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Welcome from the Director
Welcome to the last Update of the year for the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub).
Over the past month, the Extension and Adoption (E&A) team has been busy producing a range of resources for our Dry Season Resources library. The last three episodes of Season One of the Dry Season Resources Podcast are now live. You can listen to key experts discuss N bank nutrition after a low crop year, livestock management in a dry year and lessons learned after 15 years of farming systems changes. Listen to the episodes on our website or subscribe to the Hub's podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Season Two is already in the works, so stay tuned for more episodes in 2024.
We've also released a mini-video series, titled 'Dry Season Shorts', which features practical advice and insights from growers and agronomists on drought resilience practices. Scroll down to find out what topics are currently available.
Julianne Hill, Maddison McNeil, Alison Lacey and Theo Madden, from the Hub E&A team, attended the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN) International Conference 2023 held in Launceston mid-November. The theme of the conference was ‘Looking to the future: the role of extension and education’. Read about what the team learnt in the article below.
In November, we also welcomed Jessica Scholle to the team as the new Hub Stakeholder and Communications Manager. Before joining the Hub, Jess was the Communications Manager for WeedSmart and the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) at The University of Western Australia. Find out more about Jess in her profile below.
Lastly, the full proposals for the Transformational Projects Program are currently under review. Our Knowledge Broker, Tanya Kilminster, expects to announce the grant recipients later this month.
The team is looking forward to a break and coming back refreshed in the new year. Wishing you a happy and safe festive season!
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to colleagues, friends or clients.
Mark Holland | Hub Director
South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
Dry Season Resources
Need some holiday listening? Tune in to the SW WA Hub Dry Season Resources podcast
The final three episodes of Season one of the Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast are here! Key experts discuss N bank nutrition after a low crop year, livestock management in a dry year, and lessons learned after 15 years of farming systems changes.
Throughout the year, you'll hear from growers and industry experts on managing dry season responses, ranging from early planning to tactical decision-making throughout the year and setting up for the following season.
Topics cover business decisions, soil management, water use efficiency, N considerations, life in the northern ag region and livestock operations in a dry season.
The Hub is dedicated to sharing information that supports growers in preparing for and responding to a dry season. This podcast is just one of the extension tools in the works to provide value to growers facing dry season challenges.
The Dry Season Resources podcast is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, funded by the Future Drought Fund.
Listen here and subscribe to the Hub's podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
New 'Dry Season Shorts' video series delivers practical drought resilience tips
The SW WA Hub's Extension and Adoption team caught up with farmers and industry professionals to reflect on the variable 2023 season, characterised by dry conditions.
In these discussions, farmers shared valuable insights into the proactive measures they implemented to increase their farming systems' resilience to a drying climate.
Agronomists offered expert advice to assist farmers in preparing for the challenges posed by future dry seasons.
- Tactics in a dry year, The use of fallow, with John Flannagan, grain grower in Pindar, WA
- Reducing costs and forward planning during a dry year, with Rod Birch, grain grower in Coorow, WA
- Herbicide carryover risk after a dry year, with Bevan Addison, Adama WA Market Development Manager
- Things to consider after a dry season preparing for 2024, with Grant Thompson, Director and Research Agronomist at Crop Circle Agronomy
- Ground cover and erosion management after a dry season, with Justin Laycock, DPIRD Research Scientist
The Hub team is gathering more insights to further build our Dry Season Resources library. Stay tuned.
Hub projects in focus
Transformational projects program grant proposals under review
In September 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.
Full proposals are currently being reviewed with project announcements anticipated for later this month.
Smart dam infrastructure proves its worth as thunderstorm boosts water supply
UWA Associate Professor Nik Callow recently examined a WaterSmart Dam's roaded catchment system in Merredin, revealing its effectiveness during a one-hour thunderstorm. The storm, depositing 14.2mm of rain, replenished two months' worth of water in the dam. As a result, the water level has now reached the point it stood at in mid-October.
Codesigned by Merredin and District's Farm Improvement Group's (MADFIG), UWA and the SmartDams Champion Leigh Giles, a roaded catchment has been retrofitted to a renovated dam. The site is testing design strategies to enhance water flow and capture amidst reduced rainfall intensity.
The success of this SmartDam design underscores the importance of having robust water collection infrastructure capable of capitalising on such meteorological events.
This innovative approach is part of the 2-year WaterSmart Dams project, which aims to develop knowledge and water planning tools for farmers who need their dams to work in all years, and be able to make water investment decisions with confidence.
Hub Team member introduction
Meet Jessica Scholle
Jessica joined GGA in November 2023, bringing with her an extensive background in communications and stakeholder management.
Equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Master of Science Communication, Jess combines her scientific knowledge with her expertise in facilitating community engagement to ignite interest and drive participation in science and technology.
