BUTE agronomist Sam Trengove was among those recognised at the inaugural South Australian Grain Industry Awards, held at Adelaide Oval on February 4.

Hosted by Grain Producers SA, the event brought together 300 industry leaders, grain producers, researchers and agribusiness professionals to celebrate innovation, sustainability and leadership in the sector.

Mr Trengove, principal of Trengove Consulting, received the Innovation Award for his outstanding contributions to research and development, including groundbreaking trials set to revolutionise farming practices, particularly in low-rainfall years.

“To know that the work we’ve been involved with is valued and appreciated within the industry is a great acknowledgement,” Mr Trengove said.

“Sharing our stories raises awareness across the community of the modern, technologically advanced production systems that farmers are using to produce high-quality crops in a challenging environment.”

Encouraging young professionals in the industry, Mr Trengove emphasised the importance of curiosity and adaptability.

“Be willing to ask questions and seek advice,” he said.

“Look beyond your own farm or district. You don’t have to try everything, but be open to new ideas, pay attention to details, observe, and refine.”

Mr Trengove was one of six award winners to be honoured at the ceremony.

Hall of Fame

The first inductees to the South Australian Grain Industry Hall of Fame were also announced, including brothers Richard and Clarence Smith, of Kalkabury (now Arthurton), who invented the revolutionary stump jump plough in 1876.

Their invention enabled farmers to cultivate and sow land filled with mallee stumps and rocks, opening up vast tracts of land for farming.

Veteran Mid North agronomist Allan Mayfield, who is well known to growers on YP, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

GPSA chief executive Brad Perry said the awards celebrated people in the present and the past who drove innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the industry.

“Each finalist has played an important role in advancing South Australia’s grain industry, and their contributions will continue to shape the industry for years to come,” he said.

Mr Perry said the legacy of the Hall of Fame Inductees would continue to inspire future generations of grain producers and industry professionals. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said the awards recognised excellence in the state’s multi-billion-dollar grain sector. 

“It is a privilege to be able to celebrate a sector that — despite challenges in the past year — remains a critical part of the state’s economy and provides employment to so many across our state,” she said. 

2025 SA Grain Industry Awards winners 

• Innovation Award, Sam Trengove: Recognised for his outstanding contributions to agronomic research and development, including groundbreaking trials set to revolutionise farming practices, particularly in low-rainfall years. 
• Sustainability Award, Tim Paschke: Acknowledged for his commitment to soil health and sustainable farming techniques, achieving remarkable production results despite minimal growing season rainfall. 
• Women in Grain, Lou Flohr: Celebrated for her leadership and influence in the grains industry, including her active roles in governance, advocacy and industry mentorship. 
• Industry Impact Award, Professor Christopher Preston: Recognised for his significant contributions to agricultural research and advocacy for responsible chemical use in broadacre farming. 
• Young Grain Producer of the Year, Jock McNeil: Acknowledged for his innovative approach to farming in the Mallee and his leadership in adopting new technologies to manage soil and weeds. 
• Grain Producer of the Year, Andrew Polkinghorne:  Recognised for his forward-thinking approach to farming, global research on grain industry trends through a Churchill Fellowship, and lessons applied in succession planning processes within his family business. 

Innovation in soil research

TACKLING soil constraints has been a key focus for Bute agronomist Sam Trengove, who received the Innovation Award at the inaugural South Australian Grain Industry Awards on February 4.

The award citation highlighted Mr Trengove’s innovative contributions to sustainable agriculture, particularly across Yorke Peninsula and the Mid North.

“As principal of Trengove Consulting, he leads a team dedicated to enhancing crop productivity and soil health through applied research and precision agronomy services,” the citation said

His research on soil amelioration has explored deep ripping and organic amendments, such as chicken litter, to improve crop performance on sandy soils, with this work demonstrating significant yield improvements and economic benefits for growers.

His expertise also extends to managing soil acidity, investigating liming and strategic tillage to correct subsurface acidification, improving soil pH and crop yields.

Mr Trengove has played a key role in advancing crop nutrition, fungicide resistance in wheat powdery mildew, harvest weed seed control, herbicide tolerance and optimising lentil production on sandy soils.

Growing up on his family farm near Bute, Mr Trengove developed a passion for agriculture and science, which led him to a career in agronomic research.

“It’s rewarding to contribute meaningfully, work alongside great people, and see solutions adopted on-farm to improve profitability and sustainability,” he said.

Mr Trengove is particularly proud of his team’s methodology for predicting crop response to phosphorus (P) fertiliser applications, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the SA Grain Industry Trust.

“Years of soil and plant tissue testing showed P deficiency was a recurring issue in poorer-performing paddock zones,” he said.

Advancements in soil pH mapping and satellite NDVI imagery provided insights into where these deficiencies were occurring, helping to identify the underlying soil chemistry factors affecting P availability.

This groundbreaking methodology is now being adopted by growers across the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula, with trials expanding to the Eyre Peninsula and Mallee.

“Given that P fertiliser inputs are one of the largest variable costs for many South Australian farms, these findings are incredibly valuable.”

South Australian Grain Industry Hall of Fame

Historical inductees

• John Ridley: Inventor of the Ridley stripper, the world’s first successful mechanical grain harvester, which revolutionised global grain production. 
• Richard and Clarence Smith, Ardrossan: Pioneers of the stump jump plough, an innovation that allowed for broadacre cropping on previously unusable land.

Modern inductees

• John Lush: Highly respected grains industry advocate, inaugural chair of Grain Producers SA and a key figure in industry leadership at state and national levels. 
• Dr Allan Mayfield: Renowned researcher, agronomist and industry leader, with a legacy in grains research and development. 
• Ken Schaefer (posthumous): Passionate industry advocate, instrumental in establishing the SA Grain Industry Trust, supporting millions of dollars in research funding.