The latest news, events and opportunities from the SW WA Hub
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Welcome from the Director
The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) website houses up-to-date information and links to partners' resources to help the livestock, grains, and horticulture industries make informed decisions to manage the challenges of a dry season. If you would like to familiarise yourself with the Hub's dry season resource library, join our briefing session on 23 April. Hub Adoption Manager, Julianne Hill, will explain what resources are available on the Hub website and how to extend them out to your own members should the need arise.
Farmers around the State are experiencing unusually dry conditions. South-West cattle producers and small landholders are particularly being affected by an extended dry season where available annual pasture and feed reserves are being depleted. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) provides useful information, tools and advice on its Season 2024 – Southern Beef Dry Season Management web page to help producers make informed decisions. Sheep farmers might be interested in our recent podcast
episode on the benefits of confinement feeding and deferred grazing. Look out for further in-drought support announcements.
Two weeks ago, the Hub welcomed a new team member. Sarah Belli is our new Adoption Officer, working alongside Hub Adoption Manager, Julianne Hill, and Adoption Officers, Alison Lacey and Theo Nabben. Sarah has a Bachelor of
Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, and brings extensive experience in agronomy research, project management and extension.
Our Extension and Adoption training program kicked off earlier this month with two in-person and one online modules. If you would like to brush up on your extension and adoption skills, there is still time to register for our online sessions in May.
If you haven't yet listened to our Dry Season Resources podcast, I invite you to check out our two latest episodes. You will hear an overview of the Hub-led "Agtech Decoded" project with Liebe Group, Stirlings to Coast Farmers and CSIRO. This project looked at the role of new technology in on-farm decision making. Our latest episode covers how to improve crop establishment with early sowing.
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
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.
Getting the most out of on-farm technologies
Smart Farms coordinator for Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Phil Honey, Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, Roger Lawes, and Latham farmer, Dylan Hirsch, discuss the role technology plays in on-farm decision making and some of the barriers to adoption. Our three guests took part in the SW WA Hub-led project "Agtech decoded: growers critically analysing the role of new technology in on‐farm decision making – what are the possibilities?"
Improving early crop establishment
Good crop establishment and rapid, early growth can improve water efficiency, increase yields and help the crop to compete against weeds. However, early sowing comes with its risks. DPIRD Research Scientist, Glen Riethmuller, and Beacon farmer, Stuart Faulkner, give practical tips for getting good crop establishment when sowing early.
Hub Projects in Focus
Catching Every Drop: MADFIG's Role in the WaterSmart Dams Project (Roaded Catchment)
MADFIG recently released a podcast episode about their experience in the WaterSmart Dams project. Hear from the farmer, the contractor, and the researcher on the MADFIG Roaded Catchment Demonstration in the Eastern Wheatbelt, designed to maximise water capture in small rainfall events.
The WaterSmart Dams project 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.
This 3.5-year project investigates water management solutions including renovating existing dams, building new dams, and implementing evaporation suppression and runoff technologies.
This project is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF) and the Western Australian state government’s Agriculture Climate Resilience Fund (ACRF), supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
Sign up to the SmartDams Project Follower List to stay informed on dam design updates and field days.
Modern soil moisture monitoring for improved drought resilience
Monitoring soil moisture on horticultural farms can help optimise water and fertiliser usage.
Yet, only 10-20% of producers monitor their soil moisture.
This project analysed the implementation and effectiveness of modern soil moisture monitoring systems across 15 farms in Western Australia.
This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and initiated through the SW WA Hub in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development (DPIRD).
The study focused on apple, avocado, and tomato growers, aiming to assess how soil moisture monitoring enhances drought resilience in horticultural farms and promotes efficient and effective irrigation scheduling.
Paddock level carbon benchmarking
For many growers, measuring on-farm carbon is a confusing and difficult procedure that is likely to be put off until it becomes a requirement.
In a project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry through the SW WA Hub, Farmanco and Aglytica developed a farmer-friendly carbon calculator that collects data at a paddock level.
The carbon calculator simplifies on-farm carbon audits, captures data via "My John Deere" and supports farmer decision-making at a paddock level.
Upcoming Hub Events
Tomorrow: Briefing session on Dry Season Resources
Join Hub Adoption Manager, Julianne Hill, on Tuesday 23 April at 11:30 am for a one-hour online briefing session to (re)familiarise yourself with the Hub’s library of dry season resources.
The session will cover:
- Where to find the new dry season resources.
- What resources are actually available?
- How you might extend these out to your own members should the need arise.
Dial in on the day using the Zoom link available on the GGA website.
Secure your spot today for the Extension and Adoption online training sessions
The SW WA Hub Extension and Adoption training series kicked off earlier this month with two in-person modules and one online session.
