The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) provides research and development services to the state government, commercial clients and research partners to help make South Australia’s primary industries and regions internationally competitive and ecologically sustainable.
SARDI’s programs are designed to increase the productivity, sustainability and adaptability of the state’s agriculture, food and wine, fisheries and aquaculture and bioscience enterprises, create opportunities for market growth, address barriers to growth and provide applied solutions.
The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) operates the Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC). MAC serves the cereal growing areas of the Eyre Peninsula, which produces on average 40 to 45% of South Australia's wheat. Research and development conducted at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre includes development of innovative, best practice farm management practices for low rainfall environments.
Aims:
This is a South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). In 2014, ten separate trials were conducted as part of this proje… read more
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local Agricultural Bureaux to compare current varieties to ones which are not commonly grown in their respective districts, and to compare varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
The wheat and barley variety demonstrations were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureaus to compare current varieties to potential new varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
Originally this trial was initiated by the local Ag Bureau groups at Charra and Goode to test if there were potential yield responses to be gained by increasing fertiliser rates, testing new products and other sowing techniques like fluid fertilisers. Bryan Smith applied for money through the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board (EP… read more
Aims:
This trial was initiated by the local Ag Bureau groups at Charra and Goode to test if there were potential yield responses and possible money to be gained by increasing fertiliser rates, testing new products and other seeding techniques like fluid fertilisers. Bryan Smith applied for money through the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management … read more
Aims:
To determine the comparative performance of alternative crops and pastures as pest and disease breaks in an intensive cereal phase. In low rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia broad-leaf crops make up only a very small proportion of the total area of sown crops. In light of increasing climate variability farmers have adopted continuous ce… read more
Aims:
To determine the comparative performance of alternative crops and pastures as pest and disease breaks in an intensive cereal phase. In low rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia broad-leaf crops make up only a very small proportion of the total area of sown crops. In light of increasing climate variability farmers have adopted continuous ce… read more
Aims:
This is a South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). In 2014, ten separate trials were conducted as part of this proje… read more
Aims:
This is a South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). In 2014, ten separate trials were conducted as part of this proje… read more
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local Agricultural Bureaux to compare current varieties to ones which are not commonly grown in their respective districts, and to compare varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local Agricultural Bureaux to compare current varieties to ones which are not commonly grown in their respective districts, and to compare varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local Agricultural Bureaux to compare current varieties to ones which are not commonly grown in their respective districts, and to compare varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
The wheat and barley variety demonstrations were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureaus to compare current varieties to potential new varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
The wheat and barley variety demonstrations were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureaus to compare current varieties to potential new varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat and barley National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
This is a South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). In 2014, ten separate trials were conducted as part of this proje… read more
Aims:
The wheat and barley variety demonstrations were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureaus to compare current varieties to potential new varieties in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
This is part of a new South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula. In 2013, seven separate trials were conducted at Minnipa A… read more
Aims:
This is part of a new South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula. In 2013, seven separate trials were conducted at Minnipa A… read more
Aims:
Although alkaline soils are widespread throughout southern Australia and are the basis of crop production in South Australia, our understanding of the chemistry and cycling of C in these soils is poor. A survey of paddocks on the upper Eyre Peninsula (EP) showed that the concentrations of soil organic C and dissolved organic C were sensitive to … read more
Aims:
Although alkaline soils are widespread throughout southern Australia and are the basis of crop production in South Australia, our understanding of the chemistry and cycling of C in these soils is poor. A survey of paddocks on the upper Eyre Peninsula (EP) showed that the concentrations of soil organic C and dissolved organic C were sensitive to … read more
Aims:
This is part of a new South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula. In 2013, seven separate trials were conducted at Minnipa A… read more
Aims:
This is part of a new South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula. In 2013, seven separate trials were conducted at Minnipa A… read more
Aims:
The majority of farms in low rainfall areas use sheep to provide enterprise diversity, however grazing also offers a range of other system benefits that are generally not accounted for in mixed farming enterprises. Studies have shown that grazing offers a useful tool for managing weeds and pests, improving crop nutrition and yields and providing… read more
Aims:
A trial was established on Minnipa Agricultural Centre in 2008 to test whether soil fertility and health could be improved under a higher input system (e.g. higher fertiliser and seeding rates, establishment of improved pasture) compared to a lower input and more traditional system (district practice seed and fertiliser inputs, volunteer pasture… read more
Aims:
