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 and FarmN - Nitrogen Fertiliser Supply: emerging solutions for regional sufficiency, Minlaton 23 June, Maitland 24 June, Paskeville 25 June, Freeling 29 June
   
2. WoTL - Paddocks & Picnics: Crop Foundations, Clare 29 June
   

General

• PIRSA - kangaroo culling - eligible primary producers can apply for $7 financial incentive for each humanely shot kangaroo (min. 100 roos)
• Native Vegetation Council - Heritage Agreement Incentive Grant

Livestock

• Expanded eID rebate for sheep – expanded to 8 colours
• Farm Business Transition Program — Round 2 - up to $75k to support sheep producers to increase on-farm adoption and uptake of alternative farming systems and practices.

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 mitesupport

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 - ANZ Seeds of Renewal-  opens 1 July, closes 30 July - Up to $15k for community organisations for projects that will help their community thrive.
• FRRR - Small Network Grants round 2 - up to $50k to strengthen the social capital, wellbeing and connectedness of communities to prepare for and build social resilience to drought. Closes 30 June
• FRRR - Nutrien Community Grants Program - opens 7 July, closes 6 August. Up to $5k for projects that will contribute to the success, vibrancy and wellbeing of remote, rural and regional communities.

June

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

29 |NYLB and FarmN - Nitrogen Fertiliser Supply: emerging solutions for regional sufficiency, Freeling

July

02 | GRDC - Farm Business Update, Kadina

06 | UNFS & Nelshaby Ag Bureau - AGM, Dinner & Guest Speakers, Napperby

07 | UNFS & Laura Ag Bureau - Dinner & Guest Speakers, Laura

08 | Young People in Agriculture - Hay and Grain - YPIA Regional Speaker Series, Kadina

09 | Elders - Early Post-Emergent Timing in Wheat Field Walk, Kangaroo Flat

21 | Hart Field Site - Winter Walk, Hart

22 | Barossa Australia - Barossa Vineyards Cost of Production Update, Vine Vale

31 | MNHRZ - Winter Walk

August

05 | GRDC - Get ISCC Ready Workshop 2, Clare

07 | UNFS - Annual Expo 2026, Melrose

September

02 | GRDC - Get ISCC Ready Workshop 3, Clare

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

25 | MNHRZ - Spring Field Day

October

11 | Hart Field Site - Spring Twilight Walk, Hart

June 2026

30 | GRDC - Agricultural Connectivity Out-of-the-Box

July 2026

2 | MLA - Unlocking genetic gain in Merino flocks 

9 | GRDC - Does Every Hectare Earn Its Place?

• Landcare Australia - 2026 State & Territory Landcare Awards - open for nominations
• $ Australian Rural Leadership Program
• Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program aims to facilitate reciprocal knowledge sharing within the Great Wine Capitals Global Network

• 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
• CSIRO - National climate survey - to better understand how farmers are using long-term climate information to support on-farm decision-making.

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.