Following extensive statewide consultation in 2021, the SA Drought Hub is currently conducting a scoping project to identify opportunties for future investment in optimising soil water capture, storage and utilisation in crop and pasture systems.
This project, which sits under the South Australian Drought Resilience and Adoption Hub (SA Drought Hub) Drought Resilient Soils program, aims to build on previous work and identify opportunities to extend proven practices that increase the drought resilience of soils in SA.
Led by Lucy Porter (SA Drought Hub), Mel Fraser (Soil Function Consulting), and Felicity Turner (Turner Agriservices), the project includes a review of past projects, followed by a series of validation workshops in October, and a project report outlining a new extension and adoption project.
Lucy Porter, Regional Soil Coordinator with the SA Drought Hub, said that the project is important as it aligns with SA Drought Hub stakeholder feedback which found that more extension and adoption is needed to increase and optimise the water capture and storage of soils.”
“We are currently meeting with stakeholders and doing a desk top review to of past projects. We are seeking feedback and input from research providers, Landscape Boards, Farming Systems Groups, Agricultural Bureaus, Government agencies and growers to scope potential extension and adoption opportunties which build on past work and identify opportunties for broader extension of knowledge. This may be across new regions or areas.”
Stage 2 will use this background information to design and run three consultation workshops to validate and prioritise project ideas.
“Workshops will be run in October at Wudinna, Waterval and Tailem Bend, these will be advertised on the SA Drought Hub website and social pages,” said Ms Porter.
Following the workshops, the project team will compile the collective feedback and develop a statewide dryland crop and pasture agricultural project that addresses the gaps in knowledge and skills.
“We will develop a project scope which considers the research gaps / ideas of priority, regional opportunties and the best practice approach to drive extension and adoption.”
By scoping this work now, the Hub aims to position partners for future funding rounds with well-developed, collaborative proposals aligned to regional needs.
“Rather than being tied to a specific funding round, this work aims to consolidate knowledge from previous projects to identify current gaps, regional priorities, and extension opportunities across SA.
The intent is to be on the front foot for upcoming funding rounds with ‘ready to go ideas’ for local validation, demonstration trials, and targeted activities which drive adoption of best practice soil management.”
Register for the workshops at:
Wudinna,: 13 October 2025 at the Wudinna Telecentre: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wudinna-consultation-workshop-sa-drought-hub-resilient-soils-project-tickets-1489947114929?aff=oddtdtcreator
Watervale, 15 October 2025 at The Vale clubrooms
Tailem Bend: 17 October 2025 at the Tailem Bend Football Club
Want to get involved or learn more?
Contact Lucy Porter: Lucy Porter <lucy.porter@adelaide.edu.au>
Read the full project fact sheet here.
