AG Excellence

On Farm Water Security Event
2025-11-18 08:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | On farm, 319 Warmington Run, Harrogate, SA
On Farm event for Farmers. An opportunity to speak to the right people about improving water efficiency, storage, retention, budgeting…..

Farmers will get the opportunity to see & hear about a recently completed, local water security project that has been replicated on multiple properties, optimising the owners’ water efficiency & security.
Hear about other potential solutions from people in the know such as Brian Hughes (PIRSA/SARDI), Tracey Strugnell, Graham Gates, Peter Lee & property owner John Crouch.
This is the 1st Event in a series of 4 across the Hills & Fleurieu. The final event will be a Master Class on managing water from a whole-of-farm perspective, dam maintenance, rules, water budgeting, trigger points etc.
Register at one of the 1st 2 events for a FREE independent ‘Water Health Check’ & report for your property.
This is a FREE Event & includes morning tea & lunch.

MLA Towards 3030: Driving prosperity through productivity, profitability and sustainability
2025-11-19 - 2025-11-20 | Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
MLA Updates will feature presentations, displays and demonstrations for producers and the broader industry along with the red meat supply chain.
The event also features a range of showcases and livestock practical demonstrations from MLA’s Research & Development, Adoption, Marketing and Integrity Systems Company teams.

On Farm Water Security Event
2025-11-25 08:30 - 12:00 | On farm, 319 Warmington Run, Harrogate, SA
On Farm event for Farmers. An opportunity to speak to the right people about improving water efficiency, storage, retention, budgeting…..

Farmers will get the opportunity to see & hear about a local water security project helping to optimise the owners’ water efficiency & security.
Hear about other potential solutions from people in the know such as Brian Hughes (PIRSA/SARDI), Tracey Strugnell, Graham Gates, Peter Lee & property owner Kym Gladigau.
This is the 2nd Event in a series of 4 across the Hills & Fleurieu. The final event will be a Master Class on managing water from a whole-of-farm perspective, dam maintenance, rules, water budgeting, trigger points etc.
Register at one of the 1st 2 events for a FREE independent ‘Water Health Check’ & report for your property.
This is a FREE Event & includes morning tea & lunch.

Regional Round Up
2025-12-04 18:00 - 21:00 | Port Augusta Golf Club, 80 Hamilton Road, Port Augusta West, SA
Save the Date

Machinery Investment Decisions workshop
2026-01-21 14:00 - 17:00 | Cowell Sports Club, Corner North Terrace & Lincoln Highway, Cowell, South Australia, 5602, Australia
Machinery investment is one of the biggest and riskiest financial decisions in a farm business. Get it right, and machinery boosts efficiency and profitability. Get it wrong, and it quietly erodes margins, cash flow, and resilience. This January, Eyre Peninsula growers will have the opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and take a clear, practical look at whether their machinery investment is really working for their business.
AIR EP is pleased to host a five-session regional workshop series focused on making better machinery investment and replacement decisions. Delivered by Peter Newman (Planfarm) and Andy Bates (Bates Ag Consulting), these interactive sessions will provide growers with practical tools, benchmarks, and confidence to assess machinery costs and make informed decisions that suit their scale and system.
Each session runs for 3 hours (including a mid-session break) and is capped at 12 farm businesses to allow for discussion, activities, and peer learning.
What Will Be Covered?
Participants will work through:

Farm business ratios, including machinery-to-income benchmarks

Calculating your own average income and machinery ratio

Machinery investment across different farm scales

Replacement planning and schedules

Funding options: hire purchase vs cash

When (and why) it may make sense to break the rules

The sessions are practical, numbers-based, and designed to be directly applicable to individual farm businesses.
Why Attend?

Understand whether your machinery spend matches your business performance

Gain clarity around replacement timing and funding decisions

Learn from experienced consultants and fellow growers

Build confidence in machinery decisions before the next investment cycle

For further information, contact Naomi Scholz, eo@airep.com.au or 0428 540 670.
Cost:
Attendance is free, thanks to funding support from the GRDC RiskWi$e project. Up to 12 farm businesses can attend (multiple people from the same business welcome, please indicate who will be attending on the registration form). First in best dressed, and please let me know if you have registered but are unable to make it, so we can offer your spot to the waiting list.
RDA Eyre Peninsula is also pleased to support these workshops through the Small Business Fundamentals Program’s drought support activities. The program is an initiative of the Government of South Australia’s Office for Small and Family Business and the South Australian Small Business Strategy 2023 – 2030.

