The JM Roberts Charitable Trust today announced a donation of $482,000 to directly fund research projects at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and support Nuffield Australia to offer scholarships to Tasmanian farmers. 👏 Read the details 👉 bit.ly/3KEqxTT

Shout out to the University of Tasmania Lutruwita Loam Rangers who’ve just taken part in this year’s Australian Soil Judging Competition in New South Wales. After some practise days, the team then put their skills into action during the competition component in Armidale. 👏

Our team is all set for this year’s Australian Soil Judging Competition in New South Wales. Tasmania’s best soil judges are in Armidale and are ready to dig deep for Tassie. Wednesday and Thursday are practise days. They’ll then head into the soil pits for the competition on Friday. Good luck!

Take a look at how we get data for our Pasture 365 trials. Pasture 365 is trying to determine whether growing a large number of diverse pasture species can result in drought resilient pastures. It's being led by Deakin University and funded through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.

Our researchers are preparing to measure exactly what happens to water on irrigated soils - how much goes in and how much runs off. 💧 Dr Ana Avila has recently joined TIA working on the Growing Value from Irrigation for Tasmanian Agriculture project, funded by the Tas Government. 👉 bit.ly/4okxnvI

Congratulations to Dr Ke Liu who was a finalist for the Tasmanian STEM Early Career Researcher Award! 🏆😁 Ke is an agricultural systems modeller at TIA and his research is shaping how Australian farmers respond to climate extremes.

TIA entomologist, Dr Justin Cappadonna, has deployed his first set of codling moth sensors in Tasmania that will provide real-time codling moth monitoring. He received $7000 from the JM Roberts Charitable Trust for the project that will test the practical application of automated sensor technology.

This week we had a great opportunity to highlight a project we’re part of to help livestock producers address the impacts of climate change and sustained periods of dry conditions on the pasture feedbase. Dr Rowan Smith led a field trip for Project 365 partners to sites that are part of the project.

We loved talking about our wine research at this week’s annual Wine Tasmania Field Day in Launceston. Our presentation topics included the Tasmanian Cool Climate Research Hub, practises for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the impacts of humidity on wine and the Botrytis Project. Cheers to that! 🥂

Excitement is building ahead of this year’s Australian Soil Judging Competition in New South Wales. Tasmania’s best soil judges for 2025 have been selected and are preparing for the championship in Armidale next month. Read more details 👉 bit.ly/4hhLCj3

We’re strengthening biosecurity efforts as part of an enhanced plan to protect Tasmanian farmers from emerging pests and diseases. Craig Elliott has recently been appointed as the Biosecurity Engagement Lead for TIA and the TAS Farm Innovation Hub. Read more - bit.ly/3IMyZjd

Participants loved getting down and dirty at the Tasmanian Soil Judging Competition on the weekend at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture’s University Farm at Cambridge. The best will now put their skills to the test in the Australian Soil Judging Competition in New South Wales in November.

Methane emissions from livestock are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Some of our researchers are exploring new types of natural feed additives to see if they can reduce methane emissions from livestock without affecting their health, growth or production. Read more 👉 bit.ly/3IU6boH

A new research project led by Professor Calum Wilson, a TIA plant pathology expert, will respond to potato mop top virus in Tasmania. The $200,000 Tasmanian Government investment will fast-track research to help potato growers manage the risk of potato mop top virus. 📹 youtube.com/shorts/K5cxR...

We’ve entered the third and final year of our dairy farmlet trial, where we’re testing ways to halve the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser used on dairy farms without reducing productivity. 📹 Watch the video: youtu.be/k4e_AgsEcrQ?... #dairy #dairyfarming #agriculture #nitrogen

Have you seen this week’s ABC Landline program? It features Senior Research Fellow Dr Megan Verdon and farm manager at our Dairy Research Facility, Andrew Marshall, explaining a project we’re collaborating on that examines managing dairy cows with virtual fencing. Watch it here👉 bit.ly/3KsXUZp

We loved being involved in the Tasmanian School Merino Wether Challenge. To mark the end of the program, high school students presented their wethers in a judged competition at the Centre of Excellence for Shearing and Wool Handling at Campbell Town. We attended to talk all things ag science.

