Media Releases

Latest News

2019

29 May 2019

2019 EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE AWARDS NOW OPEN TO BENFIT RURAL COMMUNITIES

The Agricultural Bureau of South Australia has opened its 2019 Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards, which offer young farmers and rural youth the opportunity to pursue personal and professional development to ultimately benefit their local communities.

Applications are now being accepted for the following awards:

• The Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship sponsored by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) is an $8000 grant for a farmer (aged 18-40) to pursue further study, take a study tour or run a special project. DEW is committed to supporting communities and industry to make decisions and take action to ensure the sustainable use of our natural resources.

• The Rural Youth Bursary sponsored by Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) is a $5000 grant for rural young people (aged 18-30) working in a rural community, not necessarily in agriculture, to undertake further study in their chosen career with an ultimate benefit to their community. PIRSA is committed to growing primary industries and driving regional development.

6 May 2019

AWARDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN AGRICULTURE

An ex St Peter’s College student currently studying the Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Adelaide has been awarded $2000 through the Lois Harris Scholarship in recognition of academic excellence.

The Agricultural Bureau of SA announced Nicholas Riddell as the 2019 recipient of the respected Lois Harris Scholarship. Nicholas received the highest Tertiary Entrance Score (TER) for a student entering the Agricultural Science course in 2019 with an outstanding TER of 99.65.

The scholarship which is in its 20th year recognises high achieving students entering into their first year of tertiary education.

22 March 2019

Koonunga Branch celebrates 90 years

When “15 interested and keen men” came together to form the Koonunga Ag Bureau Branch on December 5 1928, the Tuesday night meetings had to be held on or just before the full moon. Why? Most members travelled by horse and cart, pushbike or on foot, so moonlight was the best means available to travel by.
Celebrating its 90th birthday recently, the Koonunga Branch now currently more than 60 members. In some cases there are three generations from the same families attending meetings together.

Ron Fromm’s 70 years with Ag Bureau

When Rom Fromm joined his local Ag Bureau, rubber tyres on tractors and hydraulics in farming were considered brand new technology. Advising and knowledge sharing between farmers was the norm – in fact, the primary method for learning new methods and techniques.
Ron has been an Ag Bureau member for more than 70 years, originally with the Williamstown branch and later Rowland Flat. He still lives in his childhood home and the family farm is now run by the sixth Fromm generation.