Machinery Investment Decisions workshop
2026-01-22 14:00 - 17:00 | Port Neill Hotel, 7 Peake Terrace, Port Neill, SA, 5604, Australia

Limestone Coast Early to Mid Career Farmer Workshop 2 (open to ETMC Farmer Group)
2026-01-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Shearing Shed, Vogelsang Lane, Padthaway, SA, Australia
Following on from the initial Early to Mid Career Farmer session in November 2025 which helped shaped the workshop topics of interest, we will be welcoming Dr Michael Wilkes, Michael Wilkes Livestock Co on containment feeding and livestock nutritional needs for a workshop / field walk in January 2026.
Group members will receive a direct email with event details. Didn’t receive the email? Contact Katie Moorhouse on comms@mackillopgroup.com.au or 0419 821 689.
REGISTRATION ESSENTIAL.

New Frontiers Grainstorming
2026-02-02 18:30 - 20:30 | Adelaide Pavillion, Cnr South Terrace and Peacock Road, Adelaide, SA
Leading Australian grain growers and advisers are invited to a free GRDC New Frontiers Grainstorming dinner to share innovative, new ideas for ground-breaking, blue-sky research that will make a difference on-farm. If you have an idea or suggestion, please join us. We need the knowledge and expertise of thought leading growers and advisers to ensure new investments by GRDC reflect what the industry needs now and into the future.
Please register your interest and the event facilitator, DemocracyCo, will contact you soon to confirm your attendance.

GRDC Grains Research Update
2026-02-03 09:00 - 2026-02-04 16:30 | Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
Discuss the latest farm-ready information to improve profit with researchers, agronomists and leading growers at the Adelaide GRDC Grains Research Update. $200 for two-day tickets and $130 for one-day tickets
*subject to change

GRDC Research Update
2026-02-05 09:00 - 13:00 | Waikerie Hotel Motel, 2 McCoy Street, Waikerie, SA, 5330, Australia
Discuss the latest farm-ready information to improve profit with researchers, agronomists and leading growers at the Waikerie GRDC Grains Research Update.
Morning tea, lunch and proceedings included.
Registration: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm followed by lunch (doors open at 8.30 am for a 9.00 am start)
Topics include:
Balancing productivity with risk, from a growers’ perspective- Barry Mudge, Port Germein grower
Gazania incidence and impact on cropping- Ali Bajwa, La Trobe University
Cracking the nitrogen decision nut: new insights from multiple trials and results- Corinne Celestina, University of Melbourne
Protecting your most perishable asset: latest updates on grain storage- Chris Warrick, Primary Business
Aiming to minimise frost and heat ‘hits’ on yield: A new tool to help on-farm decision making- Julianne Lilley, CSIRO
Free event.

SA Beef Field Days Mid North
2026-02-07 | SA

SA Beef Field Days Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu & Loxton
2026-02-08 | SA

SA Beef Field Days Upper South East
2026-02-09 | SA

SA Beef Field Days Lower South East
2026-02-10 | SA

AIR EP Member Day
2026-02-10 09:00 - 14:00 | Marble Range Community Sport Club, Cnr Morgan Lane and Flinders Hwy, Wangary, SA, Australia
Exclusive to AIR EP Members, our “Tight Budgets, Big Yields” program will focus on opportunities & speed bumps heading into 2026, and reducing costs without compromising yield.

In planning the 2026 event program, AIR EP Executive Officer Naomi Scholz reflected on the 2025 season and the uncertainty faced by farmers. “The 2026 Members Day program has been designed with the challenges of the recent seasons front of mind. Our team has thought hard about the issues farmers may be facing as they approach planning for 2026, whilst incorporating topics many are already talking about.

From strategic P application, to maximising yields whilst minimising costs, our program has been built around real-world knowledge that can be applied on farm. These conversations not only strengthen our regional production systems, they help guide the research priorities that matter most to you.

AIR EP’s impact relies on the collaboration, curiosity and the commitment of our members and sponsors. Our annual Member Day is one of the most important opportunities we have each year to come together, share practical insights, and shape the direction of our research and extension programs”.

