Andrew Harding
Biography
Andrew is a Senior Consultant (Sustainable Agriculture) with more than 40 years experience in soils, soil conservation and land management. He specialises in sustainable agriculture, soil acidity and liming, soil and plant nutrition, water erosion control and management of dryland salinity.
He manages, delivers and leads local and state-wide research, development and extension projects to improve agricultural productivity and profitability. He has an extensive range of specialist skills including project planning, development, landholder engagement, facilitation and project management.
During his career he has developed vast and influential networks both intra and interstate with the rural industry and government that assists to achieve successful project outcomes. As part of the soils team (Agronomy), Andrew provides research, extension and consultancy services to State Government, Landscape Boards, rural industry, farming systems groups, farmer groups and individuals.
Andrew is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) with Soil Science Australia.
Research interests
- Sustainable management practices to improve crop and pasture productivity and profitability across SA
- Management and prevention of acid soils and review of current and potential lime sources
- Precision Agriculture including soil pH mapping, NDVI, soil zone sampling and variable rate technology
- Soil and plant nutrition
- Challenges of managing physical and chemical sub-soil constraints
- Cause, control and management of dryland salinity
Qualifications
- B. App. Sc. (Ag.) (1984): Grad. Diploma Ag. (1988); M. Ag. (1994) University of Adelaide
- Diploma of Project Management (2010) mbh Management Pty Ltd: Diploma of Management (2012) TAFE SA
Professional affiliations
- Member of Soil Science Australia
- Member of Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA)
Publications
- Harding, A., B. Hughes, B. Masters and T. Herrmann (2016) Improved decision making for the treatment of acid soils in South Australia. Proceedings NZ Society of Soil Science and Soil Science Australia conference ‘Soil – a Balancing Act Downunder’. 12-16 December 2016, Queenstown NZ.
- Hughes B., A. Harding, N. Fleming, B. Armour, D. Woodard, S. Trengove, S. Sherriff and B. Masters (2021) Early results from trials addressing topsoil and subsurface acidity in South Australia. Proceedings GRDC Research up-dates 9 -10 February 2021, Adelaide SA.
- Harding, A., S .Mason and B. Hughes (2023) Developing criteria for soil and plant aluminium and manganese toxicity in South Australia. Research report prepared for SA Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT).
