Executive Officer: Monica Trengove, based in Clare [0417 803 386]

Chairman : Linden Price, farmer from Narridy [0408 859 967]

Trials Manager: Peter Hooper, consultant from Clare [0427 225 590]

Commercial Crop Manager: Michael Jaeschke, farmer from Hart [0428 859 811]

Secretary:  Sandy Kimber, Clare [0427 423 154]

Hart is South Australia’s premier agronomic field site, managed by farmers to provide independent information and skills to the industry. It has been operational for 25 years.

Background

The Field Site commenced in 1982 and has since grown to become known throughout the cropping areas of South Eastern Australia as a premier agronomic field site. Las year, visitors came from all southern states and throughout South Australia, with around 1400 farmers and others in the rural industries attending the main spring field day. Around 3500 in total attend all the field days, group visits as well as all those inspecting the site on their own.

Hart and its field site have become extremely well known and valued for its contribution to the development of rural industries. Hart’s proven methodology has resulted in improvements in productivity and sustainability within the region and hence the growth and development of the rural community.

The committee intends to further develop the demonstration and research role of the site and its activities to continue to be regarded as a highly credible source of impartial information of the latest technology, information and cropping and land management practices. Planned developments include more farming system work, more field days, and greater contact with farmers, schools and other community groups across the region.

The new permanent site owned by the group is ideally located nearby the 1999 site on the Jaeschke family farm, as well as being highly relevant to a large range of cropping properties with its 375mm annual rainfall and Mallee sandy loam alkaline soils.

Management

All policies and activities are managed by a capable and experienced management committee which includes a wide range of talents.

Finance

Up until 1996 the Hart Field Day was financed and conducted by PIRSA and the Hummocks Soil Conservation Board with the consultation of farmers.

The Hart Field Day Committee then became a community based committee formed with members from the northern Agricultural Districts.

Now as an independent incorporated body, the group is totally reliant on sponsors and other funding such as from the GRDC, admission fees and cropping income, to finance both the conduct and further development of the site.

A Successful Formula

The success of the Hart Field Site and field days is the result of the development of a now proven formula and the building of a partnership between key stakeholders. Your sponsorship will continue the high profile association with this highly regarded site in South Australia’s cropping scene of valued sponsors.

The Hart Site influences a significant number of farmers throughout South Australia and those servicing them through attendance at the site and field days, exposure to media reports and annual field day and results books, and the flow-on and influence from those directly exposed to the site.

Success relies heavily on

• Presentations with demonstrations of new information, technical excellence and cutting edge technology.

• Excellent and credible presenters in their field.

• Professional conduct with attention to detail.

• Relevance to industry and community needs.

• Proven format and established credibility.

• Being a source of independent, impartial and reliable information.

Activities at Hart

Preparation of wash-down bay	Concreting wash-down bay	Wash-down bay
Trench for run-off from wash-down bay		Underground tank for run-off from wash-down bay
	Preparing concrete slab for shed	Zweck's Paddock