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the australian farmer
farming depends not only on technology and equip- ment but also on a strong and supportive local com- munity. “Agriculture is in many ways the backbone of the South Australian economy and social fabric; it is the healthy cooperation of the people in the agri- cultural industry that is key to success,” he says. “Remaining “cash positive” is one motivator for diversifying A.G. Schilling & Co.’s business, espe- cially with the ever-present threat of drought and other challenges that go with farming on Yorke Pen- insula . “The most resilient generational farms are the ones that have chosen to diversify,” Mark says. “I’m always looking for new opportunities,” Mark says. “Yes, there have been some failures, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give something a go. That’s the only way you learn. That’s the Aussie spirit.”
But A.G. Schilling & Co. are also exporters and have control of their entire supply chain. Mark is an authorised Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service officer, which allows them to pack their own product into shipping containers and export to many countries. “We’ve become self-reliant by cov- ering the full supply chain,” he says. AG Schilling & Co are shareholders of privately owned seed breeding company GIA. “In partner- ship with Grains Innovation Australia, we have bred eleven different varieties of grain and pulses, which we grow, pack, and export.” New seed varieties bred by GIA include Metro, Thunder and Lightning Lentils, Kingbale and Archer Oats, Anvil and Soaker Wheat, and Kastar Peas. Yorke Peninsula is renowned for its innovation in dry-land farming machinery and techniques, but one of the key challenges facing farmers on Yorke Peninsula is the need to conserve water and main- tain soil quality. Decades ago A.G. Schilling & Co. adopted sustainable farming practices such as Zero Till and other permaculture methods to increase water retention and improve soil health. This en- sures that the land remains fertile and productive over the long-term. Sustainability is crucial to the operation of A.G. Schilling & Co., which means the business must have the ability to track and trace across the value chain. “If we’re going to be sustainable, we need to understand what chemicals are used on what prod- ucts, and when and where it was grown.” To that end, A.G. Schilling & Co. has partnered with local computer software company Trust Provenance of Adelaide to develop a digital platform that will en- able producers to manage their supply chain using a mobile phone. Mark has demonstrated his strong commitment to sustainable farming by becoming an active mem- ber of agricultural groups and committees such as Grain Producers Australia and Grain Producers South Australia and a board member of Adelaide University's Agribusiness Advisory Board. He is also an advocate for improvement of facilities for farm- ers at a local level. This fierce commitment is a reflection of Mark’s leadership and his understanding that successful
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