Projects
The Ag Bureau of SA has a long and proud history of managing projects that benefit SA primary producers from state to local level.
Funding is provided by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia.
Ag Bureau funds (including the Bureau Project Fund) have also been used to resource branch projects.
Current projects
- Innovative NDVI, pH and ED mapping in the Clare Valley vineyards and investigation and management of soil constraints to improve soil health, production and profitability. - Funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, the project is being delivered by Rural Solutions SA (PIRSA) and the Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association to be completed by April 2020.
- Innovative and cost-effective methods to manage 'emerging' soil acidity to improve soil health, crop and pasture production - Funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, the project is being delivered by Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) through its Rural Solutions SA Division.
Recently completed projects
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Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges NRM
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Fleurieu Forward Farming – Stage 1 ($18,500), Stage 2a ($30,750) & Stage 2b ($118,287)
Stage 1 has been completed, which included a soils research review and considered the priorities and needs of grazing enterprises across the Fleuirieu. Stage 2 commenced soil monitoring and biochar trials to better understand soil acidity, fertility and increased climate variability on a range of soil types.
Parawa Agricultural Bureau -
Soil Recovery Post Pinery Fire (Stage 1 – Stabilising highly eroding sandy soils) ($41,000)
Agricultural Bureau of SA
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Soil Recovery Post Pinery Fire (Stage 2 – Monitoring soil recovery post pinery fire) ($85,000)
Agricultural Bureau of SA
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Real time weather monitoring to reduce fire risk and spray drift and improve crop management Phase II ($13,990)
Pinery Agricultural Bureau
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25th Anniversary Landcare Grants
Laura SA – Improved soil cover, biodiversity and weed management
Laura Agricultural Bureau -
National Landcare Program Innovation Grants
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Innovating and cost-effective solutions to the treatment of acid soils in SA ($414,000)
Agricultural Bureau of SA
Farmers have seen the real benefit of pH mapping over 6,000 hectares. By zoning paddocks farmers only need to apply lime to the zones that require it thus improving soil health and improving productivity which have seen savings on time and costs.
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Precision pasture management
Monarto Agricultural Bureau
‘Pastures of Space’ technology was promoted as a means of receiving estimates of pasture growth rate (PGR) and feed on offer (FOO). Four focus farms were established to demonstrate the use of remote sensing historical data, benchmark pasture utilisation and pasture production.
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Point Pass Soil Constraints Investigation
Point Pass Agricultural Bureau
Soil characterisation and assessment of physical and chemical constraints at three sites using soil moisture probes. Established sub soil manure and organic matter placement trials to reduce the constraints cause by hostile subsurface clays. Improvement of farmer skills and knowledge on soils management and improvement.
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Innovative and cost effective solutions to the treatment of soil acidity in the North-Western agricultural areas of the SAMDB NRM region
Agricultural Bureau of SA
Twenty paddocks were tested for surface and sub-surface soil pH which determined the extent and severity of soil acidity in the district. Innovative pH testing methods were demonstrated on key paddocks with the use of the on-the-go soil pH machine that measured and mapped the spatial variability of soil pH across paddocks.
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Caring for our Country
30/8/2013 - 31/3/2015
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Improved soil management and productivity in the Mid North ($53,460)
Halbury Whitwarta Agricultural Bureau
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Innovative sustainable land management at Stockport ($49,390)
Stockport Agricultural Bureau
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Improving claying practice through addition of organic matter ($54,340)
Sherwood Precision Management Systems Group
Increased awareness of the role of soil organic carbon in soil health and the constraint that bleached subsoils have on agricultural production.
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Ongoing effects of soil modification using clay ($53,570)
Karoonda and Districts Agricultural Bureau
One hundred land managers have improved their knowledge and skills in managing natural resources to deliver ecosystem services. Thirty individuals engaged in NRM activities.
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Improving surface soil depth and subsoil conditions of soils ($45,540)
Lochaber Agricultural Bureau
Twenty land managers improved their knowledge and skills in relation to soil management and improving soil health.
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Increasing productivity on clayed sands ($54,780)
Southern Mallee Agricultural Bureau
Sixty land managers improved their knowledge and skills by addressing the issues experienced by some farmers in areas where eroding sandy soils did not improve after having clay added to them.
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Improving soil structure in hard setting soils of Eastern Eyre Peninsula ($44,990)
Crossville Agricultural Bureau
Increased awareness of the constraints imposed by poorly structured subsoil layers impacting on crop yield. Modifying these constraining layers and the addition of soil conditioners are increasingly seen as tools for improving production.
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State NRM Community Grants
30/9/2013 - 30/9/2014
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Initiating claying sands Dublin to Pinery
Mallala Agricultural Bureau
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Improving water repellent sandy soils near Coomandook
Coomandook Agricultural Bureau
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Innovation Grant
1/2/2014 - 31/3/2016
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Innovative and cost-effective solutions to the treatment of acid soils in SA ($414,990)
State NRM Community Grant projects undertaken directly by incorporated branches:
- Angaston – Barossa producer groups sustainable pasture challenge paddocks
- Koonunga –Improving poor soil health in North Barossa vineyards
- Monarto –Pasture improvement and no-till interface
Download Stock Journal article 21 May 2015
AG developments with Coomandook Agricultural Bureau
Trialing Claying in the Stockport District
Claying in the Avon to Halbury District
Sandy Soils & Soil Modification
Resilient Farming & Risk Management
If there's a project that you can't find here, please email agbureau@ruralbusinesssupport.org.au to see if we can help.