The Kangaroo Island Development Board together with the Natural Resource Management Board, Ag KI and PIRSA are developing a micro-climate mapping project designed to inform farm decision making and facilitate product diversification, value adding and improved farm management techniques.

KIDB chief executive officer Pierre Gregor said the planned project would require participant contribution but would be heavily subsidised and offered a great opportunity for the agricultural sector.

Project activities will include soil mapping, capture of comprehensive temperature readings, soil carbon assessments and identification of production systems best suited to the climatic, soil and rainfall data collected.

“The project has the potential to reinforce the economic viability of agricultural and horticultural pursuits on Kangaroo Island while also enhancing land management practices,” Mr Gregor said.

Gary Hutchinson, an internationally recognised land resources consultant and scientist in sustainable rural land use will be engaged to deliver this professional and innovative program.

Potential participant Greg Johnsson said, “ Fine scale climate, soil and water resource maps for a farm will result in better decision making. They will help identify opportunities to fine tune fertiliser application, identify the right pastures mixes to grow, develop optimal grazing systems for different microclimates on the farm and may lead to exciting opportunities to grow existing crops better or diversify into crops not grown on Kangaroo Island before.”

An information and project update meeting will be held at Parndana Hotel at 7pm on Wednesday July 30.

For more details, contact Jason Mattock at the Kangaroo Island Development Board on 8553 3211 or email advice@kang

arooisland.org.