The SA Drought Hub’s Early to Mid-Career Farmer Program is investing in the next generation of South Australian agriculture by supporting regionally led groups that build confidence, leadership and practical decision-making skills. Delivered through local farming organisations, the program connects emerging farmers with peers, industry experts and experienced facilitators to strengthen drought resilience, business capability and long-term succession across a diverse range of farming systems.

Project description: 

Early to mid-career farmers are often taking on greater responsibility within family businesses while navigating increasingly complex production, financial and seasonal challenges. This statewide program supports that transition by delivering locally designed professional development opportunities that reflect the priorities of each participating region.

Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, each regional group works with participants to identify the topics most relevant to their businesses, whether that’s livestock management, cropping systems, farm business, succession planning, financial literacy, leadership or personal wellbeing. Activities include workshops, field days, study tours, mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and practical discussions led by local facilitators and industry specialists.

The program currently supports eight regionally led projects and nine individual Early to Mid Career Farmer Groups across South Australia, creating opportunities for early to mid-career farmers to build practical skills, expand professional networks and increase confidence in making decisions that improve the resilience of their businesses and communities. As each regional project progresses, updates and outcomes are added below to showcase the diverse learning opportunities being delivered across the state. The groups are:

1. Southern Mallee: led by Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan and facilitated by Felicity Turner of Turner Agri
2. Upper South East: led by Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan and facilitated by Felicity Turner of Turner Agri
3. Upper North: led by Upper North Farming Systems and facilitated by Rachel Trengove
4. Adelaide Plains/Owen: led by Brougham Ag Consulting and facilitated by Michael Brougham, in partnership with The Agricultural Bureau of South Australia
5. Limestone Coast/Naracoorte: led by MacKillop Farm Management Group and facilitated by Mel Fraser of Soil Function Consulting
6. Lower Eyre Peninsula: led by Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula and facilitated by Lucy Pedler, in partnership with George Pedler Ag
7. Fleurieu: led by Fleurieu Farming Systems and facilitated by Alice Morley

8. Far West Eyre Peninsula: led by Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
9. Kangaroo Island: led by Agriculture Kangaroo Island and facilitated by Rick Morris, in partnership with RA & AE Morris

If you’re an early to mid career farmer interested in joining a workshop near you, or an organisation looking to collaborate on potential future programming, please contact the SA Drought Hub Knowledge Broker, Tony Randall.

Key achievements and results: 

Owen Early to Mid Career Farmer Group 

The Owen Agricultural Bureau project has now concluded, successfully delivering a series of practical workshops and farm visits designed to build the confidence, technical skills and networks of young and early to mid-career farmers. The project attracted participants from across the region, with strong attendance and positive feedback from growers, parents and the wider farming community, demonstrating demand for continued support of the next generation of farmers.

The workshop series combined classroom learning with practical, paddock-based activities covering grain marketing, seed quality, machinery, seeding systems, agronomy and agricultural technology. Participants consistently identified the farm tours and hands-on sessions as the most valuable components, with the opportunity to learn directly from experienced growers and advisers while discussing practical solutions to challenges faced during dry seasons.

Key achievements included:

• Delivered four practical learning activities, including workshops, farm tours and paddock demonstrations focused on grain marketing, seed care, machinery, agronomy and agricultural technology.
• Improved participants’ confidence in grain marketing, seed testing, crop monitoring and machinery decision-making, helping build knowledge that can be applied within their own farming businesses.
• Showcased innovative farming systems and practical problem-solving through farm visits, exposing participants to precision agriculture, machinery modifications, soil amelioration and drought-resilient farming practices.
• Produced practical take-home resources, including crop scouting guides, crop monitoring checklists, seed care information and seasonal management tools to support ongoing learning beyond the workshops.
• Strengthened networks among young farmers across the region, encouraging peer learning, discussion and confidence to trial new practices within their own businesses. Early examples of practice change included increased confidence to undertake soil amelioration, greater understanding of seeding system selection, and adoption of improved crop monitoring practices.

