A coordinated effort. The Now or Never Project combines aerial and ground-based work to keep pressure on feral deer populations.

Across the Clare Valley, landholders are noticing the impact of feral animals running right through the systems that keep the region productive. Deer have been drinking water meant for stock through the dry months, grazing pasture and crops flat, knocking about vines and fences, and trampling soil in places that take years to recover. It adds up quickly, and the impact reaches well beyond any one property.

That's where the next phase of ground-based control comes in. It's rolling out across the Clare Valley now, fully funded for landholders, and coordinated locally by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board with funding from the State Government, PIRSA and the Commonwealth Government. Professional contractors with deep Clare Valley experience are doing the work.

The program builds on last year's results, keeping pressure on local deer populations between larger aerial programs and giving landholders confidence they're not in this alone. Even if deer aren't on your place right now, getting involved early helps keep pressure off your neighbours and the wider landscape.

>> Read full story

The Rebuilding South Australia's Lost Shellfish Reefs Program is restoring habitat lost from our coastline more than a century ago, with multiple sites planned across Yorke Peninsula.

The Rebuilding South Australia's Lost Shellfish Reefs program, led by the Department for Environment and Water in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Adelaide University and OzFish Unlimited, is delivering 26 community recycled shell reefs across the state plus a large-scale 16-hectare limestone reef planned in the Gulf of St Vincent off Yorke Peninsula.

Restored reefs filter water, rebuild habitat and over time act as seed sources for the surrounding coast. For the Yorke Peninsula, the program is a chance to be part of something that reaches well beyond the seafloor. The work brings communities back to the water and is being delivered alongside Traditional Owners caring for Sea Country. In April, community forums at Port Vincent and Point Pearce brought partners and locals together to share the science behind this long-term commitment to our coast.

>> Find out more

Book your spot at our free Bats, Owls and Better Vineyards workshop. 28 May, Barossa Bushgardens.

Microbats and barn owls are two of nature's quiet achievers. Microbats work through the night taking the pressure off insect pests, while barn owls are remarkably efficient at keeping rodent populations in check. Both offer a natural alternative to chemicals, and most growers don't realise how easy it is to attract them.

Bat researcher Terry Reardon and bird specialist John Gitsham are heading to the Barossa on 28 May to share what these species can do for your vineyard, and how to make your land more welcoming for both.

This workshop is proudly delivered by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and is a great example of South Australia’s landscape levy at work - supporting local knowledge and empowering communities to care for their environment through sustainable, resilience-building practices.

Thursday 28 May | Barossa Bushgardens | 3:00pm - 4:30pm

Free to attend. Bookings essential.

>> Reserve your spot

Could you name this one? Find out at our free Plant ID and Seed Collection workshops, running across the region in early June.

Delivered by Trees for Life, the day combines theory, discussion and field-based learning. You'll build skills in native plant identification, learn safe and ethical seed collection, and get across seed handling, cleaning and storage. Cultural considerations and ecological sustainability are part of the conversation too.

Lunch provided. Suitable for ages 12 and up.

Tuesday 2 June | Orroroo | 10:00am - 3:00pm
Wednesday 3 June | Clare | 10:00am - 3:00pm
Thursday 4 June | Minlaton | 10:00am - 3:00pm
Friday 5 June | Kadina | 10:00am - 3:00pm

The workshop is funded by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board.

>> Learn more about natives

Elisha, our new Community Engagement Officer. Based at the Gawler office and keen to hear from you.

Elisha comes to us from Trees For Life, where she spent the last 11 years working across community engagement, volunteer coordination and natural resource management. She knows the South Australian environment sector well, and she's looking forward to applying that experience here in the Northern and Yorke.

If you're working on a grant proposal, a schools program, a volunteer project or a community event, Elisha is the person to talk to. She's based in the Gawler office and is more than happy to catch up over the phone or in person.

>> Reach out to Elisha

Brianna Guidera and Nick Modra reading through the draft Plan online. The whole region is invited to do the same.

