Summary

The Eyre Peninsula internship in applied grains research was based with EPAG Research in 2024. Alex Busch was awarded the internship and the opportunity to improve his understanding of local grains research, development and extension (RD&E) issues and grower needs. The internship also provided an opportunity for Alex to develop skills in planning, managing, measuring and analysing field experiments. In the research component of his internship, Alex investigated strategies to improve soil productivity at a site where previous soil amelioration attempts had been unsuccessful.

Background

The EP internship provides opportunities for the next generation of grains RD&E professionals to gain hands-on experience in research and extension activities through practical field research projects. Interns also have the chance to build familiarity in working and communicating with growers and develop relationships with a range of grains research practitioners in the EP region.

Research Aims

The core objectives of the project were to:

• Improve capacity of grains research, development and extension (RD&E) on the Eyre Peninsula.
• Further develop applied research skills of recent graduates so they will be able to make an improved contribution to the grains RD&E industry in SA.

In The Field

Alex Busch commenced in the role of EP intern in February 2024. Alex focused on improving his skills and experience in RD&E, developing his industry network and increasing his knowledge of farming systems.

Alex also undertook a research project to examine if current soil amelioration strategies could be used to reduce the negative impacts of heavy clay layers in soils where clay has been spread but not incorporated. Crops in these soils can establish well but experience reduced yields and higher susceptibility to root disease and haying off.

Results

Throughout his time as EP intern, Alex gained a broad exposure to field research. He contributed to a diverse range of research trials managed by EPAG Research including blackleg management in canola, long coleoptile wheat, canola establishment, sandy soils, frost management, hyper profitable crops, RiskWi$e, GRDC Southern Farming Systems and several commercial trials. Alex also spent a week with the SARDI team based at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre where he assisted researchers to manage regional trials.

Alex attended a wide variety of industry events and extension activities to build his industry network and strengthen his communication skills and grains industry knowledge. This included major regional events like the AIR EP Ag Expo and the spring sticky beak field days, with Alex presenting at the Wharminda event. He also attended technical workshops on frost management and pulse field crops, actively participated in GRDC RiskWi$e discussion group sessions and attended key grains industry events such as the GRDC Grains Research Update, SAGIT Annual Update and Hart Field Day. Alex further broadened his agricultural experience by attending the Soil CRC conference and CSIRO’s Future Farming Systems Symposium.

Alex collaborated with leading researchers from State Government, university and private sector organisations for his research trial. He also built strong connections with respected EP agronomists and consultants and significantly improved his understanding of soil science, agronomy, pathology, machinery engineering and on-farm management.

Alex ran a research trial at Wharminda to investigate using spading, deep ripping or spading + ripping to incorporate the surface broadcast clay layer on previously ameliorated soils. The impact of two amendments – gypsum and organic matter was also examined. A significant grain yield increase was recorded with spading. The addition of organic matter resulted in a small additional increase in grain yield and grain quality in all amelioration treatments.