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.

PIRSA - SA Drought Loan Scheme - now open
UNFS - Nelshaby Ag Bureau pre-seeding meeting March 31
GRDC - National Grower Network Forum, Crystal Brook 26 March, Bute 27 March

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), Bite-sized grants (up to $2k)
FRRR - Communities - Capacity Building - for community groups to upskill - coming in 2026
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
PIRSA - Livestock Sustainable Solutions Program - Producer Group - EOI as a group or individual wanting to join a group. Closes 17 April

March

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

25 | WoTL - Welcome to WoTL, Warooka

25 | GRDC - ISCC market readiness and risk awareness, Clare

25 | Northern Sustainable Soils - NSS Season Launch 2026, Wallaroo

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 | 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

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

25 | GRDC – Water-use efficiency, guiding management decisions

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

LambEx26 Coles Trailblazers - 18-35 and have an idea that could make the sheep, lamb and wool industry better, smarter, more sustainable, or easier to work in?
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.