This is part of a new South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT) funded project. It aims to maximise canola productivity through creating soil specific management strategies that improve canola yields, profitability and establishment in field trials on lower and upper Eyre Peninsula. In 2013, seven separate trials were conducted at Minnipa A… read more
Aims:
After an increase in Rhizoctonia research over the last decade, our understanding of this difficult to manage disease has increased substantially. The aim of the project summarised in this article is to use the latest findings from this Rhizoctonia research to demonstrate the collective value of ‘best bet’ strategies in broad acre environmen… read more
Aims:
After a resurgence in Rhizoctonia research over the last decade, our understanding of this difficult to manage disease has increased substantially. The aim of the project summarised in this article is to use the latest findings from this Rhizoctonia research to demonstrate the collective value of ‘best bet’ strategies in broad acre environme… read more
Aims:
After an increase in Rhizoctonia research over the last decade, our understanding of this difficult to manage disease has increased substantially. The aim of the project summarised in this article is to use the latest findings from this Rhizoctonia research to demonstrate the collective value of ‘best bet’ strategies in broad acre environmen… read more
Aims:
After an increase in Rhizoctonia research over the last decade, our understanding of this difficult to manage disease has increased substantially. The aim of the project summarised in this article is to use the latest findings from this Rhizoctonia research to demonstrate the collective value of ‘best bet’ strategies in broad acre environmen… read more
Aims:
After an increase in Rhizoctonia research over the last decade, our understanding of this difficult to manage disease has increased substantially. The aim of the project summarised in this article is to use the latest findings from this Rhizoctonia research to demonstrate the collective value of ‘best bet’ strategies in broad acre environmen… read more
Aims:
After a resurgence in Rhizoctonia research over the last decade, our understanding of this difficult to manage disease has increased substantially. The aim of the project summarised in this article is to use the latest findings from this Rhizoctonia research to demonstrate the collective value of ‘best bet’ strategies in broad acre environme… read more
Aims:
After a resurgence in Rhizoctonia research over the last decade, our understanding of this difficult to manage disease has increased substantially. The aim of the project summarised in this article is to use the latest findings from this Rhizoctonia research to demonstrate the collective value of ‘best bet’ strategies in broad acre environme… read more
Aims:
Within Eyre Peninsula, as in other Mediterranean environments, grain yields of cereal crops are variable, and in many cases, this is due to under-fertilization. Previous modelling and field experiments showed the need for higher rates of fertilization in south-eastern Australia. Research into interactions between water and N, with simulation mod… read more
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
These variety trials were identified as priorities by local agricultural bureau groups to evaluate commonly grown varieties, compare them to newly released varieties and provide further information on varietal performance in soil types and rainfall regions where wheat National Variety Trials (NVT) are not conducted.
Aims:
The aim of this paddock demonstration was to compare grain yield and grain quality of a mid-late maturing variety (Trojan) and two early-mid season maturing varieties (Mace and Scepter).
Aims:
There has been increasing interest from growers and agronomists in low rainfall farming regions to evaluate alternative break crop options to field peas. Field peas are generally well suited to low rainfall farming systems and have historically been the main pulse option for the upper Eyre Peninsula region. However, relatively high prices, produ… read more
Aims:
The aim of this SAGIT-funded project was to build on previous research by updating knowledge of the benefits, including disease control and nutrition, of fluid delivery systems. Fluid systems have the potential to increase production through efficient delivery of micro and macro nutrients, reduced cost of trace element delivery and increased con… read more
Aims:
A SAGIT Fluid delivery project was funded to update the benefits of fluid delivery systems from previous research and assess the potential of fluid nutrient delivery systems and disease control strategies compared to current systems. The fluid systems have the potential to increase production through delivery of micro and macro nutrients, lower … read more
Aims:
Mixed livestock and cropping systems have an important role to play in the diversification, risk management and sustainability of farming in low rainfall areas. The majority of farms in these areas use livestock to provide enterprise diversity and risk management, however grazing also offers a range of other system benefits that are generally no… read more
Aims:
Adoption of Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) in the low rainfall zone (LRZ) of the Southern Region is very low. The GRDC-funded project ‘Application of controlled traffic in the low rainfall zone’ is evaluating whether or not this scepticism is justified. To help LRZ growers answer the questions and uncertainties they face when thinking abou… read more
Aims:
Many medic pasture phases are now being managed to produce vigorous medic dominant pastures using a range of herbicides and pesticides to control weeds and pests. However, it appears that some of these pastures are not producing high nitrogen (N) reserves for the following cereal crops. The broad aim of this SAGIT funded project is to assess the… read more
Aims:
Faba beans and lentils are two important pulse crops with growing interest from farmers in low rainfall areas of South Australia. Recent high prices of lentils together with their rotational benefits make these crops potential new options for some areas of the Eyre Peninsula, however frost and heat stress can compromise performance and crop yiel… read more
Aims:
A field trial has been established at Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC) to investigate legume pasture options for controlling group A (ACCase inhibitors) resistant barley grass (GRDC project UA00149).
In 2012 the University of Adelaide (UA) conducted a GRDC-funded random resistance survey on barley grass from across EP and Upper North … read more
Aims:
There has been concern raised across the grains industry that:
Aims:
Ascochyta blight (AB) commonly known as blackspot is an important disease in field peas, and a concern in low rainfall zones where, in high disease forecast situations, the risk is managed by delaying sowing which often leads to yield loss. To enable earlier sowings, foliar fungicides for the control of AB are an important component of disease m… read more
