Date: Friday 15th August, 2025

Time: 12:00 - 3:00 pm ACST

Location: Bridgeport Hotel, 2 Bridge St, Murray Bridge SA 5253

Join PotatoLink for an event in Mount Gambier looking at the following topics:

Ag Tech,
Irrigation and,
Integrated Disease Management

Speakers

Calum Wilson

Professor Calum Wilson is a plant pathologist within the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) at the University of Tasmania with over 30 years’ experience in research and teaching. He leads an internationally respected research group. He has worked extensively on potato diseases.

Tom Jefferies

Tom commenced with Elders in 2018 and is an Extension Agronomist with Thomas Elder Sustainable Agriculture (TESA). While based in Adelaide, his role takes him nationwide.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Science, Major: Plant Science, a Diploma of Leadership and Management, and a Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management. Prior to joining TESA he worked as an agronomist specialising in viticulture, horticulture and Ag Tech for 5 years.

Coming from an agricultural family, Tom's career in agriculture was a natural path. While studying environmental sciences part-time he developed a keen interest in agriculture, innovation, and continuous improvement. He was confident he could foster change within the ag industry so transitioned to a more related degree. This allowed him to diversify and explore growing areas of interest such as GIS. and sustainabilitly.

Tom is passionate about making a positive impact on the broader landscape of farming practices. His role at TESA enables him to fulfil this passion as he promotes the extension of new and improved technologies and sustainable practices across all sectors with a focus on horticulture, viticulture and agriculture technology.

Michael Dalton - Irrigation

Michael is a research scientist with Sentek technologies. Michael has been working with researchers from the University of Technology, Sydney to develop ‘Drill and Drop’ probes, featured at the world potato congress and in issue 14 of the PotatoLink magazine. He works on understanding how water, fertiliser and heat move underground.

Agriculture technology panel

A panel session which will look at what’s being used in the region, the benefits and the challenges to overcome. The panel will also explore what is needed from ag tech for growers to succeed.

Pete Scaman - Mitolo Family Farms
Michael Dalton - Sentek
Tom Jefferies - Elders

Contact the host of PotatoLink roadshow: Murray Bridge, South Australia