Tim takes out Inaugural Sustainability Award

SA Grain Industry Inaugural Sustainability Award winner Tim Paschke, Waikerie, being presented with his trophy by Penny Schulz.

The most outstanding contributors to South Australia’s grain sector have been crowned at the inaugural South Australian Grain Industry Awards, held at Adelaide Oval on 4th Feburary, 2025.

The event brought together 300 industry leaders, grain producers, researchers, and agribusiness professionals to recognise the individuals and businesses driving innovation, sustainability, and leadership in the grain sector.

2024 Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Winner and President of the Lowbank and Districts Ag Bureau, Tim Paschke was awarded the $7000 Sustainability Award, sponsored by the SA Drought Hub.

Tim was acknowledged for his commitment to soil health and sustainable farming techniques, achieving remarkable production results despite minimal growing season rainfall.

Below is Tim's profile from the South Australian Grain Industry Awards program:

Tim Paschke
Location: Riverland

Tim Paschke is a dedicated grain producer and leader in sustainable farming, known for his innovative practices in South Australia’s challenging low-rainfall Mallee region. On his family’s 4,500-hectare farm, Tim has implemented forward-thinking methods such as no-till cropping, stubble retention, and trials to manage dryland salinity, enhancing both productivity and environmental resilience.

As president of the Lowbank and Districts Agricultural Bureau, Tim leads a multi-generational group of approximately 30 members, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the community. Under his leadership, the Bureau conducts farmer-driven trials and partnerswith research organisations like Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF), providing critical support for local producers and advancing sustainable farming techniques.

Tim’s commitment to sustainable grain farming and his leadership within the agricultural community make him a deserving finalist for the South Australian Grain Industry Awards, inspiring others to innovate and adapt in the face of challenging conditions.

Q & A

What inspired you to pursue a career in the grain industry, and what has kept you passionate about it over the years?

I always wanted to be a farmer; you could say I was born into it. I love growing things and there is nothing more satisfying than putting a plan into action, riding the highs and lows and seeing what happens at the end of the year. However, the stress of this is seeing my hair becoming a little bit greyer each year!

What keeps me passionate is the desire to always do better. I love to have my thinking and practice challenged, to see different perspectives and to learn and try new things. And ultimately try to leave the land I farm in better condition to what it was before. This drives me as a farmer and a family man, preparing the way for the future.

Can you share a particular project, initiative, or achievement you are most proud of and why?

Being involved with our local ag bureau has given me great opportunities to learn and keep in touch with lots of amazing people involved in the grain industry. The projects I’ve got the most out of and have been really proud to be involved with, have been run by our Ag Bureau.

In 2014, we trialled nine different machines (Discs V Tynes) sowing on the same day in the same paddock to observe the difference between how the machines interacted with chemicals, weeds and yield outcomes. In another trial, we explored different fertiliser techniques involving different deep soil amelioration.

All these projects were done on large scale paddock trials which I believe as farmers, we get the most beneficial learnings from, that we can take back and put into practice on our own farms.

What does it mean to be nominated and shortlisted as a finalist or the SA Grain Industry Awards?

Totally blown away with the nomination. I have been focussed on achieving the best outcome for our business, family, and local community, and am humbled that some of the things I have put into practice and tried have been recognised at this level.

Do you believe it is important that the SA grain industry celebrates its contribution to the state and if so, why?

I think it is definitely important. From my travels around Australia, we all have our own locality issues, but South Australian farmers are some of the best at what they do, with the amount of rainfall they receive and how fragile some of our soil types are. I believe that should be acknowledged, not just from the perspective of bringing wealth into the state, but by doing it sustainably.

What advice would you give to the next generation of grain producers or those looking to make a difference in the industry?

Keep trying. The biggest challenge in farming is that things you try may not work given different seasonal conditions. Keep trying; it may work, it might not. I’ve been told so many times, “we’ve tried that” (30 years ago), and I say, “well things have changed, I’ll try it again”.

What’s the biggest opportunity and biggest challenge facing the grain industry in SA at the moment?

Biggest opportunity at the moment for the grains industry is for us to continue to be sustainable. With different seasonal conditions and pricing (grain and inputs), we need to continue to improve our farming, varieties and techniques to continue to move forward and provide food for the world.

Biggest Challenge at the moment for the South Australian grains industry is based around the right to farm. With so much pressure, regulation and red tape, it’s really important for us as farmers