South-West WA Hub Update

Hub project in focus

Transformational projects program grants closing soon

Last month the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) opened a small grants program to its Hub Consortium Partners up to the value of $1m for transformational projects that lead to improved drought resilience within Western Australia’s agricultural systems. 

The SW WA Hub, which is led by the Grower Group Alliance and funded by the Australian Government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund (FDF) program, aims to improve the drought resilience and preparedness of local farmers and their communities, and to foster agricultural innovation.

Individual projects can apply for up to $250,000 and Hub Consortium Partners have been notified by direct email with the links to the program guidelines and EOI application form which closes next Friday 13 October.

New Sweet Lupin Website Launched

An informational website has just been launched by Sweet Lupin Western Australia Inc. promoting lupins for food. The website is part of the Value Added Lupin Exports project within the Agricultural Innovation Hubs Program.

The Sweet Lupin Association (SLA) was established to spearhead the promotion of ‘Australian lupin bean’ as a sustainable and healthy food source.

Establishment of the SLA, which is led by DPIRD, has been supported by the SW WA Hub via the Australian Government’s Agricultural Innovation Hubs Program.

Drought Hub Team Out and About

GGA and SW WA Hub attends GIWA Forum

GGA CEO Rikki Foss and Hub Director Mark Holland attended the Grain Industry WA (GIWA) Forum on Wednesday this week.

The theme of the forum was 'Adding Local Value to WA Grain: From Startups to Big Business'. 

Welcoming Intergrain's CEO to her new position as GIWA Chair, Tress Walmsley chaired the panel which included the Hon. Jackie Jarvis MLC Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Small Business, Milne AgriGroup's General Manager Adam Laitt, Premium Grain Handler's Manager John Orr, and FoodTech Entrepreneur Nick Stamatiou.

Nick from Whole. showcased nutrient extraction technology that converts food waste into useable ingredients by extracting high value components prior to shipping

Hub Director Mark Holland said Nick's presentation was particularly aligned with the value-add theme.

"Technology like this has the potential to add great value to the WA grains industry."

"It is appropriate for primary stages of processing to be conducted close to production areas while secondary stages are often located close to the market," he said.

National Drought Forum and Hub Directors Meeting

Aligned with the release of the Productivity Commission Report of the Future Drought Fund Drought Hub Director Mark Holland joined over 200 delegates gathered for the National Drought Forum in Rockhampton.

Hosted by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, in partnership with the National Farmers’ Federation, the forum is held every two years to bring together the diverse range of people and organisations who help farmers and rural communities deal with drought.

The Forum provided a platform for discussion and consultation on drought policy and the Productivity Commission Report. Presentations were centred around decision-making in drought, financial resilience, and community-led action.

Coinciding with the National Drought Forum Drought Hub Directors from across the country met to refine the final design of the second phase of the Drought Resilience Research and Adoption program and specifically the Adoption and Innovation Hubs.

Making the most of having all directors in one place, there was a discussion held between the Directors and CSIRO's Drought Mission Leaders about how to foster closer engagement. 

Caption: The SW WA Hub's Adoption Officer Theo Nabben and Adoption Manager Julianne Hill delivering an extension and adoption workshop to Murdoch University students.

Talking Extension & Adoption with Murdoch Students

Earlier this week Hub Adoption Manager Julianne Hill and Hub Adoption Officer Theo Nabben delivered an extension and adoption workshop to third year Animal Science Students at Murdoch University.

The purpose of the guest lecture focusing and workshop was to teach these students the finer points of extension and adoption.

The Drought Hub adoption team presented a 3-hour lecture focusing on various pathways to adoption, providing insight to the students on how research can be adopted on-farm by well-planned and implemented extension methodologies.

The pair were joined by Harvey dairy farmer Dale Hanks for two practical sessions, Dale described key practice changes he has implemented to make his farming operations more profitable.

Julianne Hill also presented her own case study, sharing experience from her family's sheep operations and some of the practices they deploy to improve lamb survival and productivity rates. The day wrapped up with a session on the role of grower groups in research and how they are a strong and successful model for peer-to-peer learning, demonstrating extension pathways for research onto farms.  The students were very excited to hear of the opportunities with grower groups and how they could engage with them. 

