After completing Elders’ two-year Graduate Agronomy Program, Liam Bastian is stepping into a full-time agronomy role with Elders Cleve.
South Australian born and bred, Liam has spent the past two years gaining experience across a range of SA regions and cropping conditions, building a solid foundation in broadacre agronomy.
“The graduate program has been a really diverse experience,” Liam said.
“I’ve worked in everything from high rainfall areas to almost no rainfall in the Mallee, which has been really interesting. I’ve had great mentors the whole way through who’ve helped me build my skills and knowledge.”
The Elders Graduate Agronomy Program offers exposure to a range of farming systems, with opportunities to learn alongside experienced agronomists across the country.
“It’s an unreal program,” Liam said.
“You join a great network of people who really know their stuff. There are so many agronomists with 20-plus years of experience, so there’s always someone to bounce ideas off. The Elders network is huge and everyone brings something different to the table.”
While the program offers the chance to explore different paths in agronomy, Liam chose to focus on broadacre cropping.
“It’s a flexible program. You can go into cotton, vegetables, grapes, or broadacre, depending on what you’re interested in,” he said.
“For me, broadacre was the right fit.”
Now preparing to move to Cleve, Liam is looking forward to taking on a new region and continuing to work closely with local growers.
“Cleve’s a new environment for me, so I’m keen to get to know a new group of clients and explore the area,” he said.
“I really enjoy being involved in trial work too, it’s great to see what’s happening across the Eyre Peninsula and help share that information with growers.”
Liam brings a strong background in lentil production to his new role, having gained extensive experience with pulse crops through his rotations on the Yorke Peninsula and Adelaide Plains.
“The lentil adaptation across those regions has been incredible,” he said.
“I’ve learned a lot from my mentors and I’m looking forward to continuing that work at Cleve, especially with the trial site at Lock.”