Grower Group Award

Ag Innovation Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP) honoured with PIRSA Grower Group Award

From left: Hannah Brown, Rebekah Fatchen, Bill Long, Amy Wright, Leet Wilksch, Mark Stanley, Rowena Norris & Mary Rowe

Ag Innovation Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP) has won the coveted PIRSA Grower Group Award 2024. Presented at Monday night’s Gala Awards Dinner at the Marion Hotel in front of an enthusiastic audience, the group demonstrated why it epitomises the critical role grower groups play in South Australia’s agricultural industry.

In keeping with the forum theme ‘Future Farming – Turning Trends into Practice’, Executive Officer Naomi Scholz said, “The recently developed EP Ag Vision 2050 strategic plan outlines a long-term commitment to the future of agriculture across the Eyre Peninsula”.

Developed in partnership with Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) and the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board, this comprehensive vision aims to ensure the region’s agricultural sector remains competitive and sustainable by addressing key challenges and capitalising on emerging opportunities across the five key elements of profitability, productivity, environment, social and governance.

“EP Ag Vision 2050 is a testament to AIR EP’s proactive approach in planning for the future and its commitment to fostering a thriving agricultural community for generations to come”, said Ms Scholz.

Hannah Brown, Acting Executive Director for South Australian Research Development Institute (SARDI) commended AIR EP for their impressive track record since only merging in 2020.

“The future of AIR EP and the Eyre Peninsula farming community is in safe hands. The demonstrated dedication and success in acquiring funding to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of projects, underscores its effectiveness in advocating for the needs of the local agricultural community", she said.

In its short 4-year operation, AIR EP’s dedicated team has been successful in securing funding for 60 projects with a cumulative value of nearly $8million.

Past Grower Group Award Winners

2022 Award Winner - Upper North Farming Systems

2021 Award Winner - Mid North High Rainfall Zone Group

The Mid North High Rainfall Zone (MNHRZ) group has taken out the highly regarded PIRSA Grower Group Award for 2021. Awarded during the recent Ag Excellence Virtual Forum and Awards, Ag Ex was thrilled to have the opportunity to host both worthy winners in person.

In keeping with the forum theme ‘A Climate of Opportunity in Ag’, Chair Jarred Tilley says, “the group’s key objective is to demonstrate a robust baseline sampling strategy for determining the Soil Organic Carbon Stocks (SOCS) on a property using direct sampling and measurement”.

Building on an existing project, MNHRZ will put the funding toward applying this methodology across a number of paddocks, utilising data collected from established Carbon Estimation Areas (CEAs), ensuring accurate sampling and measurement.

Daniel Casement, Executive Director Rural Solutions “commended the group for contributing to the sector’s efforts in lowering emissions and seeking ways to achieve carbon neutrality and greater climate resilience across its regions”.

“The efforts of MNHRZ will go toward meeting a growing demand for education and awareness of the soil organic carbon methodologies and its relevance to farming systems and business profitability”, said Mr Casement.

A progressive group of farmers, advisors and researchers, the MNHRZ aims to bring research and extension into the Mid North with its trial sites at Giles Corner and Farrell Flat. The MNHRZ represent cropping and mixed farmers who farm in a reliable but cold environment and face challenges with variable soil constraints, frost damage, crop nutrition, weed competition and crop diseases.

2020 Award Winner - Event Cancelled

2019 Winner - Women Together Learning

The highly valued 2019 Grower Group Award, sponsored by Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA), went to Women Together Learning (WoTL) for putting forward an educational proposal to benefit their members, the local and broader agricultural communities. WoTL will put the $5,000 towards two initiatives to build linkages between women that participate in WoTL regional activities and the Stepping into Leadership Alumni. Firstly, members will be invited to take part in a ‘Video Tips and Tools’ workshop to enhance their presence on social media platforms. Secondly, a field trip is to be organised within the Barossa and Adelaide Hills regions to gain further insight in to how Alumni participants have put their learnings into practice within their own businesses.

Chair Sharon Honner and Executive Officer, Kim Blenkiron accepted the award from PIRSA Deputy Chief Executive, Tim Goodes on behalf of WoTL. Sharon acknowledged Kim as the driver behind the project as well as being a significant contributor to WoTL. “Kim has led the Group during its time as the South Australian branch of Partners in Grain right through the transition process to what is now known as WoTL”, said Sharon. Tim Goodes congratulated the group on finding their niche and playing such an important role in further developing and strengthening the Ag space for all women in agriculture.

Download the Activity Report here.

2018 Award Winner - Barossa Improved Grazing Group

Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) put forward an educational proposal to benefit their members, the local and broader agricultural communities. BIGG will put the $5,000 towards two ‘soil health’ webinars and attendance of 25 members at a ‘soil health’ field day to be held by Fleurieu Forward Farming.

Chair Graeme Keynes accepted the award from PIRSA Chief Executive, Scott Ashby on behalf of BIGG. Graeme acknowledged Brett Nietschke as the driver behind the project as well as being a significant contributor to BIGG.

“Healthy soils are fundamental to the sustainability of farming systems. They store and cycle water and nutrients effectively and provide optimal conditions for plant growth and health”, said Graeme.

Scott Ashby congratulated the BIGG group on their quest to up-skill local producers in soil health practice and praised their collaborative approach to supporting and working with fellow grower groups.

2017 Award Winner - Upper North Farming Systems

The Upper North Farming Systems was awarded the 2017 PIRSA Grower Group Award for their proposal to investigate appropriate 1 - 2 year pasture options for improving the profitability of break-crops for grazing in the Upper north of South Australia.

The aim is to demonstrate on 2 sites the value of implementing an improved pasture into the rotations rather than utilising a self-sown pasture for the break crop. They intend to sow a number of different pasture types, both annual and perennial at the two sites to explore their suitability for growing in the region and the role different varieties play in filling nutritional feed gaps in the livestock enterprise. This research will be further supported by incorporating a workshop and technical support for farmers to explore these options for their enterprise.

2016 Award Winner - Hart Field Site Group

Hart Field Site Group focussed their winning submission on two of the five strategic issues identified by groups for their long-term sustainability.

Hart's sustainable financial modelling included partnering with Central West Farming Systems Group to adopt their proven costing model template when quoting on project applications and event requests to ensure they deliver the best value to both funding providers and members.

Another critical issue facing grower groups is their governance and organisation development. Hart is in the enviable position of attracting surplus applications to join their board. Staff numbers are also increasing resulting in the need to further define these roles and the structure around them.

2011 - 2015 Award Winners

Grower Group Award

Ag Innovation Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP) honoured with PIRSA Grower Group Award

Past Grower Group Award Winners

Award Partner