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 - interested in a Grazing Fundamentals (Southern Rangelands) EDGE | Meat & Livestock Australia? Potential opportunity to run a subsidised course on 4 December in Orroroo. Let me know by emailing molly.odea@sa.gov.au
   
2. SAAL - Central Australia Pastoral Bus Tour - our neighbouring landscape board has a few spots left on their upcoming trip - if interested call Chloe ASAP (today!) 0438 720 469
   
3. PIRSA - Plague Locust Chemical Rebate - 1 Sept to 31 Dec 26 - up to $35/ha sprayed.
   
4. 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.
• 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.
• NYLB - EOI open to host a landscape rehydration demonstration site OR attend a learning event. Closes 15 Oct.

Livestock

• 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 | relief funds | landowner info service for land access for mining/renewable energy etc
• 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
• Landcare - EOI to host a field trip for the National Landcare Conference in 2027

October

15-16 | Landcare SA - State Landcare Conference, Murray Bridge

20 | Hart Field Site - Spring Twilight Walk, Hart

20 | Barossa Australia, Barossa Vineyards Cost of Production Update #2, Vine Vale

21 | Mid North High Rainfall Zone - Cropwalk, Giles Corner

23 | SA Arid Lands Landscape Board - Economics of Trees and Shrubs, Hawker

23 | $ Tarwyn Park Training - Rehydrate Australia Screening, Blyth

23 | Clare Valley Private Lands Network - Practical Approaches to Managing Threatened Species on Farms field day, Auburn

24 | $ Tarwyn Park Training - Introduction to Natural Sequence Farming, Mintaro

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

29 | Barossa Australia - Reworking Barossa Old Vine Grenache, Greenock

December

03 | Livestock SA - Regional Round Up, Port Augusta

04 | interested in a Grazing Fundamentals (Southern Rangelands) EDGE | Meat & Livestock Australia? Potential opportunity to run a subsidised course on 4 December in Orroroo. Let me know by emailing molly.odea@sa.gov.au

February 

02-03 | GRDC - Grains Research Update, Adelaide

04 | GRDC - Grains Research Update, Bute

16-17 | AgriFutures - Evoke Ag, Adelaide

October

13 | MLA - Lamb Marking Matters: Tips for Lamb Marking Success - Demonstrating the value of genetics-live PDS webinar 2

14 | GRDC - Storage options to keep harvest moving and protect grain quality

15 | Livestock SA/PIRSA - Sheep Lice Webinar

20 | Integrity Systems - Sheep and goat eID - are you ready?

22 | MLA - PDS Updates: Focus on Weighty Weaners

23 | MLA - PDS Updates: Optimising ewe lamb joining outcomes

29 | MLA - PDS Updates: Grass That Lasts - Growing perennial pastures in a variable climate

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
• TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program
• $ Australian Rural Leadership Program
• Landcare - 2027 Bob Hawke Landcare Award, applications close 31 January 27 ($30k value)
• AgriFutures - 2027 Rural Women's Award, closes 4 Nov ($14k value)
• AgriFutures - Rural Women's Acceleration Grant, closes 4 Nov ($7k value)

• 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.