Before joining GGA, Jess held the role of Communications Manager for WeedSmart and the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) at The University of Western Australia. She facilitated the transfer of knowledge between research and industry, disseminating practical messages to growers and their advisors on how to control crop weeds and avoid herbicide resistance whilst optimising yields.
Prior to this, Jess served as an outreach program coordinator at Scitech, Perth’s not-for-profit science centre. There, she spearheaded initiatives that brought STEM programs to schools and communities across Western Australia, and even to China, with the aim of enhancing public interest, capability, and active participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Drought Hub Team Out and About
SW WA Hub Looks to the future at APEN
The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub’s Extension and Adoption team attended the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN) International Conference 2023 held in Launceston mid-last month. The theme of the conference was ‘Looking to the future: the role of extension and education’.
More than 100 speakers presented on topics from AI and the future of agricultural extension, effective communication of blue sky research through narrative, to emergency management and recovery.
South Australian of the Year, Tim Jarvis was the key speaker. He talked about purposeful leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, change management, goal setting and sustainability.
While in Tasmania the Hub team took the opportunity to visit three different farms. The itinerary was organised by the Tasmanian Farm Innovation Hub, one of the seven other drought hubs across the country.
Regional Node Lead hands over the reins
Our Hub Adoption Manager, Julianne Hill, has spent the last couple of weeks on the road, touching base with the SW WA Hub's eight Regional Node Leads.
The Regional Node Leads provide guidance on priority issues impacting the drought and climate resilience of farming systems, their industries and communities. Through nominated managers, the Regional Node Leads help link the Hub to end users by gathering and sharing knowledge, coordinating local activities and supporting Hub activities.
Jennifer Riseley (pictured above on the right), from Southern Forests Food Council, is stepping down from her Node Lead role after 18 months in the position. Jennifer has played a critical role in facilitating the transfer of knowledge between the Hub and farmers since the Regional Node Leads were implemented in April 2022. Laura Bolitho (pictured above on the left), who is currently working for the Southern Forests Food Council, will step into the Node Lead role.
Have Your Say
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.
Relevant news and resources
Bureau of Meteorology January to March 2024 Grains Rainfall Outlook
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued its January to March 2024 Climate Outlook for the grains industry.
The key outlook messages for WA's grain-growing regions are:
- Near median to below median rainfall is forecast for WA. The video analyses the distribution of rainfall probabilities.
- The international computer models broadly align on the rainfall forecast in coming months, however there are outliers.
- To March 2024, above-median temperatures are forecast for all Australian grain-growing regions.
- Above median temperatures may have implications for fire danger conditions heading into summer.
New eBook embraces latest science for nutrition management
SoilsWest’s 10th and latest eBook, “Soil Quality: Plant Nutrition”, brings together decades of evidence-based nutrition research and practical guidance to help growers, consultants, students and the broader community adopt best practice methods. The digital format caters to a range of knowledge levels, enabling readers to explore relevant aspects of plant nutrition.
Australian Government loan helps build farmers' drought resilience
The Regional Investment Corporation's Drought Loan aims to help Australian farmers to prepare for, manage, and recover from drought.
This loan can be used to:
- Prepare for drought: Prepare for future droughts through measures including water efficiency techniques, accumulating feed reserves.
- Fund drought management activities: Pay outstanding bills, pay for fodder or carting of water for livestock or produce.
- Fund drought recovery activities: Contribute to the cost of drought recovery activities including planting and/or restocking (when seasonal conditions allow).
- Refinance debt: Refinance certain existing debt at our low interest rate to improve cash flow.
Find out more about the loan terms and eligibility criteria on the Regional Investment Corporation website.
Climate tool takes user-friendliness to next level
The Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO have released the latest updates to the farmer-focused climate information product My Climate View.
The free digital tool now offers local climate projections for 22 agricultural commodities. Further updates mean more farmers and land managers can get a quick overview of what the future climate means for their enterprise.
For example, an apple grower can now see – side-by-side – changes to sun damage days, spring frost days and the amount of winter chill expected by the 2050s.
Livestock producers can get an overview of expected changes to seasonal rainfall for their pasture growth at the same time as projected changes in number of heat wave events.
In addition to the overview feature that has been added to My Climate View, climate information is also available for field tomato growers and pork producers.
My Climate View has been developed in collaboration with Australian farmers and land managers to help them prepare for future climate conditions.
It is unique among Australia's agricultural weather and climate tools.
It presents past and future climate information all in one place; it allows farmers and land managers anywhere in Australia to access commodity specific climate information at a 5km2 grid around or across their properties; and it was designed based on feedback from farmers and land managers.
My Climate View is developed by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO as part of the Climate Services for Agriculture program and funded by the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.
Feedback from farmers and land managers across Australia has been used to help develop the product, to understand how it can best support longer-term agribusiness risk management and adaptation planning.
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.
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.