Read the impact report from the Owen Early to Mid Career Farmer Project

Lower Eyre Peninsula Early to Mid Career Farmer Group 

The Lower Eyre Peninsula Young Farmer Peer to Peer Learning project continues to provide a supportive environment where emerging farmers can build confidence, strengthen local networks and develop practical business management skills. By combining expert presenters with paddock-based discussions, the project is helping participants make informed decisions that improve the long-term resilience of their farming businesses.

The project has been well received by participants and the wider community, with strong interest in creating opportunities for young farmers to connect, share experiences and learn from industry experts. Feedback has highlighted increased confidence in business planning, risk management and participating in family farming decisions.

Project progress includes:

• Brought together a core group of around 15 young farmers through a peer-to-peer learning program tailored to the Lower Eyre Peninsula.
• Delivered a workshop exploring the key drivers of farm profitability, followed by an on-farm session investigating soil amelioration and management options for challenging wet areas.
• Increased participant confidence in business planning, financial decision-making and managing risk within family farming businesses.
• Created opportunities for young farmers to expand professional networks, connect with peers and become more involved in the future direction of their farming enterprises.
• Continued responding to participant interests by planning additional workshops focused on current seasonal and paddock management issues.

Limestone Coast/Naracoorte Early to Mid Career Farmer Group

The Limestone Coast Early to Mid-Career Farmer project continues to equip emerging producers with the confidence, knowledge and networks to make informed decisions in an increasingly variable climate. Through practical workshops, expert presenters and peer learning opportunities, participants are building the skills needed to strengthen both farm business performance and long-term resilience.

Workshops have focused on real-world scenarios and practical tools that participants can immediately apply on-farm. By combining classroom learning with case studies, field activities and group discussion, the project has strengthened participants’ understanding of livestock management, feed planning, financial literacy and strategic decision-making.

Project progress includes:

• Delivered a Feed Budgeting and Livestock Nutrition workshop combining paddock-based feed assessment with practical feed budgeting tools, helping participants better understand feed quality, stocking rates, carrying capacity and proactive decision-making during changing seasonal conditions.
• Delivered the Farm Finance 101 workshop, giving participants greater confidence in interpreting financial reports, understanding business profitability and using financial information to support farm management decisions.
• Strengthened peer networks across the Limestone Coast by connecting early to mid-career farmers with industry experts, advisers and fellow producers, creating opportunities for ongoing learning and collaboration.
• Tailored workshop topics to participant priorities, ensuring sessions addressed current seasonal conditions and the practical challenges facing early to mid-career farmers.
• Continued building momentum for the workshop series, with additional sessions on cropping systems, precision decision-making and a regional study tour planned to further support participant learning and business resilience.

Upper North Early to Mid Career Farmer Group 

The Upper North Farming Systems project has now been completed, successfully delivering five farmer-led extension activities designed in partnership with the Nelshaby Ag Bureau to strengthen drought resilience, improve business decision-making and build practical skills among early to mid-career farmers. The program responded directly to seasonal conditions and the ongoing impacts of the 2024 drought, with activities timed to align with key decision-making periods throughout the farming calendar.

A key strength of the project was its flexible, farmer-led approach. Workshop topics were identified through regular discussions with Nelshaby Ag Bureau members, ensuring each activity addressed local priorities and emerging seasonal challenges. This approach resulted in strong participation, increased engagement within the group and valuable peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Feedback from participants highlighted the value of quality guest speakers, practical discussions and having a dedicated facilitator coordinate events that would otherwise have been difficult for the volunteer-led group to deliver.

Key achievements included:

• Delivered five extension activities across 2025 and early 2026, including a South East study tour, crop walk, livestock bus tour, succession planning workshop and post-harvest/pre-seeding workshop.
• Improved participants’ knowledge of business resilience, succession planning, livestock management, grain production and seasonal decision-making, with activities tailored to local farming systems and drought resilience priorities.
• Strengthened peer-to-peer learning and collaboration by creating opportunities for farmers, advisers and industry representatives to share experiences, discuss seasonal challenges and explore practical management strategies together.
• Increased engagement within the Nelshaby Ag Bureau, with participants reporting greater attendance, stronger involvement and improved access to high-quality guest speakers and practical learning opportunities.
• Extended project learnings beyond event participants through newsletter articles and social media updates, helping share key messages and practical outcomes with the broader Upper North farming community.

