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 - more info coming soon
NYLB - carbon farming workshops, Waite 11 Feb, Kadina March 18
NYLB - Soil salinity workshops with Chris McDonough, Southern YP 26 March, Northern YP 27 March
SA Arid Lands Landscape Board - Trees & Shrubs for Business, Hawker 3 March
AWI Extension - Sticky Beak Day - Rebuilding the flock, Merriton 18 Feb, Burra 19th Feb

Carbon Farming

Carbon Ready Ag Conference recordings are now available to watch.

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 - On-farm Drought Infrastructure Rebate Scheme - additional funding allocated - now Tier 1 or Tier 2 funding available - closes 31 Jan
PIRSA - kangaroo culling - eligible primary producers can apply for $5 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 - 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)
PIRSA - Connecting Communities Events grants (up to $5k) - closes 31 Jan
Livestock SA - Red Meat Challenges Workshops ($1500 in funding)
FRRR Communities - Capacity Building - for community groups to upskill - coming in 2026.

January

28 | Ag Ex Alliance - Introduction to carbon and emissions, Clare

February

02 |GRDC - New Frontiers Grainstorming, Adelaide

03-04 | $ GRDC - Grains Research Update, Adelaide

11 | NYLB - Carbon Farming explained, Waite

12 | Ag Ex Alliance - Carbon Clarity Workshop, Burra

12 | Ag Ex Alliance - Carbon Clarity Workshop, Laura

13 | Ag Ex Alliance - Carbon Clarity Workshop, Melrose

17 | Kangaroo Partnership Project - Drone Learning Workshop, Burra

18 | AWI Extension - Sticky Beak Day, Merriton

19 | AWI Extension - Sticky Beak Day, Burra

19 | Barossa Improved Grazing Group - Annual Conference, Angaston

20 | Cross Country Management - AgCelerate financial literacy workshop, Jamestown

25-26 | SA Drought Hub - Designing Engaging Extension Workshop with Jeanette Long, Adelaide

26-27 | $ GRDC - Herbicide Behaviour Workshop, Kadina

March

03 | SA Arid Lands Landscape Board - Trees & Shrubs for Business, Hawker

11 | Hart Field Site - Getting The Crop In Seminar, Hart

12 | NYLB - Waterwise Field Day, Melrose

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

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

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

27 | NYLB - Soil salinity workshop with Chris McDonough, Northern YP

July

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

Various Varroa Update and information webinars, Jan-June

January

28 | GRDC - The importance of clean seed – a barley loose smut and wheat flag smut update

PIRSA - SA Soils Bursary Program 2025-2026 - individual ($2k) or group ($5k) soil related training for primary producers and early-career professionals
Sheep Producers Australia - Next Generation Program – Global Sheep Forum 2026 LambEx, Adelaide and Online Leadership Program
GrainGrowers - OnBoard | A grower director program
$ Australian Rural Leadership Program

National Farmer Wellbeing Survey
Have your say about livestock processing for small and medium-size farmers
Livestock SA Annual Producer Priorities Survey win 1 of 3 $500 fuel vouchers
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

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.