Professor Matthew Harrison has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, recognising his outstanding applied impact on the agricultural industry. He joins the nation’s leading minds working to address the most urgent challenges now & into the future.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at some of the filming from the ABC Landline program at the Fosterville property at Campbell Town. The episode featured the Pasture 365 project that’s trying to determine whether growing a large amount of diverse species can result in drought resilient pastures.

We hope our Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours students reach lofty heights during their careers. Students studying the course recently gathered in Launceston for a demonstration of a crop spraying drone. bit.ly/46tYUDZ

Congrats to Penny Hooper from Longford who’s been awarded a 2026 Nuffield Australia Scholarship to study how to make livestock and dairy farming compatible with a sustainable work-life balance. 👏 Her study is supported by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and the JM Roberts Charitable Trust.

Up, up and away… Students studying the Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours regularly have exposure to the latest agricultural technology. Recently our undergraduate students had the chance to see a 110-kilogram crop spraying drone in action in Launceston as part of their course.

A long-term TIA study of Tasmania’s leatherwood honey has, for the first time, identified 12 previously unknown natural compounds. This discovery highlights not only the honey’s unique health benefits but could also help to protect the product from brand imitation. 👍 Read more 👉 bit.ly/4nvw4tG

Our entomologist Dr Justin Cappadonna and Student Engagement Ambassador Bronte Legro had a great time chatting to students about the possibilities from a career in agriculture at this week's Launceston College Futures Expo. Thanks to all those who stopped by for a chat!

Who wants a scholarship to help them with their agricultural science studies at the University of Tasmania? 🙋🙋‍♀️ The next round of scholarships for Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours students are now open! Scholarships for 2026 are worth $160,000! For more information 👉 bit.ly/4g9Dtwf

Our Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours students have been given a behind-the-scenes look at Tasmania’s agricultural industry. 🍓🥔🍎🐄🥕🍏 Last week 37 first-year students took part in an annual three-day camp visiting agricultural businesses in the north-west.👍

The third season of TIA’s dairy farmlet trial is underway! Our aim is to halve synthetic nitrogen on dairy farms. In the latest video, we share insights on herd balancing, spring weather, herd testing & virtual fencing. Got a question? Comment or submit via link 🔗 ow.ly/amu950WQSHU bit.ly/4p7Hs0C

Here's an update on a project to help livestock producers address the impacts of climate change and sustained periods of dry conditions on the pasture feedbase. Pasture 365 is trying to determine whether growing a large number of diverse pasture species can result in drought resilient pastures. 👍

📹Check out the action from a soil workshop that we recently hosted at Utzinger Wines in the Tamar Valley. It’s all part of a TIA project that’s aimed at improving soil health in Tasmania. 👍

A big thanks to TasFarmers who hosted last week’s FarmX Conference and Expo. 👏 It was a great opportunity to chat to farmers, industry leaders and innovators about current research projects to support Tasmanian agriculture. And the morning tea was pretty good too…proudly sponsored by us. 😋

What a stunning day it was in the Tamar Valley to get your hands dirty. 🌞 A soil workshop was held at Utzinger Wines last week - all part of a TIA project that’s aimed at improving soil health in Tasmania. 🌱 Read more details about the project 👉 bit.ly/45FQpFj

What a crew! We had a great time being part of the FarmX Conference and Expo, hosted by TasFarmers. TIA had several members of the team in attendance to chat about current research projects to support Tasmanian agriculture. 👍 We also loved sponsoring the morning tea! ☕🍵🍪

We were part of the recent Meat-Tech Futures camp that’s aimed at inspiring the next generation to revolutionise the red meat processing industry. Food scientist Naomi Vinden led a workshop that explored the shelf life of meat, while Director Mike Rose was a judge for the student pitch section.

