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. NYLB - Field Day: Dams with benefits - enhancing dams for stock and biodiversity, Mintaro 17 June
   
3. NYLB - Hart Field Site Revegetation Planting Day, Hart 10 June
   
4. Livestock SA - Lamb Survival workshop, Melrose 10 June, Clare 11 June
   
5. Upper North Farming Systems - Farm Financial Literacy Workshop, Red Hill 22 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 - Strengthening Rural Communities – Small (up to $10k) & Vital (up to $50k) - Round 29 opens 25 March closes 24 June.
• FRRR - Communities - RDRP Social Outcome Grants - up to $100k - round 2 closes 20 June

June

02 | NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection, Orroroo - sold out

02 | Barossa Australia - Empowering Barossa Growers in Winery Relations, Vine Vale

03 | NYLB - carbon farming workshops, Adelaide

03 | NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection, Clare - sold out

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

04 | NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection, Minlaton  - sold out

05 | NYLB - Plant ID and seed collection, Kadina - sold out

10 | NYLB - Hart Field Site Revegetation Planting Day, Hart

10 | Northern Sustainable Soils - Winter Crop Walk, Ninnes

10 | Livestock SA - Lamb Survival workshop, Melrose

11 | Livestock SA - Lamb Survival workshop, Clare

17 | GRDC - Get ISCC Ready Workshop 1, Clare

17 | NYLB - Field Day: Dams with benefits - enhancing dams for stock and biodiversity, Mintaro

17 | Livestock SA - Financial Literacy and Business Planning, Mallala

22 | Upper North Farming Systems - Farm Financial Literacy Workshop, Red Hill

23 | NYLB and FarmN - Nitrogen Fertiliser Supply: emerging solutions for regional sufficiency, Minlaton

24 | NYLB and FarmN - Nitrogen Fertiliser Supply: emerging solutions for regional sufficiency, Maitland

25 |NYLB and FarmN - Nitrogen Fertiliser Supply: emerging solutions for regional sufficiency, Paskeville

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

26 | NYLB/Barossa Improved Grazing Group - Lined catchment field day, Flaxman Valley - more info to come

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

July

02 | GRDC - Farm Business Update, Kadina

21 | Hart Field Site - Winter Walk, Hart

31 | MNHRZ - Winter Walk

August

05 | GRDC - Get ISCC Ready Workshop 2, Clare

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

May 2026

29 | Steph Schmidt - What the F? - Business

June 2026

09 | Uniting SA - Drought support 

11 | GRDC - Aligning machinery cost structure with income volatility

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

24 | AWI Extension SA - Weaning planning for 2026

• $ Australian Rural Leadership Program

• 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
• 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.