The Plan sets the direction for how we care for the region's land, water, biodiversity, coasts and communities between now and 2031. It reflects extensive community input, stakeholder workshops, surveys and scientific evidence, and identifies the shared priorities that will guide investment, partnerships and on-ground programs.

The people who live, work and care for this country know things no dataset can fully capture. If you have a connection to this region and want to see it prosper, we want to hear from you.

>> Read the draft Plan and have your say

Vines, pasture and the landscape that holds it all together. Groundwater monitoring helps us understand how the resource is tracking.

Samples are now with the Department for Environment and Water's groundwater lab. If you provided an email address, your results will be sent through within about eight weeks.

We would also like to thank the Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association and the Barossa Improved Grazing Group (BIGG) for their support and promotion of the program, and Barossa Australia for promoting the program and hosting the local sample drop-off point.

The program continues to build on previous monitoring and will run each year, helping us understand how groundwater salinity is tracking across the region. You can read regional Groundwater Status Reports for the Clare Valley and Barossa anytime on WaterConnect.

>> Learn more about groundwater in our region

The Pines Conservation Reserve Management Committee. Back: Greg Mickan, Deane Rohrlach, Trevor Lesile. Front: Carolyn Absolom, Amanda Pearce, Steve Congdon.

At The Pines, a dedicated volunteer committee has been looking after this much-loved 29-hectare reserve for years. Walking trails, birdwatching, weed control, tree propagation, they do the lot. Like a lot of community-run reserves, they've been tackling weeds as they pop up.

This year, with $6,000 in Grassroots Grants funding and support from Light Regional Council, the committee is taking a different tack. They're putting a Pest Plant Management Plan together to identify priority weed species, map high-risk areas and guide control work for years to come.

It's the kind of conservation that doesn't always get noticed, but it changes everything. Every hour of volunteer time will count for more, every decision will be backed by evidence, and the reserve will be in good hands when committee members eventually step away.

>> Read the case study and meet the people behind the work

Join us for two free workshops on creating a coastal garden built for the conditions. You'll learn which species work best, how to maintain them, and which common garden plants are actually doing more harm than good.

Find the latest information and opportunities for people working in agriculture in the Northern and Yorke region, via our Sustainable Ag Update. Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator, Molly O'Dea keeps her finger on the pulse and updates this page regularly to help keep you informed.

>> Sign up to receive the Sustainable Ag Update to be the first in-the-know.

MAY
06 | Desalination for landholders workshop, 2:00pm - 3:30pm, Clare
07 | Desalination for wine producers workshop, 9:00am - 11:00am, Nuriootpa
07 | Reconciliation mosaic workshop, 5:00pm - 8:00pm, Nuriootpa
27 | Turtle workshop, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Narridy
28 | Bats, owls and better vineyards, 3:00pm - 4:30pm, Nuriootpa
30 | Reconciliation exhibition, 10:00am - 1:00pm, TBC
31 | Coastal garden workshop, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Point Turton

JUNE
02 | Plant ID and seed collection workshop, 10:00am - 3:00pm, Orroroo
03 | Plant ID and seed collection workshop, 10:00am - 3:00pm, Clare
03 | Coastal garden workshop, 11:00am - 1:00pm, Wallaroo
04 | Plant ID and seed collection workshop, 10:00am - 3:00pm, Minlaton
03 | Carbon farming workshop, 9:30am - 2:30pm, Urrbrae
04 | Carbon farming workshop, 9:30am - 2:30pm, Urrbrae 
05 | Plant ID and seed collection workshop, 10:00am - 3:00pm, Kadina

Algal bloom support packages
As the state battles with algal bloom along its coastlines, the South Australian and Australian governments have announced algal bloom support packages, including financial relief payments for impacted commercial fisheries, licenced aquaculture businesses and eligible marine industry businesses. Counselling and other resources are also available.

Our very own Paul O'Leary, out and about at the SA Autumn Garden Festival. Joined by Susan and Rebecca. Image captured by Stu Nankivell

Do you have a landscape or nature photo to share? If you've taken a striking photo somewhere in the Northern and Yorke region, we'd love to share it in an upcoming edition of the Yakka.

>> Email Anna with your images