Summary

The project enabled the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary publication to be distributed free of charge to growers, advisers, researchers and industry personnel on Eyre Peninsula, across SA and interstate.

Background

During the SARDI Farmer Meetings held across eight locations on the Eyre Peninsula in 2023, growers were surveyed to determine if they read the Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems (EPFS) Summary. Of the 146 attendees, 98 per cent said they read the EPFS Summary. Growers added that they believe it is an excellent record of current and past low rainfall research and would like it to continue in the current format.

Research Aims

The core objective of the project was to assist with the cost of producing, printing and distributing the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the EPFS Summary.

In The Field

Over the three years of the project, EPFS Summary Chief Editor Amanda Cook at SARDI led a team encompassing SARDI research staff as Section Editors who reviewed content and Nicole Baty as a Project Management Support Officer who organised authors and articles, collated content, procured professional design and printing services and handled distribution.

Results

The SARDI team successfully organised content, collated, printed and distributed 1,000 copies of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 EPFS Summary to researchers, growers, advisers and industry personnel.

The SARDI team also maintained and updated a distribution list over the life of the project.

Each EPFS Summary involved a series of articles outlining research findings from projects focused on low rainfall RD&E across major themes including Soils, Farming Systems, Break Crops, Cereals, Weeds, Pastures, Livestock and Disease. The articles are peer-reviewed and include key messages, background information and findings with a total of 234 pages (2021), 175 pages (2022) and 192 pages (2023) of articles.