The Upper North Farming Systems Group covers a diverse geographical region in the Upper North Region on South Australia. The region includes two distinct localities 1) Coastal plain characterised by a mix of sandy and clay soils with warmer winters and hot summers and 2) Interior undulating higher altitude country with cold winters and generally heavier soil types. The Upper North Farming Systems Group’s mission is to facilitate capacity building and empowerment of the Agricultural Community across the whole of the region.
Previous and current projects have increased adoption of no-till and stubble retention across the region with enhanced timeliness of sowing and more timely summer weed control increasing plant available water and nutrients. The group has also undertaken numerous projects to increase the skills and knowledge of farmers around grazing land management and has increased the adoption of improved cover management and reduced soil erosion throughout the region.