Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin is still receiving applications for the 2020-2021 NRM Agricultural Knowledge Small Grants. Final submissions due by 5pm ACST Monday 15 June 2020.

The Agricultural Small Grants are designed to allow groups to undertake agricultural training, skills and knowledge building activities. This grant is intended for eligible groups who are currently operating within the current Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin region

 

How much can be applied for?

A maximum of $3,000 (GST Exc.) is available per group applying.

When do projects need to be completed by?

Projects must be completed, all funding acquitted, and project final reports completed and submitted 4 weeks after the grant event has been executed or no later than Friday 28^th May 2021. There will be no opportunities for project extensions.

Who can apply?

The Agricultural Knowledge Small Grant is available to the following existing groups:

• agriculture bureaus
• farming system groups
• field day committees
• Landcare and Local Action Planning groups
• consultant facilitated farmer groups
• non-government and not for profit organisations working to improve agriculture and native vegetation management.

Funding through the Agriculture Knowledge Small Grants is anticipated to give groups the opportunity to undertake agricultural training, skills and knowledge building in the following land management/farming issues:

• managing soil acidification
• reducing the risk of soil and nutrient loss from wind erosion
• opportunities for increasing soil organic carbon
• reducing the risk of soil and nutrient loss from hillslope (water) erosion.

Eligible projects will demonstrate the following:

• be driven from an agricultural or horticultural farming group perspective
• be conducted within the SAMDB NRM region
• build knowledge and skills of the group
• facilitate improved management of natural resources.

Groups must be pre-existing and can be formal or non-formal. State and federal government agencies are ineligible to apply.

For  more information contact Zoe Starkey, Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator, on zoe.starkey@sa.gov.au or 0408 416 684.

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The Wildlife and Habitat Recovery Taskforce was announced earlier this year to provide independent advice on the coordination of activities to benefit South Australia’s wildlife and habitat recovery effort, with Dr Felicity-ann Lewis appointed as the Chair.

The Wildlife and Habitat Recovery Taskforce members include:

• Dr Felicity-ann Lewis, former mayor of the City of Marion and SA’s 2014 Australian of the Year
• Craig Wilkins, CE of the Conservation Council of SA
• Parry Agius, Managing Director of Linking Futures
• Joanne Davidson, Research and Policy Manager at South Australian Tourism Commission
• Professor Bob Hill, Adelaide Uni’s Director of Environment Institute
• Joe Keynes, President of Livestock SA
• Sussanah Elliot, CEO of Australian Science Media Centre
• Paul Stevenson, CEO of RSPCA-SA
• Wendy Campana, former CEO of the Local Government Association SA and Kangaroo Island Commissioner

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The South Australian Government’s Red Meat and Wool Growth Program is offering Technology Assistance Grants to eligible saleyards and processors for the installation of electronic identification (eID) infrastructure and associated activities.

A rebate of up to 50% of costs (to a maximum of $200,000) will be available to saleyards and sheep and/or beef cattle processors, located in South Australia.

Applications close 5pm 13 June 2020.

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The PIRSA Pastoral Update for April 2020.

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A new online virtual tool provides the public with a view of the wild dog fence using 1,781 photographs from footage recorded by Dog Fence Rebuild Committee members last year.

The images will help determine the materials currently being used and the conditions in each area to help make fence rebuild decisions.

Updated pictures will be added to the tool as sections of the fence are replaced during the rebuild.

The route and all the images are available by downloading the Dog Fence file and then opening it in Google Earth.