2007 Peter Olsen Fellowship Winner - Steven Newman
Overcoming salinity issues on his family's Gumeracha property is the legacy of the Peter Olsen Fellowship for horticulturalist Steven Newman.
Mr Newman, the production manager of his family's Hills Fresh business, used the Fellowship to investigate soil moisture monitoring equipment.
"Without the Fellowship we wouldn't have been able to solve the problems we were experiencing on the farm as early as we have," he said. "If we had to rely on our own funds it would have taken us another two years before we would have been able to start addressing the issue."
"Not only have we been able to ascertain what we were doing wrong but also to become more sustainable."
Mr Newman said while the installation of the soil moisturing probes on the property have provided more question than answers, it has also enabled him to obtain a better understanding of what is happening underground.
"It has definitely provided a big picture to see what is happening on the property and made us more aware of salinity issues and water penetration," he said.
"We are now much more efficient with our irrigation practices and now after each rain event we can see the salinity droppping by 10cm.
"It has given us more to work with to solve problems quickly."
The bursary, created by farming organisation the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia, aims to boost the skills of young South Australian farmers.
Open to people aged between 18 and 35 who have been farming involved in farming as their principal activity for the past 12 months, the grant provides $7000 to pay for courses, study tours or special projects.
The Fellowship is named in memory of Eyre Peninsula farming identity and Agricultural Bureau member Peter Olsen. Mr Olsen and his wife Wendy were among eight people killed when a Whyalla Airlines plane crashed into Spencer Gulf in 2000.
In addition to the Agricultural Bureau funding, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) is also a sponsor of the Fellowship along with continual support from the Eyre Peninsula Bushfire Recovery and Response Team.
Applications for the 2008 Peter Olsen Fellowship close on 19 September with the winner to be announced at the Bureau's Spirit of Excellence Awards in Agriculture on 14 October. Copies of the guidelines and applications forms are available from the Agricultural Bureau's website www.agbureau.com.au or by phoning 1800 652 258 or 8226 0351.
For further information and assistance, please contact Helen Lamont (PIRSA Rural Solutions) on 0409 885 606.
