SA Farmer

Programs to provide insights to farming business management

RIVERLAND and Mallee primary producers seeking to increase their skills surrounding business management are encouraged to apply for two major farming programs. Applications for the 2025 intake of Rabobank’s Business Management Programs – the...

Staff Contributors

March 2025

Ag News

MLA’s Sheep Genetics program goes from strength to strength

SOUTH Australia’s sheep flock is continuing to experience genetic gain driven by ongoing improvements in the Sheep Genetics program, as revealed in a new report released by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). Genetic progress continued to...

Staff Contributors

March 2025

Ag News

Don’t forget the benefits of farm laneways

MALLEE primary producers have been reminded of the advantages maintaining a laneway network can have for farming operations. Farm laneways are a great way to improve farm efficiency and reduce labour requirements. Laneways can also provide a useful...

Staff Contributors

March 2025

Ag News

Info series highlights passion for responsible land stewardship

The passion of grain growers for the responsible stewardship of the land is a clear message farmers are sharing with Riverland and Mallee consumers in a new information series. The information series, promoted by GrainGrowers, highlights a modern...

Staff Contributors

March 2025

Ag News

Tech Council welcomes investment in farm connectivity

THE Tech Council of Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s investment in the On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), which assists Riverland and Mallee primary producers to take advantage of digital agribusiness solutions. Tech Council CEO...

Staff Contributors

March 2025

Ag News

Chill research with Waikerie pistachios

TRIALS at a Waikerie pistachio orchard are helping to inform the industry’s future chill management practices. The polymer trial for 2024/25 season is being executed in Rob Haynes‘ orchard, in Waikerie, to capture the effects of polymer in...

Staff Contributors

March 2025

Ag News

Backyard chickens are here to stay

CHICKENS have been a mainstay in South Australian backyards for generations. New research from the University of Adelaide reveals that owners see their chooks as a blend between pet and livestock, plus a trustworthy source of produce. “Our...

Staff Contributors

March 2025

Ag News

GPSA launches Seed Register to help drought-affected growers

MALLEE grain growers struggling with seed supply following the drought challenges of 2024 will now have access to a seed register that aims to put them in contact with growers with available stock. Grain Producers SA (GPSA) has launched a new...

Staff Contributors

March 2025

Ag News

A new era of climate-smart farming trials in SA established

A NEW era of climate-smart farming has arrived for South Australia, in the form of long-term research trials being conducted at Loxton, Lameroo and Karoonda. These trials will help livestock, cropping and mixed farmers prepare for and respond to...

Horticulture

Harvesting produce is a travel delight

GERMAN backpacker Nina Brueckner has been enjoying experiencing Murray River life in the Riverland by taking part in a volunteer workers’ exchange program. As part of the Workaway program she spent a week during January at Bruce and Susan...

Christine Webster

February 2025

Horticulture

The holiday drawcard of horticulture

RIVERLAND West certified organic horticulturists Bruce and Susan Armstrong are providing backpackers from Australia and overseas the chance to experience life on a block on the Murray River. For more than 24 years, the couple have hosted dozens of...

Christine Webster

February 2025

Horticulture

Transforming Riverland turmeric into a sought-after delicacy

NESTLED on Barmera’s south side, the 70-acre property looks unassuming, but once you realise what a husband-and-wife team are farming and how they are doing it, everything you see starts to dazzle the eyes. Barmera’s Peter and Anne Brooke are...

Sebastian Calderon

August 2024

Horticulture

Mother and daughter duo a buzzing success

A MOTHER and daughter duo has been converting people across South Australia into honey lovers with their unique and sweet infusion creations. Since its beginnings mid last year, Sweet Honey Fusions has been experimenting with a huge variety of...

Weather & Water

Record environmental flows for SA show Murray-Darling Basin Plan back on track

THE environment, irrigators and other River Murray water users are benefiting from record environmental water releases being delivered under the reinvigorated Murray-Darling Basin Plan. More than 1650GL of water for the environment was provided to...

SA Farmer

December 2024

Weather & Water

Brackish groundwater can be used to irrigate crops in the Riverland

A NEW chapter in groundwater treatment and resource allocation started a couple of months ago, aiming to improve the potential use and benefits of groundwater. A small reverse-osmosis (RO) plant was installed on September, in a small plot of land at...

Sebastian Calderon

December 2024

Weather & Water

Diving into a new era at Banrock Station

DESPITE the fact that the Riverland flooding event of 2022-23 finished nearly two years ago, its devastation is still being felt around the region. Banrock Station, located just 20km northwest of Barmera, has been no different, but with water...

Lachlan Dand

November 2024

Weather & Water

Making every drop count

A RENOWNED Riverland horticultural specialist says South Australian primary producers must adapt toward sustainable farming practices to combat growing water supply constraints. Renmark-based Ian Tolley has consulted in horticultural regions around...

Cropping

Brackish groundwater can be used to irrigate crops in the Riverland

Sebastian Calderon

December 2024

Cropping

‘Great day for all’ at 2024 Brown’s Well Crop Comp

DESPITE the extremely dry 2024 season, about 40 farmers and industry representatives enjoyed an amazing day at the recent Brown’s Well Crop Competition. Numerous crops were judged to be exceeding 2t/ha despite receiving less than 90mm of growing...

SA Farmer

December 2024

Cropping

Saving moisture for a ‘grainy’ day helps growers

THE agricultural industry is breathing a sigh of relief after stats showed South Australian grain harvests were still strong last year despite limited rainfall in a number of areas and late frost. According to the Department of Primary Industries...

Aidan Curtis

May 2024

Cropping

Grain growing starts again after record-breaking year

IT was a tale of ups and downs for Riverland collaborative grain producer Bulla Burra’s last harvest. On the positive end, the business completed one of its “best ever years” for growing, with yields high and prices strong according to general...

Josh Brine

June 2023

Cropping

A bit of rain can’t stop a bumper harvest

NOVEMBER was touch and go for EzyBale’s Corbin Schuster, as he stared down the threat of water-logged and diseased crops amid record-breaking rainfall. But a late harvest was his saving grace as many of his crops came away unscathed to produce...

Wine

Winter handed the Kies to the castle

WHEN Jake Winter made the decision to press pause on a promising professional cricket career in the late 2010s, few people, including himself, could have predicted where the next half-decade would take him. At 26 years old and working in the...

Lachlan Dand

September 2023

Wine Grapes

Burge wines showcase the best of the Barossa on the world stage

THE Burge name is a Barossa legacy, through and through. Take a drive through the region’s winding roads, and you’ll find their vineyards dotted all across the Valley’s sprawling landscape. But their passion transcends state borders and...

Kayla Den Hollander

June 2023

Autumn Update

Industry Expert: Adrian Hoffmann - WGCSA Region Two chair

Our second industry expert from our autumn 2023 edition of SA Farmer. Wine Grape Council of SA Region Two chair, Adrian Hoffmann, speaks about the 2023 vintage, grower optimism and fruit quality. Will it be a later vintage in the Barossa this year?...

SA Farmer

March 2023

Ag News

Wine industry among business groups concerned about IR Bill

THE wine industry is among a group of South Australia’s leading business organisations calling for the Senate to reject controversial parts of a federal industrial relations Bill. Last Friday, November 11, the House of Representatives passed the...

SA Farmer

November 2022

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