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 - carbon farming workshops, Adelaide June 3 and 4
NYLB - Turtle workshop, Narridy 27 May
NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection workshops - Orroroo 2 June, Clare 3 June, Minlaton 4 June, Kadina 5 June

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, Free advice service, 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
RDA Barossa, Gawler, Light and Adelaide Plains - Business Fundamentals and Business Bouncebank programs
Rural Business Support - Free Rural Financial Counselling Service and relief funds
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)
FRRR - Communities - Capacity Building - for community groups to upskill - coming in 2026
FRRR - Strengthening Rural Communities – Small (up to $10k) & Vital (up to $50k) - Round 29 opens 25 March closes 24 June.

May

06 | NYLB - Desalination for landholders, Clare

07 | NYLB - Desalination for wine producers, Eden Valley

27 | NYLB - Turtle workshop, Narridy

27 | Livestock SA - Regional Round Up, Clare

June

02 | NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection, Orroroo

03 | NYLB - carbon farming workshops, Adelaide

03 | NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection, Clare

04 | NYLB - carbon farming workshops, Adelaide - sold out

04 | NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection, Minlaton

05 | NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection, Kadina

10 | NYLB - Reveg and plant ID, Hart - more info to come

26 | WoTL - Paddocks & Picnics: Crop Foundations, Clare

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

May 2026

08 | Steph Schmidt - What the F? - Community

12 | Uniting SA - Drought support

13 | Integrity Systems - Traceability Focus Series - eNVD: Creating & Sharing Consignments

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

13 | GRDC - An introduction to harvestable annual pasture legume options; and their benefits in the mixed farming system

14 | MLA - Three’s a Crowd — Practical Tips for Triplet Success

20 | GRDC - Beneficial insects and resistance: making smarter spray decisions

21 | Integrity Systems - Hobby Farmers & New Producers (red meat)

26 | Uniting SA - Drought support

27 | GRDC - Managing oats to maximise profit

29 | Steph Schmidt - What the F? - Business

June 2026

09 | Uniting SA - Drought support

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

24 | AWI Extension SA - Weaning planning for 2026

PIRSA - SA Soils Bursary Program 2025-2026 - individual ($2k) or group ($5k) soil related training for primary producers and early-career professionals. Closes 15 May or when exhausted.
$ Australian Rural Leadership Program
Nuffield Scholarship - travel overseas and study innovative farming practices, closes 8 May
Wine Australia Emerging Talent Bursary ($3,350) supports young people to attend the IMW Symposium in 2027. Closes 24 April.

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.