Mixed farming intern - Limestone Coast

Project title: Appointing a mixed farming intern - with MFMG, based in Naracoorte.

Project manager: Sally Klose, CEO, MacKillop Farm Management Group

Project duration: March 2026 to March 2027

 

About the initiative

The mixed farming system in the Limestone Coast is important, with the majority of farms in the region with a cropping focus also including livestock in their system and the region contributing 90% of national lucerne see production.  A prosperous lucerne, grain and livestock industry is dependent on farmers having relevant, up to date and independent information available.

Developing early career researchers is vital to the agricultural industry and attracting and encouraging new entrants to the industry is essential for future resilience and growth. 

MFMG seeks to employ an intern to build the human capacity of the grain-livestock industry, particularly in the areas of research, development, and extension and drought resilience in the Limestone Coast (south east of South Australia). 

Background

The SA Grain Industry Blueprint identifies “Building Industry Capacity” (Pillar 5) as a focus area. This project will support the delivery of this Blueprint pillar by enabling an intern to gain firsthand experience across a range of organisations working directly with MFMG members to learn about the benefits of having a career in research, development, extension, adoption and commercialisation for the grains industry. 

The SA Drought Hub lists “Upskilling advisers, researchers, and key influencers” as one of its themes. This project will support the delivery of this theme by providing opportunities for the intern to develop knowledge of extension processes and practices to better engage the Limestone Coast farming community in facilitated discussion about drought preparedness and the opportunities that are available and in the use of key drought resilience tools and strategies. 

This project provides an opportunity for a graduate to be exposed to pasture seed research and the industry. 

Intern position

The intern will be employed for 12 months, reporting directly to the CEO, MacKillop Farm Management Group. The intern will be based in Naracoorte and cover the high and medium rainfall zones (HRZ and MRZ) in the geographic areas of the Tatiara District Council, Naracoorte Lucindale Council, Kingston District Council, District Council of Robe, Wattle Range Council, District Council of Grant and part of the Coorong District Council. 

The intern will: 

1. Gain practical knowledge of grains and livestock research and development in the HRZ and MRZ of the Limestone Coast  

2. Gain practical knowledge of drought resilience and preparedness of farms in the High and Medium Rainfall Zones of the Limestone Coast  

3. Gain practical knowledge of pasture seed production, research and development 

4. Develop a network of researchers, advisors and leading growers 

5. Gain skills and experience in applied field research: planning, managing, measuring and analysing field experiments 

6. Develop skills and experience in project management, communications and extension  

7. Develop an understanding of a farming systems group’s role in agricultural research and extension  

8. Develop an understanding and participate in a farming systems groups’ operations 

Reporting

The intern will report to MFMG's CEO and will work closely with the MFMG team and the SARDI Agronomy team at Naracoorte.

The intern will be supported by MFMG project managers, local commercial agronomists and local livestock and agricultural consultants. 

 

This project is funded by:

This internship program is supported by MacKillop Farm Management Group, the South Australian Grain Industry Fund (SAGIT) and the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SA Drought Hub).

 

           

                                      

 

           

This project is supported by:

The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), a division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA).