Date: Tuesday, 2 June 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (ACST), Lunch will be provided. Field walk will take place prior to Hort Connections trade show opening ceremony.
Location: Mitolo Family Farms, Penfield, SA
Registration: Click here to register. Registrations are essential for catering purposes and address details.
Biosecurity matters. Join us by coming in clean clothes and footwear, with a clean vehicle — come clean, go clean.
About the Session
Join us in Penfield for a field walk focused on improving soil health for potato production in South Australia.
The field walk will take place at Mitolo Family Farms, where cover crops are integrated into potato rotations to build soil health and improve system resilience.
We’ll hear from guest speaker Julie Finnigan (Muirs), who will share practical insights into adopting cover crops, managing soil constraints and developing more resilient, productive farming systems. Attendees will gain actionable knowledge and real-world examples that can be applied on-farm.
Topics:
Cover cropping in practice: Integrating cover crops into potato rotations to improve soil structure and moisture retention, with focus around species selection and disease risk.
Managing soil constraints: Practical strategies for managing sodicity and salinity in sandy soils.
Building soil health: Improving water holding capacity, soil structure, and organic matter through application of ameliorants.
Healthy soil biology: Supporting healthier soils and reducing soilborne disease through improved biological function.
This is a valuable opportunity to connect with fellow growers and industry members, share experiences, and walk away with practical strategies to improve soil health and reduce input costs.
Event schedule
Field walk with the Mitolo team: Visit Mitolo Family Farms to learn about their potato and cover crop rotation approaches, as well as soil management.
Soil constraints and cover cropping insights with Julie Finnigan: Julie will discuss practical strategies for managing salinity and sodicity, improving soil health in sandy soils, increasing water holding capacity and using soil ameliorants. She will also explore how healthy soil biology can support the management of soilborne disease.
Group discussion: The day will give attendees the opportunity to reflect on key learnings and discuss approaches that can be implemented on-farm.
Meet the speakers
Mitolo Family Farms
Host grower
Julie Finnigan
Muirs
More Information
For more information, please contact: Bonnie Dawson
0466 465 896