MSF regional internship
South Australian Mallee Regional Internship in Farming Systems and Applied Grains Research and Extension.
Key objectives
Improve the capacity of grains research, development, and extension in the Mallee
Further develop applied research, extension and communication skills of recent graduates so they will be able to make an improved contribution to the grains R, D & E industry in South Australia.
Promote career opportunities in agriculture in the Mallee.
MSF Regional Internship
The SA Mallee Regional Internship in Farming Systems and Applied Grains Research and Extension provides an opportunity for an early career graduate to pursue a career in applied research and extension, provide hands-on experience of regional research, and develop an understanding of the challenges of farming in the low rainfall zone.
About me
Simone is the first Research Intern for Mallee Sustainable Farming in 2025, funded by SAGIT and SA Drought Hub. Growing up on a 4500 ha broadacre and prime lamb farm in the Murray Mallee of South Australia, she understands the region’s farming challenges and opportunities.
With a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Adelaide, Simone combines technical knowledge with practical, on-farm experience and is excited to learn more about applied field research and extension over the next 12 months.
Intern Research Project: Grazing Break Crops Providing Sufficient Biomass in the Early Feed Gap
About the project
While previous studies, such as those in the Grain & Graze projects, have explored the economic benefits of break crops on subsequent wheat yields and dual-purpose cereals used for grazing, limited research has focused on the immediate value of break crops, particularly in addressing early feed gaps in low rainfall areas.This project investigates the potential of using break crops to fill the autumn feed gap in the northern mallee region of South Australia. By doing so, it aims to ease the pressure on broadacre cropping programs and reduce reliance on costly supplementary feeding in the region.
Key objectives
Next steps
The next phase of the project involves site selection and preparation for seeding. The site will be based at Waikerie, South Australia. Seeding will focus on meeting depth and timing requirements to ensure successful germination and establishment, with careful attention to early biomass production and ground cover.
Ongoing monitoring and data collection will track crop performance and feed gap fulfilment.
Gallery
Podcasts
Reels
Introducing Simone, our new intern diving into agriculture research for the mallee region!
She’ll be exploring innovations and insights from the field – stay tuned for more updates throughout the season. 🌱
What is field work really like?
Behind every result is a lot of time in the field, working in the elements, collecting establishment counts, phenology scores, and applying fertiliser by hand on repeat. Every task here leads to meaningful research outcomes and practical insights for growers.
Swapping fresh air and work shirts for test tubes and lab coats 
Here’s a little look into Simone’s work experience with the APAL Eurofins soils lab.
Big thank you to the team at APAL Eurofins for taking the time to show the ins and outs of working in a soils lab, it was greatly appreciated!
Harvesting trial sites isn’t all plot headers and sample bags. 
There still can be harvest cuts done by hand, and processing the grain samples where you can see all your hard work come to together at the end of the growing season.
A season of applied learning 
A season of applied learning, gathering data in challenging conditions, understanding the ‘why’ behind field work, and engaging in field days and industry activities.
Wrapping up Simone’s MSF internship 🌾
Wrapping up the internship with MSF and reflecting on the key takeaways that this experience has provided. Thank you to the South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) and the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, and especially to the team at MSF for all your support.
Working together with farmers
Other MSF Projects
