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.

1. NYLB - Grazing Management Grant - up to $5k for fencing and/or water infrastructure projects to improve grazing practices (e.g. implement rotational grazing). Grants available on a first come first served basis.
   
2. NYLB - EOI open to host a landscape rehydration demonstration site OR attend a learning event.
   
3. NYLB - coordinated fox control program - bait distribution days, Aug/Sept.
   
4. CFS - Regional Capability Community Fund Round 5 - Farm Fire Units and safety equipment etc. Up to $5k. Closes 18 Sept.
   
5. BlazeAid - All Fired Up Grant 2026 - 50% copayment to repair, service and improve private firefighting equipment. Opens 1st Sept, closes 30 Sept.
   
6. PIRSA - Plague Locust Chemical Rebate - 1 Sept to 31 Dec 26 - up to $35/ha sprayed.
   
7. PIRSA - Vineyard Resting Rebate - ethephon rebates of $40/ha up to 1000ha.

General

• PIRSA - kangaroo culling - eligible primary producers can apply for $7 financial incentive for each humanely shot kangaroo (min. 100 roos)
• 2026–27 SA Soils Bursary Program - supports students, farmers, advisors, researchers and early-career professionals to participate in training, conferences and knowledge-sharing activities that strengthen soil capability across SA. Individuals up to $2k, groups up to $5k.
• CFS - Regional Capability Community Fund Round 5 - Farm Fire Units and safety equipment etc. Up to $5k. Closes 18 Sept.
• BlazeAid - All Fired Up Grant 2026 - 50% copayment to repair, service and improve private firefighting equipment. Opens 1st Sept, closes 30 Sept.
• PIRSA - Plague Locust Chemical Rebate - 1 Sept to 31 Dec 26 - up to $35/ha sprayed.
• Department of Environment and Water - Heritage Agreement Grants - up to $200k - pest control, fencing, reveg, minor equipment.

Livestock

• NYLB - Grazing Management Grant - up to $5k for fencing and/or water infrastructure projects to improve grazing practices (e.g. implement rotational grazing).
• Expanded eID rebate for sheep – expanded to 8 colours

Viticulture

• PIRSA - Vineyard Resting Rebate - ethephon rebates of $40/ha up to 1000ha

Tough times assistance

• Info/support for: Varroa mite | Bird flu | Plague locust
• PIRSA - SA Drought Loan Scheme, assistance guide, assistance guide for grape/wine, Family and Business (FaB) Mentors
• RDA Yorke and Mid North - Business 2 Business Drought Program - one-on-one business support
• Rural Business Support - Free Rural Financial Counselling Service and relief funds
• Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) low-interest loans, incl. drought loans
• UnitingSA - free and confidential mental health support

For organisations

• NYLB - funding for events (workshops, field tours, bus trip, etc)
• Livestock SA - Biosecurity Uplift Grants - up to $3k
• NYLB - Bite-sized Grants - up to $2k for groups

September

04 | AgriFutures - Yield, quality traits, weather damage and panicle emergence of export hay, Halbury

08 | Level Up Hort Roadshow - Two Hours of Power: Finding extra margin in your business.

08 | Northern Sustainable Soils - Harvester Setup Workshop, Kadina

11 | Northern Sustainable Soils - Spring Field Day

11 | Upper North Farming Systems - Jamestown Crop Walk, Jamestown

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

17 | Barossa Improved Grazing Group - Optiweigh Producer Sticky Beak Day - Cattle, Crawford

17 | Barossa Improved Grazing Group - Optiweigh Producer Sticky Beak Day - Sheep, Marananga

18 | Upper North Farming Systems - Booleroo Spring Crop Walk, Booleroo Centre

22 | AgriFutures - Yield, quality traits, weather damage and panicle emergence of export hay, Hill River

25 | Upper North Farming Systems - Nelshaby Ag Bureau Crop Walk - Sticky Beak Day, Nurom

October

01 | MNHRZ - Spring Field Day, Leighton, Farrell Flat & Giles Cnr

09 | Cooper Farm Supplies - Demonstration Site Open Day, Mount Pleasant

21 | Hart Field Site - Spring Twilight Walk, Hart

28 | SA Livestock Consultants - SA Livestock Advisor Update, Adelaide

December

03 | Livestock SA - Regional Round Up, Port Augusta

September

15 | GrainGrowers - Grower Update webinar

16 | GRDC - Making every spray pass count

17 | GRDC - Pinpointing frost damage across your paddocks

17 | GRDC - Busy running the farm; to creating time for building the business

22 | GrainGrowers - Grower Update webinar

29 | GrainGrowers - Grower Update webinar

Catapult Wealth - $ A 12-Month Online Succession Planning Series for Family Businesses and Farming Families

• Farmers for Climate Action - The New Season Scholarship - speak effectively, influence policy, champion innovations
• Landcare Australia - 2026 State & Territory Landcare Awards - open for nominations
• TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program
• $ Australian Rural Leadership Program

• Have your say: Dry saline soils survey - the survey is aimed at farmers who have dry saline or magnesia patches on their farms, but responses are also useful from farmers who are unsure, only have small areas, or are just starting to notice patchy establishment. This survey is about dry saline or magnesia patches — not Mallee seeps or watertable-related salinity.
• Australian Farmer Survey - Assessing Interest in a Nitrogen Fertiliser Plant
• Australian Wool Innovation research opportunities including merino sire evaluation, 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
• Join a Wine Australia discussion group
• Livestock SA - Annual Producer Priorities Survey

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.