The workshop took place in the university's new animal science building - dubbed the most sustainable wooden building in the southern hemisphere.

Operations Managers meet for Community of Practice in Canberra

Hub Project Manager Kellie-Jane Pritchard joined nine other Operations Managers for a face-to-face Community of Practice (CoP) this week.

Representatives from the South Australian, Tasmanian, Tropical Northern Queensland, Southern New South Wales, Victorian, Southern Queensland Northern New South Wales, Northern, and South-West Western Australian hubs were present for the CoP.

Discussion between Hubs centred around streamlining processes, reporting, and identifying consistency across Hubs with DAFF staff.

The group were also treated to a Thursday afternoon field trip to Mulloon Institute, hosted by General Manager, Jono Forrest to look at stream regeneration and water retention in the landscape.

International Evaluation Conference recap

Hub Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Manager, Theo Nabben attended the Australian Evaluation Society's (AES) International Evaluation Conference in Brisbane last week. The sold-out conference highlighted the need for evaluators to include stakeholder perspectives in the design of evaluation frameworks and lessons for future program improvement.  

The conference theme 'Through the Lens' honed in on four core pillars, reflect: understanding different ways of knowing to inform our theory and practice ; refract: adapting, growing and embracing diversity ; refocus: challenging norms, practicing on the edge while maintaining our core; and resonate: building the translational process and transformative impact of evaluation .

Currently, the Hub is in the initial stages of planning for a stakeholder reflection and planning workshop. More to come.

Drought Hub Team On Tour

'Exchange Experience' Study Tour to South Australia

A group of twelve recently joined the Hub team on tour to South Australia.  

Project Manager Kellie-Jane Pritchard and Adoption Manager Julianne Hill led the charge. The cohort, comprising farmers, researchers, consultants, and hub staff, examined agtech, glasshouse and field trials that showcased innovative research as part of an ‘exchange experience’ with the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub. 

SW WA Hub Project Manager Kellie-Jane Pritchard said the tour was co-designed between the SW WA Hub and the SA Hub to highlight a range of options that could be applied on-farm to help manage variable seasons. 

“Tour participants joined from Yuna, Northampton, Dowerin, Quairading, Merredin, Coorow, and Perth, providing opportunities to learn from one another as well from the South Australian growers and researchers.  

“In designing the tour, the hubs wanted to ensure a well-rounded experience for all participants,” she said. 

Launching the tour near Roseworthy at the SA Hub headquarters, Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) Marketing and Communications manager Dan Vater led the WA group through the greenhouses, seed storage chambers, malting area and bread testing area highlighting that while yield was still the major parameter in their breeding. quality, disease, and abiotic stressors are significant in their selection criteria.  

The group then visited Dr Mariana Caetano at the University of Adelaide who spoke to the group about measuring methane emissions and different approaches to reducing these emissions, including the use of bromoform from Asparagopsis (seaweed).  

The Farrell Flat Frost Learning Centre was the final stop for day one. a number of strategies they are working on to manage frost risk, including mixing wheat varieties, mixing faba bean and lentils; using safflower; and the use of ice-nucleating bacteria. 

Kicking off day two, the Hart Field day shed insights on crop breeding and genetics; finding out what the latest was around drought and salinity tolerance; investigating if it was possible to farm without glyphosate; and to see if there was anything new in frost mitigation. 

Extensive trials and 30 highly regarded speakers were showcased. Two highlights included as update on RiskWi$e, a 5-year national investment by the GRDC of $30 million that will run from 2023 to 2028, to understand and improve the risk-reward outcomes for Australian grain growers by supporting grower on-farm decision-making,  of which GGA and eight WA grower groups are involved. Dr. Chris Preston of the University of Adelaide Weed Science Research Group addressed the cohort exploring the logistics of farming without glyphosate which created much discussion.

Just outside of Loxton, Lowaldie’s Mallee Sustainable Farming hosted the group on day three where they looked at the ripping effect on mid and top slopes of their dune swale system. 

The group toured Bulla Burra’s collaborative farming operation exploring farming in this low rainfall (average growing season is approximately 150mm over the last 10 years). General Manager Robin Schaefer shared with the group why summer weed management is key. This pitstop also explored the use of variable rate nutrition and seed in variable soil types - shifting nutrition from the poor soils to the better loamy soils, and increasing seeding rate on more fragile sandy ridges. 