The AIR EP Member Days offer individuals a chance to:

Connect with leading researchers, advisors and local farmers
Share ideas, insights & real-world solutions
Enjoy a great day off the farm with good people

Whether you’re looking to learn, share, or simply take a breather from the everyday grind, the Member Day events have been designed by farmers, for farmers.
Register here: https://airep.com.au/event/2026-air-ep-member-day-wangary-10-february-2026/

Be sure to Subscribe to the AIR EP newsletter and our socials for speaker announcements.

“I strongly encourage all members and sponsors to attend our 2026 events. Your participation ensures our work remains grounded, effective and driven by on-farm needs. Together, we can continue to support profitable, resilient farming systems—no matter how tight the budget or how ambitious the yield target”, says Naomi.

Come along, bring a mate, let’s enjoy the day together!

AIR EP Member Day
2026-02-11 09:00 - 14:00 | Wirulla Sports Club, Gawler Ranges Rd, Wirulla, SA, 5661, Australia
Exclusive to AIR EP Members, our “Tight Budgets, Big Yields” program will focus on opportunities & speed bumps heading into 2026, and reducing costs without compromising yield.

In planning the 2026 event program, AIR EP Executive Officer Naomi Scholz reflected on the 2025 season and the uncertainty faced by farmers. “The 2026 Members Day program has been designed with the challenges of the recent seasons front of mind. Our team has thought hard about the issues farmers may be facing as they approach planning for 2026, whilst incorporating topics many are already talking about.

From strategic P application, to maximising yields whilst minimising costs, our program has been built around real-world knowledge that can be applied on farm. These conversations not only strengthen our regional production systems, they help guide the research priorities that matter most to you.

AIR EP’s impact relies on the collaboration, curiosity and the commitment of our members and sponsors. Our annual Member Day is one of the most important opportunities we have each year to come together, share practical insights, and shape the direction of our research and extension programs”.

The AIR EP Member Days offer individuals a chance to:

Connect with leading researchers, advisors and local farmers
Share ideas, insights & real-world solutions
Enjoy a great day off the farm with good people

Whether you’re looking to learn, share, or simply take a breather from the everyday grind, the Member Day events have been designed by farmers, for farmers.
Register here: https://airep.com.au/event/2026-air-ep-member-day-wirrulla-11-february-2026/

Be sure to Subscribe to the AIR EP newsletter and our socials for speaker announcements.

“I strongly encourage all members and sponsors to attend our 2026 events. Your participation ensures our work remains grounded, effective and driven by on-farm needs. Together, we can continue to support profitable, resilient farming systems—no matter how tight the budget or how ambitious the yield target”, says Naomi.

Come along, bring a mate, let’s enjoy the day together!

Drone Learning Workshop
2026-02-11 09:00 - 16:00 | Port Kenny, 22706 Flinders Hwy, Venus Bay, SA, 5607
Curious about drones and your land?
Join this free hands-on, one-day workshop to learn how to fly drones safely, plan survey flights, and capture aerial imagery to support your land management decisions. You’ll see how drone surveys can reveal kangaroo activity as well as other species on your property.
Yee Von (pronounced just like Yvonne!) works with aerial imagery and drones to study kangaroos. She recently finished a PhD at the University of Tasmania on using drones to monitor macropods and now helps landholders use drones safely and practically to support on-ground land management.
No prior experience is needed, just bring your curiosity (and your drone if you have one).
Morning tea and lunch are provided.

Focus on Carbon with a tour of TFI Murray Bridge
2026-02-12 06:30 - 17:30 | Thomas Foods International Processing Facility, 191 Temora Wy, Pallamana, SA, 5254, Australia
Join the bus tour to the Thomas Foods International Murray Bridge Processing Facility. The tour will depart from Naracoorte and return the same day, and will include a session with Mark Inglis, Farm Assurance and Supply Chain Manager, who will speak about carbon farming, markets and producer feedback, and Todd Price (TBC), Sustainability Field Manager, SA, VIC, TAS – Nutrien Ag Solutions on measuring and managing your emissions, why it’s becoming increasingly important in the market, and what it means for your farming enterprise. .
This session is ideal for landholders, agribusiness professionals and farm business decision-makers who want to:

Understand current trends and expectations around carbon across industries
Hear from leading experts working directly with producers and companies
Explore the role of carbon in both cropping and livestock enterprises
Learn how different sectors are approaching carbon to stay competitive

Speakers include:

Mark Inglis (Thomas Foods International) – The red meat perspective: understanding market signals, carbon expectations, and opportunities for producers.
Todd Price (TBC) (Sustainability Field Manager, SA, VIC, TAS – Nutrien Ag Solutions) – Carbon farming: What’s new, why care and what’s in it for farmers?

