South-West WA Hub Update

September 2024

Funding opportunities

Two FDF grant rounds are now open

The Future Drought Fund (FDF) has recently released two new grant rounds, which are open until 19 November.

The Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Program (Round 2) looks at investigating new practices and technologies that will improve productivity in variable weather through evidence-based trials, co-designed with farmers. $40.3 million will be available for projects between $3 million and $8 million from 2024-25 until 2029-30. Learn more and apply.

The Resilient Landscapes Program focuses on improving drought and climate resilience by implementing and scaling natural resource management practices on farms, with a focus on achieving transformational change at a landscape scale. $40 million will be available for projects between $2 million and $6 million from 2024-25 until 2029-30. Learn more and apply.

Hub team support

As per previous grant rounds, the SW WA Hub can assist Hub consortium partners and grower groups whose applications align with WA’s drought resilience priorities. 

The Hub team is committed to maximising your chances of success. Here’s how we can assist:

• Letters of support: We can facilitate letters of support for applicants who engage with the SW WA Hub early, align their projects with WA’s regional drought resilience priorities, and are seeking to partner with the Grower Group Alliance.
• Facilitating collaboration: We can introduce proponents of similar projects, including interstate partners, fostering opportunities for co-design and project amalgamation.
• Grant application guidance: Our team can help you navigate grant guidelines and offer high-level advice on how to best meet the grant criteria.

To access our support, complete our expression of interest (EOI) form by 25 October:

• EOI for Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Program
• EOI for Resilient Landscapes Program

The first point of contact for this grant round is SW WA Hub Adoption Manager Julianne Hill on 0447 261 607 or via swwadroughthub@gga.org.au.

Dry Season Resources

Dry Season Resources podcast

Listen to the SW WA Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast on the Hub website and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Job opportunity

Extension & Adoption Specialist

The Grower Group Alliance is recruiting an Extension & Adoption Specialist for the SW WA Hub.

The Extension & Adoption Specialist will work with the SW WA Hub team and regional network across WA to deliver impactful extension and adoption outcomes for farmers. They will develop and implement extension tools and activities that extend regionally relevant research and innovation.

Applications close on 11 October 2024.

Hub Projects in Focus

New Bioplastics Innovation Hub houses SMART SPRAYS transformational project

Murdoch University and CSIRO launched the Bioplastics Innovation Hub on 2 September, an $8 million collaboration that will work with industry to develop a new generation of 100 per cent compostable plastic. 

The SW WA Hub is working closely with the Bioplastics Innovation Hub on the SMART SPRAYS project, which is testing the use of biodegradable polymer sprays to improve water harvesting and water retention in cropping systems.

This project is part of the Hub's Transformational program. It receives funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, Murdoch University and the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration.

Find out more about how this project will help increase productivity in broadacre cropping.

Transforming agricultural landscapes with natural capital

As part of the SW WA Hub's Transformational Program, the University of Western Australia has been leading educational workshops to share insights on natural capital opportunities in agricultural landscapes.

This project aims to revolutionise natural resource management by exploring natural capital production landscapes as a new asset class.

Earlier this month, growers and industry leaders gathered in Gascoyne Junction, Albany, Northam and Manjimup for workshops hosted by Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance, Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Wheatbelt NRM, and Southern Forests Food Council respectively. Led by experts Tom Picton-Warlow, Associate Professor Ram Pandit, Dr Lizzy Lowe, and Dr Jon Sarmiento, these sessions offered a valuable platform to:

• Explore the concept of natural capital in agricultural landscapes,
• Discuss potential large-scale investment opportunities,
• Foster collaborations for developing collective natural capital.

The next workshop will be held in Boyup Brook on 23 October and will be hosted by South-West NRM, a Hub Regional Node. Find out more and register.

This project is supported by the SW WA Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Barriers and opportunities for grain traceability adoption in WA

PhD candidate Emmanuel Gomez, from the University of Western Australia, explored the potential of grain traceability to add value for Western Australian growers. His research, supported by a bursary from the SW WA Hub, examined grower attitudes toward data sharing and adopting traceability systems to meet market demand for sustainability information.

