Limestone Coast Early to Mid Career Farmer Workshop 4 (open to ETMC Farmer Group members)

Workshop 4

'Soils 101' with Dr Mel Fraser and 'Agronomy 101' with Michael McGurk, Nutrien Ag Solutions.

WHEN:  Friday 31 July 2026

TIME:     9.00am - 4.00pm (includes morning tea, lunch and refreshments).

WHERE: Mel Fraser's house - 84 Pinkerton Road Naracoorte, followed by paddock inspection.

PLEASE BYO CHAIR! 

COST:     Registrations Essential: $25.00 per workshop. Open to those who are part of the Early to Mid Career Farmer Group.

Workshop Outline

Morning session (9:00 am – 12:00 pm) will be Soils 101 with Mel.

We'll take a practical, hands-on look at different soil types, how to identify them, understand their inherent and induced constraints, and explore how soil characteristics influence production potential. The aim is to build a solid understanding of soils so participants can make better management decisions and set their crops and pastures up for success.

After lunch, Michael McGurk, Nutrien Ag Solutions, will step us through Agronomy 101.

This session will focus on translating soil knowledge into crop production. We'll head into the paddock to inspect a range of local crops, assess their current performance, and discuss the key management decisions for the remainder of the growing season. We'll cover the critical considerations for establishing and managing crops and pastures, from pre-sowing right through to harvest.

Registrations now open – www.mackillopgroup.com.au/events

If you have any difficulty logging in with your member details, please let me know. (For those with MFMG Membership logins linked to Sponsorship arrangements with your company, there may be some glitches while payments are brought up to date).

Katie Mobile: 0419 821 689

Group members will receive a direct email with event details. Didn't receive the email? Contact Katie Moorhouse on comms@mackillopgroup.com.au or 0419 821 689.

Dr Melissa Fraser, Soil Function Consulting

Dr Melissa Fraser is the Limestone Coast’s resident soil scientist, working across research and development, extension and education and on-farm diagnosis of constraints. She fell in love with the region when she started her PhD in 2005 and has spent more than 20 years working across SA, Qld and the NT exploring solutions to the challenges that our farmers face. Dr Fraser is passionate about soil health and the role it plays in growing healthy plants, crops, animals and humans. Mel's superpower is to make complicated simple - particularly in understanding soil carbon, on-farm emissions and the farmers' role in this emerging area.