Details:
Date: Thursday 12 February 2026
Time: 6.30am (Naracoorte), returning 5.30pm (Naracoorte)
Location: Bus tour to Murray Bridge. Bus to depart from On The Run, Naracoorte at 6.30am. Please arrive by 6.15am.
Light breakfast, morning tea and lunch provided.
Register by Monday 9 February 2026.

Workbench for the Mind
2026-02-12 08:45 - 12:30 | Reflections Room, Loxton Hotel, 45 East Terrace, Loxton, SA, 5333, Australia
An intensive but nourishing session, offering practical, easy-to-use tools that create immediate impact, through shifted perspectives and acting with purpose.

This practical and engaging session introduces a fresh way of understanding how our minds respond to pressure, uncertainty and constant demand. Drawing on her Workbench for the Mind framework, Suzi Evans shares simple, accessible tools around three simple steps; Awareness, Availability and Acceptance. In the workshop, you will;

recognise unhelpful thinking patterns
learn to steady internal responses
create more space for clarity and calm
gain the confidence to thrive personally and create stronger connections at work and in community.

This is a complimentary event, and includes morning tea. Participants are encouraged to continue conversations over lunch after the session, at your own cost.
The full cost of this workshop is $360 per person which has been heavily reduced thanks to the support of event sponsors.
Numbers are limited for this workshop so please book early to avoid disappointment.

AIR EP Member Day
2026-02-12 09:00 - 14:00 | Rudall Sports Club, SA
Exclusive to AIR EP Members, our “Tight Budgets, Big Yields” program will focus on opportunities & speed bumps heading into 2026, and reducing costs without compromising yield.

In planning the 2026 event program, AIR EP Executive Officer Naomi Scholz reflected on the 2025 season and the uncertainty faced by farmers. “The 2026 Members Day program has been designed with the challenges of the recent seasons front of mind. Our team has thought hard about the issues farmers may be facing as they approach planning for 2026, whilst incorporating topics many are already talking about.

From strategic P application, to maximising yields whilst minimising costs, our program has been built around real-world knowledge that can be applied on farm. These conversations not only strengthen our regional production systems, they help guide the research priorities that matter most to you.

AIR EP’s impact relies on the collaboration, curiosity and the commitment of our members and sponsors. Our annual Member Day is one of the most important opportunities we have each year to come together, share practical insights, and shape the direction of our research and extension programs”.

The AIR EP Member Days offer individuals a chance to:

Connect with leading researchers, advisors and local farmers
Share ideas, insights & real-world solutions
Enjoy a great day off the farm with good people

Whether you’re looking to learn, share, or simply take a breather from the everyday grind, the Member Day events have been designed by farmers, for farmers.
Register here: https://airep.com.au/event/2026-air-ep-member-day-rudall-12-february-2026/

Be sure to Subscribe to the AIR EP newsletter and our socials for speaker announcements.

“I strongly encourage all members and sponsors to attend our 2026 events. Your participation ensures our work remains grounded, effective and driven by on-farm needs. Together, we can continue to support profitable, resilient farming systems—no matter how tight the budget or how ambitious the yield target”, says Naomi.

Come along, bring a mate, let’s enjoy the day together!

Drone Learning Workshop
2026-02-13 09:00 - 16:00 | Stirling North Golf Club, 4 North Tce, Stirling North, SA, 5710

Drone Learning Workshop
2026-02-17 09:00 - 16:00 | Burra Community & Sporting Complex, Smelts Road, Burra, SA, Australia

Supply Chain, Industry & Financial perspectives on Emissions Reporting Webinar
2026-02-17 11:30 - 12:30 | Online, Australia
This interactive webinar will provide you with practical insights into the opportunities available to you within your supply chain and from a financial perspective. This webinar will be presented by Daria Twist, Agribusiness Manager with NAB and Laura Grubb, Sustainability & Engagement Specialist with Greenham Australia.
Daria will outline how NAB can support Australian agribusiness in this changing climate, with a focus on climate risk management and green finance solutions. She will provide practical steps and incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable practices and reduce emissions.
Laura will dissect what carbon and sustainability mean for your business. She will talk through how you can take advantage of being an early mover in this space when working with your markets. We will look at what is driving this momentum, how meat customers and processors are responding, and what you need to do in your business.
This webinar is delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and water under the Carbon Farming Outreach Program.

