Mid North High Rainfall Zone honoured with PIRSA grower group award and Lyn Dohle recognised for outstanding service to agriculture

Mid North High Rainfall Zone honoured with PIRSA grower group award and Lyn Dohle recognised for outstanding service to agriculture

Dan Casement, Executive Director Rural Solutions; Jarred Tilley, Chair Mid North High Rainfall Zone Group; Lyn Dohle; Leet Wilksch, Chair Ag Excellence
Dan Casement, Executive Director Rural Solutions; Jarred Tilley, Chair Mid North High Rainfall Zone Group; Lyn Dohle; Leet Wilksch, Chair Ag Excellence

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.

The Ag Excellence Perpetual Award for Outstanding Service to Agriculture was bestowed on one of Kangaroo Islands most valued treasures. Lyn Dohle is revered amongst her fellow Islanders for her tireless efforts both within the agricultural industry and the broader community.

Ag Kangaroo Island is one such beneficiary, an organisation which attributes its very existence to Lyn’s vision to bring a number of stakeholders together to create a unified group.

Darren Keenan, Ag KI Executive Officer says, “her contribution to the agricultural sector is immeasurable, having created and supported many profitable and sustainable agricultural enterprises’.

Lyn’s legacy is extensive with over 30-years living on the Island, she has facilitated and participated in a number of voluntary roles and projects, succeeding in long lasting benefits to the region as a whole.

Kangaroo Island is fortunate to have formidable people such as Lyn Dohle. She sets the benchmark in what it means to give your time selflessly to the greater benefit of all”, said Leet Wilksch, Ag Ex Chair.