1. NSS Update 2012 Leighton Wilksch Executive Officer, Northern Sustainable Soils Inc.

2. Collaborations March 2012 – Soil Carbon Workshops YPASG (south) and NSS (north) Greg Butler, SANTFA – Key Note Speaker No-Till Grassy Weed Project Brome Grass – YPASG & UNFS Chemical Management – emphasis on pre-emergents

3. Why collaborate? Benefit to farmer members  More information  Trials performed across a range of districts (soil/rainfall etc.) Benefit to farmer groups  Joined applications for funding (less work, greater chance)  Greater communication means less overlap of funding applications  Trials performed across a range of districts (soil/rainfall etc.)  Bringing groups closer together

4. No-Till Grassy Weed Project Target – Brome Grass 2011 & 2012 replicated trials Port Broughton Pre-emergent & post-emergent chemicals used Barley & Wheat 2012 – NSS Early Crop Walk and Major Farmer Day visits

7. Other groups Louise McIntosh (YPASG) Barry Mudge (UNFS) Hugh Longbottom (MSF) The NSS assisted by providing feedback on the trial designs:  Chemical types & timings  Crop types & varieties  Assessments As well as help the YPASG with a successful application for a Harvest Management Trial on Brome Grass (currently in progress)

8. Further Extension 2012 GRDC Conference, Adelaide EPARF – Minnipa Field Day 2011 YPASG Spring Crop Walk Local NYP Ag Bureaus Articles in YPCT, Stock Journal, NYNRM Bayer Agronomy Day 2012 A reciprocal bus trip in 2012 was also planned with the YPASG, but due to a clash with Farmer Day dates, this did not eventuate.

9. Acknowledgements Thanks in particular to Michael Richards for all his work, and to Louise McIntosh & Kristin McEvoy of the YPASG for their continued support of the NSS farmer group and co-operation throughout the past few years.