Resilient Soils and Crops Field Day: Conmurra

Resilient Soils and Crops: Conmurra Field Day

Thursday 22 October 2026

9.30am to 4.00pm

includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea

Starting Coordinates:  -37.138032, 140.239921

Cars to remain outside of paddock.

A full day Field Day featuring a range of researchers sharing current insights into a range of Crop Trials at Conmurra, plus presentations from Soil CRC researchers.

See the research, hear the latest findings, and discover practical takeaways for your farm.

Site 1 – Konetta Road, Conmurra 

Coordinates: -37.138032, 140.239921, Konetta Road, Conmurra 

Long term regenerative cropping and pasture trials – year 1 

See and hear how the following treatments are improving soil resilience and supporting sustainable, productive agriculture. To read the full treatments click here. 

• Treatment 1 - High Production maximising profitability and production via conventional means. 

• Treatment 2 - Pasture inclusion, with reduced inputs - improving soil resilience and function.  

• Treatment 3 - Diverse within rotations - intercropping diversity within rotations. 

• Treatment 4 - Diverse between rotations driven by legume N supply to reduce input costs and build soil resilience.   

• Treatment 5 - Cover focus - Retaining living cover longer.   

• Treatment 6 - Amendment driven - increasing soil C and addressing soil constraints  

Discussion facilitated by Dr Mel Fraser, Soil Scientist, Soil Function Consulting, Dr Mark Farrell, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO, Amanda Pearce, Senior Research Officer, SARDI | PIRSA .

Faba bean trial 

Hear the latest from the correcting iron deficiency in Faba Beans Trial. 

Dr Nigel Wilhelm, Research Leader, SARDI | PIRSA 

Site 2 – Williams Road, Conmurra  

Coordinates: 37°07'41.1"S 140°18'01.6"E 

High performing soils  

Hear the newest research on management of herbicide residues in soil, measuring soil microbes and building soil resilience and carbon through plant diversity. 

Dr Mick Rose, Associate Professor, Southern Cross University and Project Lead, Soil CRC, Dr Abe Gibson, Senior Lecturer, Southern Cross University 

Site 3 - Konetta Road, Conmurra 

Coordinates: 37°08'06.3"S 140°16'31.8"E 

Barley net form net blotch trial (funded by SAGIT)  

See the trial and hear about barley net form net blotch fungicide resistance management. 

Dr Tara Garrard, Sub Program Leader, Cereal Pathology, SARDI | PIRSA, Dr Hari Dadu, Sub Program Leader, Pulse Pathology, SARDI | PIRSA 

National Variety Trials (funded by GRDC) 

• Conmurra Long Season Barley 
• Conmurra Early Season Wheat 
• Conmurra Long Season Wheat 
• HPC PGR Wheat and PGR Barley 

Amanda Pearce, Senior Research Officer, SARDI | PIRSA 

The Resilient Soils and Crops Field Day features the following projects: 

• Stress Testing Regenerative Agricultural Practices (STRAP) (Drought resilience in novel emerging dryland farming practices – a scientific and economic basis). Initiative funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Long Term Trials Program. 

• Soil CRC 

• NGN Correcting iron deficiency in faba beans and lentils, funded by GRDC 

• Barley net form net blotch fungicide resistance management in the South-East, co-funded with GRDC

Please register to attend. Members will need to login in to access the event. 

Cost: 

MFMG Members $50, additional MFMG primary producer members $30

Non MFMG members $200.

Registrations essential by Monday 19 October.

Includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. 

We would also like to acknowledge Naracoorte Seeds (Aaron Giason) and Bio Gro (Jayde Farugia) for their assistance with seed provision and amendments.