There's still time to register for our online sessions in May:
- May 1: Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation
- May 8: Facilitation training
- May 15: Group chat mentoring session
Content will suit grower group staff, industry consultants or new extension/research staff that extend research to support farmer adoption.
Drought Hub Team Out and About
Hub Adoption Manager Julianne Hill, COBWA Chairperson Barb Howard and Grower Group Alliance Stakeholder and Communications Manager Kallista Bolton at COBWA's "Building Soil Health in a Drying Climate" event.
More dry season resources in the making
In the last few weeks, Hub Adoption Manager, Julianne Hill, spent time on the road visiting grower groups and growers. She has captured more Dry Season Shorts videos addressing issues affecting growers and highlighting strategies for applying insights gained from these growers in the future. The Adoption team are also working on a new round of podcasts featuring topics relevant for this season, and highlighting FDF projects that are helping to address these issues.
During her recent travels, Julianne caught up with CFIG, Facey and MADFIG grower groups, and visited the Node leads from the southern regions.
Julianne also ran a priority setting session for COBWA's "Building Soil Health in a Drying Climate" event in Manjimup, attended the Stirlings to Coast and Liebe group trials updates, and spoke with the Rural West team about dry seasons and the SW WA Hub at their recent professional development session.
GGA and SW WA Hub at Carbon workshop
Hub Knowledge Broker, Tanya Kilminster, attended DPIRD's Carbon workshop in Merredin on 10 April with Maddison McNeil, who manages GGA's Carbon Farming Outreach Program, and Lucy Tomassini, who manages the Hub's Transformational projects.
DPIRD's Carbon Farming workshops, webinars and one-on-one meetings aim to assist farmers to understand carbon farming and how they can benefit from these projects.
MADFIG Executive Officer, Glenice Batchelor, presented on MADFIG's involvement in GGA's Carbon Farming Outreach Program, and MADFIG's role as a Hub Regional Node Lead. The SW WA Hub Regional Node Leads provide guidance on priority issues impacting the drought and climate resilience of farming systems, their industries and communities.
Team member introduction
Meet Sarah Belli
Sarah started at GGA in April 2024 as an Adoption Officer with the SW WA Hub. She brings experience in agronomy research from the South Coast of Western Australia and project management skills from managing carbon farming projects in the Southern Rangelands.
Her motivation behind completing her Bachelor of Environmental Management and Sustainable Development grew from her upbringing on WA’s South Coast and enjoying the natural environment. Sarah is committed to finding innovative and sustainable practices for the future.
Before joining GGA, Sarah was part of the project management team at Select Carbon. There, she worked with
pastoralists in the Southern Rangelands on Human-Induced Regeneration projects.
Sarah’s expertise also includes conducting and managing trials, extending research to growers, and building networks with growers, industry and grower groups.
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 will close in April.
This survey is part of a Regional Soil Coordinator project. The anonymous results will be summarised in a report to DAFF to 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, Events and Resources
DPIRD’s Season 2024 webpages destination for cattle management information
Cattle producers affected by dry season conditions have been urged to regularly monitor their herds and act early to ensure the condition and welfare of animals.
Protracted dry conditions are impacting farming businesses across the agricultural region, particularly in South West cattle production areas where annual rainfall figures are particularly low.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has useful information, tools and advice on its Season 2024 – Southern Beef Dry Season Management webpage to help producers make informed decisions.
South West NRM runs 3rd workshop to build community resilience to drought
The online workshop will be hosted in Boyup Brook, Bridgetown, Donnybrook, Harvey, Brunswick Junction and Manjimup on 3 May. It will involve a review of past local experiences and projects to address community resilience and the impacts of drought.
Guest speaker, Renee Knapp, lives in Boyup Brook and is an expert in bringing communities together to improve mental health outcomes. She will share the process used in her award-winning collaborative approach designed to create change.
Apply for a Nuffield Australia Drought Resilience Scholarship
Want to travel overseas and bring home new drought resilience tools and practices from international leaders in the field?
The Future Drought Fund and Nuffield Australia are partnering again in 2025 to offer up to 5 Aussie farmers overseas study scholarships in drought resilience.
Through a Nuffield Drought Resilience Scholarship, you’ll build your drought resilience knowledge and grow your industry and community’s capacity to deal with dry times.
Each scholarship is valued at $40,000.
Applications close 31 May 2024.
More than $730,000 awarded to prepare rural communities for future drought
The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR) has awarded $737,774 in Small Network Grants to 29 not-for-profit organisations working in remote, rural and regional Australia for projects that will strengthen the capacity and capability of their communities to prepare for, and be resilient to, the impacts of future droughts.
The Small Network Grants program is supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund through the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.
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.