Sticky Beak Day
2026-02-18 08:00 - 12:00 | Coombe Family Shearing Shed, 9035 Augusta Highway, Merriton
Rebuilding the flock : a shared discussion on what we have seen, learnt and planning for the future
Whether you’re rebuilding after tough seasons or planning ahead, this event brings producers together to share insights and explore practical pathways forward.
Presenters

Nathan Scott, Achieve Ag Solutions: Practical strategies and options for rebuilding

Chris Scheid, Moore Australia: Financial implications of flock rebuilding

Deb Scammell, Talking Livestock: Nutrition decisions of rebuilding numbers

A practical, interactive morning on what we’ve seen, what we’ve learnt, and how to plan your flock rebuild.
Breakfast provided from 7.30am, please bring a chair.

BIGG Annual Conference
2026-02-19 | Lambert Estate, 55 Long Gully Rd, Angaston, SA, Australia

Drone Learning Workshop
2026-02-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Wanderers Cricket Club, 113 Old Princes Highway, Murray Bridge East, SA, 5253

Kick Off Ya Boots screening
2026-02-21 17:00 - 22:00 | YP Field Days Function Centre / Paskeville Field Day Site, 3429 Copper Coast Hwy, Paskeville, SA, 5550, Australia
Kick Off Ya Boots is a unique initiative promoting rural wellbeing and community resilience, delivered in partnership with Little Town Productions and ifarmwell.
This is a community-oriented night with neighbours, listen in on meaningful stories about rural life, and take away practical tools for wellbeing. Originally a live dinner-theatre production, it has evolved into a touring movie event, with the 2024 live show “This Farming Life” professionally filmed and now shown across regional South Australia. Themes include:

Farm succession planning, financial and business pressures
Drought, climate, seasonal risk and the rural work-life balance
Family communication, mental health, community connection

This event is supported by the SA Drought Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, Rabobank Client Council, and SkiForLife.
This is a Connecting Communities Event sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions under the Family and Business Support Program as part of the State Government’s $73 million Drought Support Package.

Mary O'Brien Best Practice Spray Application and New Spray Technology Workshop
2026-02-23 08:00 - 13:00 | The Hall, Naracoorte Showgrounds Members Clubrooms, 171 Smith Street, Naracoorte, SA, 5271, Australia
Boost your spraying accuracy, safety and efficiency with practical, up-to-date advice from one of Australia’s leading spray specialists at this hands on workshop in Naracoorte.
Presenter Mary O’Brien – Mary O’Brien Rural – is known for her pragmatic approach to best practice spray safety aimed at reducing spray risk, maximising outcomes whilst minimising costs.
What you’ll gain:
• Guidance on water quality, boom height, nozzle selection and droplet size
• How to identify hazardous inversions and choose safe, effective spray windows
• Updates on new innovations, including advanced nozzle designs, drift-reduction technologies, and emerging tools
Hear from local operators on the latest products on the market.
Josh Shields, Traction Ag Naracoorte – on new technologies and equipment.
Grant Yates, Southern Precision Naracoorte – on GPS technologies.

GRDC Herbicide Behaviour Workshop
2026-02-24 08:00 - 2026-02-25 13:00 | The Loxton Club, 27 Bookpurnong Tce, Loxton, SA, 5333, Australia
GRDC Herbicide Behaviour Workshop
This workshop will focus on the biological pathways and environmental factors that influence herbicide performance, along with interactions that may occur when products are mixed and will be delivered by ICAN Senior Consultant Mark Congreve.
Herbicide resistance is also changing product use. In many situations, products and mixtures that previously worked are now less effective. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the key factors dictating herbicide performance and what can be done in the paddock to ensure weed control is maximised. Knowing what weeds will be controlled from a herbicide application is the easy bit – it’s on the label.
More challenging questions include:

Why do herbicides perform or fail in some situations? How do environmental factors influence this?
What can happen when we tank mix?
Critical comments on the label. Why are they important?
How do adjuvants and water conditioning agents work? What should be used, when and why
How does resistance affect different herbicides? What strategies can be used as resistance emerges?
How do residual herbicides work and what influences their breakdown?

Workshop numbers will be capped to ensure effective participation. Workshop registrations will be accepted on a first-in basis and a ‘wait list’ will be established for workshops that sell out.