Survey results showed that while growers see traceability as beneficial for both the industry and their own businesses, barriers to adoption remain. Key concerns include the effort required to collect additional data, develop new skills, and share sensitive information.

However, the outlook is promising. Sixty-six percent of growers indicated a willingness to adopt traceability systems if integrated into their existing supply chains. This figure rises to 85% if market premiums are offered. The findings suggest strong potential for industry-wide adoption, though addressing grower concerns will be critical for broad uptake across all age groups and farm types.

Drought Hub Team Out and About

Connecting with producers at field days

The SW WA Hub team participated in the Dowerin Machinery Field Days on 28-29 August and the Newdegate Machinery Field Days on 4 September. During these events, the Grower Group Alliance and the Hub hosted a booth in the GRDC marquee, engaging with producers and collecting valuable insights on their priorities for enhancing drought resilience.

Additionally, the Hub team attended the Fitzgerald Biosphere Group spring field day on 2 September, the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance field day on 11-12 September, and the Rylington Park field day on 12 September.

These interactions fostered collaboration and strengthened connections within the agricultural community, supporting the Hub's mission to build resilience in a changing climate.

Southern Rangelands Regional Advisory Committee in Carnarvon, 10 September 2024.

Refining drought resilience priorities in South-West WA

Following the August meeting with the South-West Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) [read about it in the August newsletter], the SW WA Hub met with the Wheatbelt, Midwest & Gascoyne Coastal, and Southern Rangelands RACs and Nodes in Perth and Carnarvon to refine drought resilience priorities.

These sessions focused on developing key priority areas that will inform future projects and activities, and support the extension of existing work to address local needs.

In the Wheatbelt, priorities include farm and landscape water planning, on-farm water management, and livestock and feed management within cropping systems.

The Midwest and Gascoyne Coastal region identified protected cropping systems, climate-resilient crop varieties, and sustainable weed suppression as key areas for further research.

In the Southern Rangelands, rehydration management, year-round ground cover, control of non-domestic grazers, and the use of ag tech and remote sensing for rangelands management were highlighted.

The SW WA Hub will continue working with RAC members, Nodes, and their networks to refine these priorities, support project development, and facilitate collaboration among proponents of similar projects at state and national levels, particularly through the latest Future Drought Fund (FDF) grant rounds.

These recent meetings provided valuable opportunities for stakeholders to engage and learn about the SW WA Hub's activities and FDF investments in the South-West WA region.

Sarah Jeffery (Rangelands NRM and Node Lead), Amanda Day (Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association) and Julianne Hill (SW WA Hub) at Kanandah Station.

Southern Rangelands visit highlights pastoralists' drought priorities

In early September, SW WA Hub Adoption Manager, Julianne Hill, travelled with Node Lead Sarah Jeffery, from Rangelands NRM, to visit pastoralists in the Southern Rangelands along the WA/SA Transline.

This trip provided valuable insights into conditions on the Nullarbor after six and a half years of drought, which were followed by significant rains earlier this year. Over a three-day period, more than 300 mm of rain fell, causing widespread damage that is still being tackled.

During the visit, they met with pastoralists in the Rawlinna area at a BBQ at the Nullarbor Muster Club, hosted by the Goldfield Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association. Sarah Jeffery encouraged attendees to share their drought priorities, which were later included in discussions at the Southern Rangelands Regional Advisory Committee meeting in Carnarvon the following week.

It was a productive opportunity for Julianne to connect with pastoralists, hear about the challenges they face, and collaborate with Sarah on identifying key issues impacting pastoralists in the Nullarbor.

Strengthening soil management through national collaboration

Sarah Belli, GGA Regional Lead for the Carbon Farming Outreach Program, represented the SW WA Hub at the Smart Soils National Community of Practice (CoP) event in Alice Springs on 3–5 September 2024. The CoP fosters collaboration among soil scientists, agronomists and NRM managers to enhance soil management practices across Australia.