The success of the study tour was evident in the responses from the participants as to relevance (high), take home messages (many), practice change (most) and enthusiasm during the tour (evident).The tour was designed through interaction between the SW WA Hub and the SA Hub as part of an exchange experience.

Yuna grower Jess Groves gave an interview with Rural Focus covering the tour.

Grains Convo - Study finds 7% of WA grainbelt at risk of wind erosion 

DPIRD Research Scientist Justin Laycock recently spoke with Grains Convo about ground cover management to help keep options open for next season. 

Justin said managing groundcover wass always important but even more so in dry seasons

"Keeping more than 50% vegetative cover will allow you to manage your farm normally without fear of your soil blowing away.," he said.
 
"For example, dry seeding next year will be less risky in a paddock with 50% groundcover than one with less cover. Summer weeds can be eliminated rather than a necessity to protect the soil from strong erosive winds.  
 
"The 50% figure is derived from research conducted throughout Australia, and is known to reduce the erosion risk to a tolerable level. Estimating groundcover for a pasture is relatively easy, look down between your boots and estimate the proportion of vegetation or bare soil, or alternatively 750kg/ha of pasture is known to be adequate to prevent erosion. A stubble of 1.5t/ha, or the residue from a wheat crop yielding 750kg/ha should also be adequate. Alternatively, lay the stubble over and estimate the proportion of bare soil.   
 
"There are a number of options open to farmers to keep paddocks at 50% cover. Shift stock off pastures and stubbles and into confinement feeding before there is an issue. Reconsider harvesting if there is a concern of future erosion, particularly on soils that are highly susceptible to erosion, then minimise all vehicle and stock movement in that paddock."
   
Justin's take home message was to plan ahead to keep groundcover over 50% so you have options over summer, through to the next cropping season and beyond.
 
"Healthy soil is your farm's primary asset and after years of managing and improving your soil, now is the time to ensure it remains in place," he said.

Complete survey to have your say on soils

A national survey to assess soil issues, knowledge gaps and research and extension opportunities across Australia is open.

The anonymous results will be summarised for the Regional Soil Coordinator project in a report to DAFF to ultimately help inform the design and delivery of targeted soil interventions to address priorities under the National Soil Strategy.

Grain traceability survey

Is grain traceability worthwhile or practical? What proportion of consumers will pay for traceability credentials?

UWA researchers are seeking to identify and represent farmers’ positions and views on potential traceability solutions, focusing on farm sustainability as part of the Investigating the economics of grain traceability investment decisions project. 

Participate in Farm to Port survey

Grain growers are encouraged to complete a survey that will assist research aimed at optimising grain supply chains.

The ‘Farm to Port’ study is led by The University of WA and supported by the SW WA Hub through its student bursary program.

UWA PhD student Garima, who recently received an extension and adoption bursary from the SW WA Hub, said the aim of the study was to produce a framework, based on simulations, that could assist growers to optimise decisions during and after harvest.

“This could include decisions relating to transportation, storage, packaging and marketing of crops,” she said.

Please see below other locally relevant news from the Future Drought Fund  

Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative – Small Networks Grants

Small Network Grants are now available to community organisations in regional and rural Australia to develop and deliver one-off events or initiatives to strengthen community networks and capabilities that build drought preparedness.

Funding is through the Future Drought Fund and there are streams of $20k and $50k available, subject to location. 

New name and website for climate tool

The Climate Services for Agriculture (CSA) program has a new name and website for its farmer-focused climate information tool.

My Climate View is a free online climate information tool helping farmers understand what the future climate might mean for their location, down to a 5km² resolution, to inform decision-making and build climate resilience.

It presents agriculturally relevant historical and future climate information in one place so farmers can explore climate trends for specific commodities at a local scale.

Along with the new name and website, other updates to the My Climate View tool include the addition of climate information for avocados, cherries and chickpeas, significant improvements to how users can access and view their local and commodity-specific climate information, and insight into how climate information is calculated.

CSA is a collaboration between CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology and part of the FDF's investment in better climate information for Australia's agriculture sector.

Find out about 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.