Southern Farming Systems renovations and equipment upgrade of their new laboratory and offices at their home base of Inverleigh is nearing completion ahead of the 2024 harvest of key industry research trials.  After receiving the infrastructure investment grant from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in 2023, the purchase and upgrade of key laboratory equipment and renovations of the shed at Inverleigh commenced during the off-peak, cooler months in South West Victoria.

Southern Farming Systems (SFS) is a farmer led grower group that has been conducting relevant research based trials and extension for the farming communities across the High Rainfall Zone of Australia for over 29 years, across 5 trial locations of Inverleigh, Streatham, Hamilton, Bairnsdale (collaborating with GAgG) & Tasmania. “This investment by GRDC has enabled SFS to build capacity and continue to provide high rainfall zone growers with state-of-the-art research and grains testing data that is both relevant and reliable ” said Bret Ryan, SFS CEO.

The GRDC investment grants are part of a $20 million investment program to build Australia’s long-term grains research capacity and support the enduring profitability of the nation’s grain growers.  GRDC Board chair and grain grower John Woods says that the program reflected GRDC’s priority of putting growers’ money towards investments that will make a genuine difference. “Our investments must make an impact, and building Australia’s research capacity is critical for the future of the grains industry for generations to come,” Mr Woods says. 

“Farming systems groups play an important role for a continuing sustainable and profitable industry through the development and adoption of research practices.  The SFS team are excited to kick off the 2024 harvest season in the coming months with the highest level of precision and productivity with the new equipment and facilities” said Bret Ryan, SFS CEO.

The renovations will be complete by the end of this month, with a grand opening planned for the start of December to show off SFS’s new facilities and equipment to our local community, members & partners.

Images below:  New equipment drying ovens, laboratory and offices for data crunching.