Building a skilled regional workforce is critical to the future of agricultural research, extension and drought resilience.
The Mallee Regional Internship provided an early-career graduate with hands-on experience in applied grains research and extension, working alongside researchers, growers and advisers across the South Australian Mallee. Through practical field research, extension activities and industry engagement, the internship strengthened regional research capability while supporting the next generation of agricultural professionals.
This project is supported by the SA Grains Industry Trust.
Project description:
Delivered by Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF), the internship provided Agriculture Science graduate Simone Kluge with practical experience across all aspects of applied grains research and extension in the South Australian Mallee. The program combined independent field research with mentoring, technical training and industry engagement to develop research, communication and extension skills in a regional setting.
As part of the internship, Simone designed and managed her own field trial near Waikerie investigating break crop options capable of producing high biomass and maintaining groundcover through summer and autumn. Alongside the research project, she gained experience in soil analysis at APAL, the SARDI vetch breeding program, statistical analysis, science communication and public speaking, while participating in research updates, field walks and industry events throughout South Australia.
Key achievements and results:
The internship successfully provided hands-on experience in regional grains research and extension while exposing the intern to the realities of farming in a low rainfall environment. Although the 2025 season was characterised by a dry finish to 2024, low summer rainfall, a late season break and significant wind erosion, these challenging conditions became an important learning opportunity, providing firsthand experience of conducting research under the same constraints faced by Mallee growers.
Simone independently designed, established and managed a field trial investigating grazing break crop options to improve biomass production and maintain groundcover through summer and autumn. While severe seasonal conditions resulted in high variability that prevented statistically robust conclusions, the trial reinforced the importance of research into feed supply and groundcover management for low rainfall farming systems. Just as importantly, it provided valuable experience in experimental design, trial management, data collection and interpreting results under difficult seasonal conditions.
Beyond the field trial, the internship provided broad exposure to the grains research and extension sector. Simone gained practical experience with APAL soil laboratory, the SARDI vetch breeding program, statistical analysis, public speaking and science communication. She also presented at the 2025 SAGIT Annual Update, contributed to MSF Mallee Research Updates and Spring Field Walks, spoke to Adelaide University students visiting the region, and produced a series of social media videos documenting her internship experience, collectively reaching more than 3,000 views.
The project also highlighted the value of regional internships in building long-term research capability. By working alongside growers, researchers and industry professionals throughout the season, the internship strengthened local networks, showcased career opportunities within regional agriculture and provided practical experience that will support future contributions to grains research, development and extension in South Australia. The project also identified opportunities to further strengthen future internships through longer placement periods, overlap between outgoing and incoming interns, and increased collaboration between interns across farming systems groups.
MSF Intern Updates
In this podcast, learn about MSF’s very first Intern, Simone Kluge, and her early steps into farming systems work and what she’s been learning so far, including insight into her research project focused on grazing crops that fill a feed gap and fit well into a cropping system.
Listen to the full episode here:
Further information:
The MSF intern designed a research project to develop skills in grains applied research, which can be accessed here.
Project Images
Simone Kluge, MSF Intern, out and about in the field.