This project involved the establishment of two young farmers groups in the Northern and Yorke Region: Yorke Peninsula, and Upper North. Each group is set to participate in a series of workshops and networking events. Each group will take part in a series of workshops and networking events, focusing on priorities identified by the Drought Hub. The groups will choose the priorities most relevant to their region, ensuring the workshops are tailored, practical, and deliver meaningful outcomes.
Project description:
The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board has established two young farmer groups (ages 18-35) across the Yorke Peninsula and Upper North. Each group was formed through existing networks, including local farming systems groups and Agricultural Bureaus.
The groups have taken part in locally delivered events and workshops, focused on drought hub priorities selected by the participants in a strong co-designed delivery- with more events planned for the second half of 2025. These sessions will build agricultural, business, and social skills to help young farmers better manage risk and prepare for drought.
This project responds to a clear need: young farmers often feel unprepared to manage farm businesses or navigate succession. By building knowledge, confidence, and networks, the initiative will strengthen individual and community resilience to build overall preparedness and resilience to drought.
Key achievements and results:
2024 project update:
Despite a delayed project start as result of a tough season, several networking and workshop opportunities were planned to support young farmers throughout 2024. A networking event was successfully held alongside Flux Robotics’ Demo Day at Caltowie, offering 35 young farmers a chance to connect and engage with emerging technologies. Additional events were scheduled in partnership with key industry activities, such as Hart Field Day, to align with existing farmer interest and attendance.
While seasonal pressures affected overall turnout, the groundwork laid this year has strengthened relationships, informed future planning, and demonstrated strong interest in locally relevant, peer-driven events. These insights will help refine timing and delivery to better meet the needs of young farmers moving forward. This project was extended into 2025, due to unfavourable seasonal conditions impacting event delivery in 2024.
2025 project update:
After a challenging 2024 season, the project has made strong progress in 2025. A highly successful event was held in Port Broughton on 10 April, bringing together 24 young farmers from the Upper North and Yorke Peninsula. Participants explored the latest agricultural technologies, including drone weed mapping and variable rate lime application, as well as key business topics like gross margins and sustainable decision-making. The event also featured valuable networking opportunities, with attendees sharing experiences over lunch.
A second event, also at Port Broughton on 23 June, attracted 23 young farmers from the Upper North, Yorke Peninsula, and the Eyre Peninsula. The sessions covered declared weed management and succession planning, followed by a strong networking component. While a planned visit to a robotic sprayer in Laura was postponed due to seasonal delays, the ongoing engagement reflects the project’s positive momentum in supporting young farmers across the region.
A young farmers networking day was also delivered later in the year, bringing participants together to hear from a range of speakers and explore emerging innovations and research, including spray robotics. Feedback from attendees was very positive, with participants describing the day as “very well planned” and highlighting its “practical on farm applications”.
To support learning in a format that suited busy seasonal workloads, the project also delivered a Create your own harvest podcast playlist session in Orroroo, providing young farmers with a tailored way to select and take home a curated set of podcasts to support ongoing learning during harvest.
Throughout delivery, the project team continued to adapt activities in response to participant feedback and regional timing pressures, ensuring events remained relevant and avoided duplication with other opportunities available across the region. Overall, the project has been well received and continues to demonstrate strong demand for young farmer connection, practical learning, and peer-to-peer networking across Northern and Yorke.
Young Farmer Feedback:
The Northern and Yorke Young Farmer project is making a real difference by delivering highly relevant, practical content that young farmers find directly applicable to their farm businesses. Participants highlighted the value of sessions focused on succession planning, cost of production, and agricultural business practices. Many appreciated the relatable examples and real-life data shared, which helped them understand both paddock operations and broader financial management. One participant said, “It was very relevant in looking at spending money on new equipment- cost-effective solutions really stood out.” Another noted, “I am learning how the farm runs both in and out of the paddock at the moment”, emphasising the holistic nature of the knowledge gained to strengthen drought resilience and preparedness, both on and off farm.
The project is equipping young farmers with the tools to make informed, practical changes to improve their businesses. Several participants reported plans to implement cost tracking and forecasting, adopt drone mapping for better weed management, and enhance their budgeting and cash flow oversight. Succession planning is also emerging as a key focus, with farmers motivated to organise discussions and use planning tools. As one farmer shared, “more discussions around the cost of production and break-even factors have encouraged me to introduce critical thinking about cropping inputs and machinery replacement.” Overall, the project is fostering stronger financial awareness, better-informed and data-driven decision-making, and improved communication; all of which are essential steps toward building resilient, sustainable farming businesses.
This project is now complete. You can find the project report here.
Further information:
Learn more about the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board here.
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