SA Arid Lands Pastoral Field Day 2021

The biggest field day ever hosted by the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board will be held in Port Augusta on December 2 and 3, at Central Oval. It will include two days of a wide variety of stalls and guest speakers, with activities and entertainment for children.

Topics covered at the field day will include adaptation, innovation and diversification for pastoral businesses, along with a focus on technology.

Registration
Please indicate which sessions you are interested in attending during the registration process. Please note, all rooms have capacity limits so please consider your bookings carefully. Each attendee will need to register individually, but children can be added to your ticket. 

With limited numbers due to COVID restrictions, ticket preference will be given to people residing in the SA Arid Lands pastoral zone. If you are from outside the pastoral zone, you will be notified at the earliest opportunity if ticket allocation is exhausted.

Individual Session Information

Day 1 (Thursday 2 December)

Opening: 10:00am

Session 1, Keynote Speaker 10:20am - 11:05am

Holistic Management in the Rangelands - Tony Hill  

• Tony Hill drives the Savory Knowledge Hub in Australia - a global institution that teaches and applies grazing management techniques that consider herd-grazing behaviour and biology. Tony will discuss how management techniques can effectively improve condition of the rangelands.

Session 2, 11:10am - 11:55am

• Ecological Assessment and mapping in your pastoral business - Richard Marver 

• Richard is a rangelands and landscape ecologist who has been working with pastoralists to develop property management plans. His experience working with more than 100 properties in the pastoral areas of South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland has given him valuable insight into how businesses can thrive with a good understanding of ecological processes. 

• The value of providing minerals in livestock water supplies - Colin Trengove 
  • Colin Trengove has more than 40 years of experience in the SA livestock industry, working as a livestock consultant, researcher and lecturer at Roseworthy Veterinary School, with a focus on the cost-effectiveness of mineral nutrition. 
    

Session 3, 1:25pm - 2:10pm

• Succession and Transition Planning - Jeanette Long  
  • Jeanette has extensive experience working with agricultural businesses and industry groups to develop business plans and identify business opportunities. Her facilitation skills have proven highly-effective in connecting pastoral businesses across the SA Arid Lands region to develop property management plans.
    
    
• Containment feeding and Animal Nutrition - Deb Scammell  
  • Deb will explain all things containment feeding, including the set up and design of small and large scale operations; which sheep to feeds; and nutrient requirements and health considerations during the containment. Deb's talk is sponsored by the Red Meat and Wool Growth program.

Session 4, 2:15pm - 3:00pm 

• The importance of Rangeland Soils - Michael Eyers    
  • Michael has worked as a soil scientist in the agriculture sector of South Australia for many years.  His work with the ag industry has led to a better understanding the parameters and potential of managing soils in dry climates, leading to better productivity.
• Understanding sheep and cattle disease - Dr Shaun McGrath, Millicent Veterinary Clinic
• Shaun will talk about strategies to help producers prevent and manage cattle and sheep pregnancy diseases. His talk is sponsored by the Red Meat and Wool Growth program.

Panel presentation – 3:30pm - 4.30pm. 

• The panel presentation will include representatives from government, industry and peak bodies in the SA Arid Lands region that support the pastoral sector. As well as updates on the latest program it's also a chance to quiz the panel members. 

Livestock SA Northern Region meeting and dinner – 5:00pm

• Join the Livestock SA Northern Region meeting, which will include a schnitzel dinner at the Port Augusta Golf Club. The cost for the dinner will be $20 per head. Everyone welcome.

Day 2 (Friday 3 December)

Opening: 8:00am

Session 5, Keynote Speaker 9:00am - 9:55am

• Are you bogged mate? - Mary O'Brien 
  • Mary is passionate about rural communities and supporting the health and well-being of people working in an often isolated and challenging environment.  Her background in agriculture and concern for her workmates and peers led her to develop a fantastic program to uncover some of the mystery around mental health issues in the bush

Session 6, 10:00am - 10:45am

• A Carbon Neutral industry by 2030 - What does this mean for the SA Pastoral industry? - Laura Garland, MLA 
  • Staying ahead of current and future consumer, customer and community expectations regarding environmental credentials allows red meat producers to stamp their mark in a competitive, global protein market.
    
    
• Communication - how to run a successful business - Jeanette Long 
  • Many members of our pastoral community are not just involved with running remote businesses, they are also instrumental in co-ordinating large events and sitting on committees while supporting busy families.  Jeanette will share successful communication strategies that will help the way we can more effectively work with others, including our families.

• Telemetry and Connectivity - Mike Hayes   
  • Mike will describe the various communication infrastructures available and discuss which telemetry options will suit your landscape and land size.

Session 7, 11:30am - 12:15am

• Telling your pastoral story - Milly Nolan, Livestock Collective  
  • Milly is a passionate advocate for the agricultural industry.  Her work for the Livestock Collective has ensured a united voice for the livestock supply chain and supports the development of skills in the industry to be involved with the narrative of how producers can further develop and share their story with industry, consumers and the broader public.
    
    
• Tourism Diversification and the Station Stays experience  
  • This group of successful tourism operators will share their experiences and thoughts on diversifying pastoral enterprises through operating and managing tourism businesses.
    
    
• Rangeland Revegetation - Glenn Christie    
  • The director of Succession Ecology, Glenn Christie has overseen the successful native revegetation of cleared and,  in some cases, highly polluted industrial sites, where past and local soils were left containing challenges such as very high levels of sale and sulphurous. Lessons learnt from carrying out these projects in what can be highly challenging semi-arid environments will be available to landholders looking to improve local native vegetation on their pastoral properties.
    

Session 8, 1:00pm - 1:45pm

• Buckleboo Video and PMP experience   
  • A short virtual tour will outline work occurring on Buckleboo Station in the Gawler Ranges to trial different grazing management tools.  This will be followed by a facilitated discussion with Pastoralists who have participated in the Board’s Property Management Planning program.
    
    
• Matching stocking rate to carrying capacity - Nic Kentish  
  • Nic delivers grazing management courses with the well-known training provider RCS.  Nic has extensive experience in the livestock industry and runs courses in low-stress stock handling.  His presentation will share insights into understanding the science behind pastoral feed budgeting and the practical application in grazing management systems
    
    
• Satellite assisted forage budgeting - Phil Tickle, Cibo Labs     
  • Phil is the co-founder of Cibo Labs – a company established to analyse agricultural data and remote sensing to provide an innovative approach to monitoring grazing lands.  This technology is being used across Australia to support management decisions aimed at increasing pasture productivity and improving land condition

School of the Air Wool Show - 2:00pm 

• The School of the Air Wool Show will begin following the Official closing address.