Participants explored key resources like the National Soils Strategy and TERN's data discovery portal. Presentations and site visits covered a range of topics, including landscape response to managed grazing, soil and vegetation mapping for rangelands management, and the use of drones and imagery for ecological monitoring. Participants also learned about the exciting projects currently underway at the Northern Hub.

These insights will contribute to advancing soil resilience and sustainability in regional Australia.

Theo Nabben recognised for 20 years of evaluation leadership

Theo Nabben, GGA Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Manager and Hub Adoption Officer, was one of three recipients of the Fellows Award at the Australasian Evaluation Society Conference in Melbourne on 19 September 2024. This award acknowledges Theo’s 20-year contribution to building evaluation capacity within the agricultural, natural resource management, and international development sectors.

Theo joined the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) in the early 1990s as a landcare facilitator in the South-West, later managing projects in farm business planning, communications, natural resource management, and community-based weed management. He has also led agricultural capacity building programs in South Africa and the Middle East.

In 2010, Theo started working as an independent consultant, specialising in monitoring and evaluation, capacity development for agricultural extension officers, and community engagement. His work has taken him to 21 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East.

A passionate trainer, Theo is a strong advocate of participatory monitoring techniques, particularly the Most Significant Change approach. He joined the Grower Group Alliance in August 2022.

Relevant News, Events and Resources

'Preparing for drought' workshop with South-West NRM

Join South-West NRM, a SW WA Hub Regional Node, at Rylington Park, Boyup Brook on 23 October for the 'Preparing for Drought' event. From 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, expert speakers will share insights on water conservation, pasture management, and opportunities in natural capital investment.

New climate projections guide to strengthen water management in WA

A new guide has been published which will help scientists, planners and decision-makers manage our most precious resource using up-to-date climate projections and approaches.

The Guide to future climate projections for water management in Western Australia is a step-by-step decision support tool that:

• Provides a practical framework for selecting climate projections,
• Explains a contemporary approach to applying projections in a risk-based climate impact assessment,
• Enables water planners, scientists and decision-makers to assess potential climate change impacts,
• Replaces Selection of future climate projections for Western Australia (Department of Water, 2015),
• Recommends using the Bureau of Meteorology’s National Hydrological, Projections until the next generation of climate projections are available from WA’s Climate Science Initiative,
• Is relevant to all of WA.

Consultation open for Regional Drought Resilience Planning (Wheatbelt)

The Wheatbelt Development Commission is inviting stakeholders to participate in the consultation phase for the development of the Wheatbelt Regional Drought Resilience Plan (RDRP), part of a national initiative under the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Over the coming months, the consultation phase will see the Commission engage with a range of stakeholders, including those from water management, agriculture, community development, and landscape management sectors, to gather input on resilience outcomes, goals, and challenges. Technical experts will contribute insights on potential projects and innovations to support long-term drought resilience.

To get involved, contact the Wheatbelt RDRP team at resilience.plan@wheatbelt.wa.gov.au, or complete the online survey.
 

Changemaker workshop empowers community-led action to local challenges

The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation invites you to join one of their upcoming Changemaker workshops, designed for individuals who want to contribute to positive change in their community.

WA workshops will take place on 14-15 November in Hyden, 25-26 November in Manjimup, and 28-29 November in Harvey.

The workshops are facilitated under the Future Drought Fund’s 'Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative'.

Locally Relevant News from the Future Drought Fund

Have your say about My Climate View

If you have heard about, accessed or used My Climate View, you are invited to provide your feedback about the tool.

The tool was built from input from growers and advisors over the past couple of years, so feedback from industry is critical to ensuring the continual improvement of the tool.

Your views will help the My Climate View team understand how the tool is meeting your sector’s climate related decision-making needs – and what else might be needed in the future. 

Find out about the Future Drought Fund

The Future Drought Fund (FDF) provides secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives and will help Australian farmers and communities prepare for the impacts of drought.