MSF Program Manager’s Report

The 2020 MSF AGM was held in February this year due to COVID postponement, therefore this year’s annual report is only reflecting on the last 7 months of MSF activities, and despite border closures I am happy to report that we have still managed to deliver on our project commitments and maintain forward momentum with MSF business operations.

Fortunately, the entire MSF trial program was able to go in as planned, apart from a late and dry start delaying crop emergence. We are very grateful to Michael Moodie and the team at Frontier Farming Systems working overtime to ensure MSF could meet its trial commitments, especially as Michael continues to spend many hours on paperwork for travel exemptions and COVID management plans which has added to the workload and is all unfunded activity.

By the end of 2021 six large projects will come to an end and we knew we were likely to be approaching a cliff face of funding. However, five new projects have started since the beginning of 2021 and one additional project received an extension to keep a reasonable amount of project activity continuing across the region.

We have also continued to submit project proposals focused on addressing MSF member priorities and remain engaged in Future Drought Fund opportunities.

Whilst we were hoping that field days would resume as normal, this has not been the case and spring events have only been able to continue in South Australia. Unfortunately, extremely dry conditions throughout the first half of the year have also affected some trial sites, but we will continue to record and deliver video highlights from sites that are showing clear management successes in a dry season. Mid way through the year we farewelled three contracted staff members with Lachlan Sutton, Tegan Buckley, and Sonia Allen all resigning from MSF for various reasons. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their great contributions to progressing MSF. Moving forward we will be working to rebuild the team as we look to new projects and opportunities on the horizon.

Many thanks to the MSF Board and our supportive business team who continue to drive the organisation forward with dedication and passion despite lengthy Zoom meetings in lieu of easier and more social face to face meetings. And finally, a huge thank you to Robert Pocock and Ron Hards who are both stepping off the MSF Board after 12 years of service. Both have been exceptional Board members, with Robert stepping up as Chairperson in 2021 and Ron having served as Treasurer for many years. The future of MSF is strong thanks to the leadership of both.

I am keeping fingers crossed for more rainfall to finish crops in the Mallee in 2021 and that we can soon travel freely across the tri-state area and resume business as normal. I am hopeful that as a team we can get across the region and meet more of our members at trials sites and events in 2022.

Tanja Morgan Program Manager Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.