Congrats to TIA PhD student Zubayed Ahamed! He’s the runner-up in the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology Research Poster Competition. 👏 Zubayed received his runners-up prize at the AIFST convention in Melbourne last week. 👍

Matilda Legro is another one of our Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours scholarship recipients at the University of Tasmania that we're highlighting during National Science Week. 👍 Matilda is the recipient of the Costa Scholarship in Agricultural Science. Well done! 👏

In celebration of National Science Week, we’re proud to continue to spotlight the next generation of agricultural scientists, our Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours scholarship recipients. Rupert Hansen is the recipient of this year’s Fruit Growers Tasmania Honours Scholarship. 👏

In celebration of National Science Week, we’re continuing to spotlight the next generation of agricultural scientists, our Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours scholarship recipients. The recipient of this year’s Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarship is James Harvey. 👏 Nice one James!

As part of National Science Week, we’re celebrating the next generation of agricultural scientists by showcasing our Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours scholarship recipients. The recipient of this year’s Neale Edwards Scholarship in Agricultural Science is Edie Little. Well done Edie! 👏

Our DairyHIGH2 project aims to cut the amount of nitrogen fertiliser used on dairy farms without reducing productivity. The second season has just wrapped-up and our team has some fascinating results to share in this 12-minute video update. 📹 youtu.be/jkWH2DzNN4Q?... #dairy #agriculture #nitrogen

Lucy Sheridan is another one of our agricultural science scholarship winners that we're shining a spotlight on during National Science Week. She’s the recipient of this year’s David McEwan Scholarship in Agriculture. 👏 Lucy is studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours. 👍

In celebration of National Science Week, we’re celebrating the next generation of agricultural scientists by showcasing our Bachelor of Agricultural Science scholarship recipients. The recipient of this year’s Tasmanian Beef Industry Trust Scholarship in Agricultural Science is Stella Foster. 👏

To celebrate National Science Week, we’re proud to spotlight the next generation of agricultural scientists, our Bachelor of Agricultural Science scholarship recipients at the University of Tasmania. The recipient of this year’s Robert Menary Scholarship in Agricultural Science is Ava Christie. 👏

We loved the opportunity to highlight some of the important apple and pear research we’re undertaking during an event in Victoria this week. Members of our PIPS 4 Profit team represented TIA and provided updates on their projects during the Apple and Pear Australia Limited Technical Symposium. 🍎🍏

What a night! We hosted an exploration of food and science at a dinner in Launceston last week. It was part of agriCULTURED and linked agricultural science themes with specially prepared dishes in an effort to get people thinking about the science behind their plate. 👍 Read more 👉 bit.ly/4lbeE3W

TIA Research Fellow Dr Rowan Smith explains the latest developments in a major project we’re part of that's trying to determine whether growing a large number of diverse pasture species can result in drought resilient pastures and enable a feedbase that can provide year-round feed for livestock. 👍

We’ve been involved in a project to help farmers grow the productivity of Tasmania’s red meat sector through the selection and establishment of perennial legumes. We’ve released a booklet that includes summaries of the research and case studies undertaken as part of it. Read it here: bit.ly/44SdTrN

TIA’s Dr Rowan Smith has shared the latest findings from a project aimed at boosting red meat productivity through the strategic use of perennial legumes at Red Meat Updates in Launceston. The annual conference is a key event for Tasmania’s red meat industry. 👍

It's what you do at a wine conference! Cheers! Members of our team have had a great time at the annual Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference in Adelaide this week. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the latest research and innovations in the industry. Cheers to that!

We’re well represented at one of Australia’s major wine industry events. 🍷🍇 Professor Kathy Evans and engagement officer Oliver Overman conducted a workshop at the annual Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference in Adelaide this week on how to run simple and informative in-vineyard trials. 👍

Can a dairy farm be productive while using 50% the standard amount of nitrogen fertiliser? What about none at all? 🐮🌱 The second season of the dairy farmlet trial has wrapped up. Make sure you’re subscribed to our monthly update to find out the results! 👉 ow.ly/5po850WqXLj #Dairyfarmer #Research