Communities – Prepare & Recover (up to $25k) - closes 24 March
FRRR - Strengthening Rural Communities – Small (up to $10k) & Vital (up to $50k) - round 28 closes 24 March. Round 29 opens 25 March closes 24 June.
FRRR - Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program (up to $10k)- closes 26 March

March

06 | PIRSA - SA Varroa Mite Detection and Management Update - Community Workshop, Clare

06 | PIRSA - SA Varroa Detection and Management Update - Community Workshop, Jamestown

10 | WoTL - Welcome to WoTL, Freeling

10 | Mid North High Rainfall Zone - relaxed afternoon of nibbles, drinks and good company, with special guest, Vitor Cacula Pistoia, Senior Analyst, RaboResearch, Auburn

11 | $ Hart Field Site - Getting The Crop In Seminar and Tools and Tactics for Improving Crop Establishment, Hart

11 | $ WoTL - Livestock, Nutrition and You, Sevenhill

11 | GRDC - Roadside Weed Management Farmer Focused Workshop, Minlaton

12 | NYLB - Waterwise Field Day, Melrose

13 | Regional Development Australia BGLAP - How to Lead and Manage Community Events, Rowland Flat

13 | UNFS - Booleroo Pre-Seeding Meeting, Booleroo

15 - 16 | $ SezuSpecial Workshop (Cultivating Inner Harmony and Environmental Stewardship - with Jane Slattery), Manoora (contact Caleb calebschwartz29@gmail.com)

18 | NYLB + WoTL - Carbon farming workshop, Kadina

19 | Mid North High Rainfall Zone - Autumn update, Manoora

23-26 | $Tarwyn Park Training - Learn Natural Sequence Farming, Kapunda

24 | Livestock SA - Financial literacy and business planning, Clare

25 | WoTL - Welcome to WoTL, Warooka

26 | NYLB - Soil salinity workshop with Chris McDonough, Southern YP

26 | GRDC - National Grower Network Forum, Crystal Brook

26 | $ WoTL - Take Control of Your Financial Numbers, Robertstown

26 | Livestock SA - Financial literacy and business planning, Eudunda

27 | NYLB - Soil salinity workshop with Chris McDonough, Eudunda

27 | GRDC - National Grower Network Forum, Bute

31 | UNFS - Nelshaby Ag Bureau pre-seeding meeting, Napperby

July

02 | GRDC - Farm Business Update, Kadina

21 | Hart Field Site - Winter Walk, Hart

September

15 | $ Hart Field Site - Hart Field Day, Hart

October

11 | Hart Field Site - Spring Twilight Walk, Hart

Carbon farming webinar series Feb 17 - May 8

March 2026

05 | GRDC - Making fertiliser pay in 2026

06 | MLA - Unlocking Potential – More lambs from ewe lambs

11 | PIRSA - SA Varroa Update and Information Webinar with live VDO Q&A

12 | GRDC - Precision Weed Control – Options and Costs

13 | GRDC - Making Inoculation Count

19 | GRDC - Plan for 2026 – strategies to protect margins

19 | Livestock SA - Sheep and Cattle Industry Funds Regulations Review

25 | Landscape SA - Soil Carbon in SA: What Builds It, What Loses It, and What You Can Influence

27 | Livestock SA - Sheep and Cattle Industry Funds Regulations Review

April 2026

15 | PIRSA - SA Varroa Update and Information Webinar with live VDO Q&A

May 2026

13 | PIRSA - SA Varroa Update and Information Webinar with live VDO Q&A

June 2026

17 | PIRSA - SA Varroa Update and Information Webinar with live VDO Q&A

PIRSA - SA Soils Bursary Program 2025-2026 - individual ($2k) or group ($5k) soil related training for primary producers and early-career professionals
$ Australian Rural Leadership Program
Nuffield Scholarship - travel overseas and study innovative farming practices, closes 8 May

Federation Uni - Survey to help to develop a conceptual model for the creation of digital twin applications to aid in decision-making and crop management within the agricultural sector
Australian Wool Innovation research opportunities including merino sire evaluation, supplementary feeding strategies, blow fly lures and genetics
Farming for the Future – Farmers, Ag advisors and ag accountants can apply to have a free natural capital account prepared (value: $35,000) as part of research project gathering evidence about value of natural capital to farmers
Livestock SA - The Future Flock survey
Join a Wine Australia discussion group

Wait, there's more!

AgCAREERSTART - employ a young Australian to work on your farm for 10-12 months and share your skills, knowledge, and industry insights as a farm-host

Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators are supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.