Read the impact report for the UNFS Early to Mid Career Farmer Project

Upper South East Early to Mid Career Farmer Group 

The Upper South East group has focused on strengthening livestock management skills through practical learning and on-farm discussion. Workshops combined expert advice with property visits, helping participants better understand feed budgeting, livestock nutrition and containment feeding systems while seeing these practices applied under commercial farming conditions.

Project progress includes:

• Delivered a workshop on feed testing, feed budgeting, livestock nutrition and containment feeding, led by livestock specialist Deb Scammell.
• Visited commercial livestock enterprises to explore containment feeding systems, weaning infrastructure and livestock monitoring technologies.
• Increased participant confidence in using feed tests, feed budgets and financial analysis to support evidence-based feeding and livestock management decisions.
• Encouraged participants to compare feed options based on nutritional value and return on investment, rather than purchase price alone.

Southern Mallee Early to Mid Career Farmer Group 

The Peake group has focused on improving farm business and financial decision-making by building participants’ understanding of financial performance, enterprise analysis and investment planning. Practical examples and on-farm discussions helped participants apply financial concepts to real business decisions.

Project progress includes:

• Delivered a Farm Finances 101 workshop covering financial statements, key performance indicators, gross margins, cashflow and business performance.
• Explored machinery and business investment decisions through a property visit, linking financial analysis with real-world examples.
• Increased participant confidence in interpreting financial information, understanding business performance and making informed investment decisions.
• Improved participants’ understanding of benchmarking, enterprise comparisons and the importance of using objective financial information to guide farm business decisions.

Fleurieu Early to Mid Career Farmer Group 

The Fleurieu Early to Mid-Career Farmer project is creating a supportive environment where emerging producers can build practical skills, strengthen professional networks and learn from both industry experts and one another. By encouraging open discussion and ongoing communication between workshops, the project is helping participants tackle real farm business and production challenges with greater confidence.

A strong sense of peer learning has become one of the project’s greatest strengths. Participants continue to share experiences, seek advice between sessions and apply new knowledge directly within their own farming businesses, creating a learning network that extends well beyond individual workshops.

Project progress includes:

• Delivered three interactive workshops covering communication and leadership, practical soil health, and pasture agronomy, with content tailored specifically to the needs of early to mid-career farmers in the Fleurieu region.
• Established an active peer network through a dedicated WhatsApp group, enabling participants to continue discussions, ask questions and access presenters and facilitators between workshops.
• Combined expert presentations with practical, discussion-based learning, encouraging participants to share experiences and learn from one another in a supportive environment.
• Delivered regionally relevant content focused on local farming systems, ensuring workshops addressed the seasonal conditions, production challenges and opportunities most important to participants.
• Continued building participant confidence in farm decision-making by providing practical knowledge, strengthening professional networks and encouraging ongoing collaboration beyond the formal workshop program.

Kangaroo Island Early to Mid Career Farmer Group 

The Kangaroo Island Early to Mid-Career Farmers Program is building a strong network of emerging producers who are developing the skills, confidence and relationships needed to make informed farm business decisions. The program has attracted participants from across the island, creating opportunities for young farmers to learn from industry experts while sharing experiences with their peers.

A particular strength of the program has been the high level of engagement between workshops, with participants actively contributing to discussions and helping shape future topics based on their own priorities. This participant-led approach is ensuring the program remains relevant to the challenges facing Kangaroo Island farming businesses.

Project progress includes:

• Delivered the DRINKS introductory workshop, enabling participants to identify priority learning areas and shape the direction of the program.
• Delivered a practical workshop on maximising pasture performance, combining an on-property pasture walk with classroom discussions to explore pasture management and decision-making under local conditions.
• Increased participation across the program, with strong attendance and growing interest from emerging farmers throughout Kangaroo Island.
• Fostered an inclusive learning environment, with strong participation from both male and female early to mid-career farmers and excellent engagement during workshop discussions.
• Continued developing the program in response to participant priorities, with the next workshop focusing on critical decision-making to further strengthen business resilience and confidence.

Far West Early to Mid Career Farmer Group 

Further information:

You can learn more about the program here. 

Project Images