All in Primary Industries

Adaptive Agriculture: A Stocktake of Land & Water Australia’s Investments

superuser — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:43:53 +0000

Land & Water Australia has invested substantially over the years in both biophysical research and social and institutional research that have supported adaptive and sustainable agriculture. This knowledge base has helped Australian farmers to adapt in order to manage climate change, climate variability, biodiversity, water, land-use constraints and the wider expectations placed on farm families and rural communities.

IDs and People

Program:

Social and Institutional Research Program

Host Organisation:

Land and Water Australia

Researchers:

Dr Richard Price

Mr Daniel Goode

Subjects

Subjects:

Primary Industries

Keywords:

adaptive

Agriculture

stocktake

Investments

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Mapping the spatial footprint of Australian agricultural industries

superuser — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:43:07 +0000

This report describes spatial datasets derived from the Agricultural Census that identify the extent of land used by Australian agricultural industries and maps the spatial footprint of six industries of interest to the Signposts project. These maps show where production of cotton, milk cattle , beef cattle, wine grapes, horticulture and grains occur and have changed over time. There are two spatial boundaries structures that have been used in this report, one is based on statistical local areas and the other is based on Mesh Blocks. While Mesh Blocks, generated in 2006 deliver more spatially accurate data sets, statistical local areas can be used to provide a historical perspective.

IDs and People

Program:

Social and Institutional Research Program

Program Theme:

Sustainable Farming

LWA Project Code:

NHT Project 61826A

Subjects

Subjects:

Mapping and Modelling

Landscape Management

Primary Industries

Keywords:

Agriculture

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Improving soil health in Western Australian farming systems

superuser — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:50:42 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms

Research Type:

Research Project

Researchers:

Daniel Murphy

Frances Hoyle

Subjects

Subjects:

Soils

Primary Industries

Keywords:

Soil

health

Western

Australian

Farming

systems

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Aims:

Develop a statewide soil health monitoring programme
Develop management strategies to overcome production constraints, delivering this information to growers and agri-business
Establish benchmarked sites to identify and highlight the nature and extent of soil biological, chemical and physical constraints
Establish demonstration sites that address issues relevant to best practice for the future production and sustainability of the soil resource
Provide full economic analysis of new management practices promoted
Provide the basis of an ongoing soil health monitoring program
Provide soil health workshops (tailored to regional issues) to grower groups and agri-business

Method

Trial report and demonstration booklet; economic analysis of best practice management options, website, trade press articles and field day walks/presentations, four workshops annually for the duration of the project.

Project contributors

Avon Catchment Council
SCRIPT
Agricultural Research Western Australia
Department of Agriculture and Food, WA
Grower Group Alliance
Local Farmer Group Network
PlanFarm
Nutrient Management Systems

Easy steps to a triple bottom line

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:05:13 +0000

John Fyfe reckons his experience shows there are ‘easy steps to the triple bottom line’. From the time he and his twin brother Max bought their property in the late 1950s, land-caring was a big part of the Fyfe families farming practice.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

John Fyfe

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Conservation

Landscape Management

Primary Industries

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Surry River

Project Information

Summary:

Evironmentally, it meant learning about the local Surry River and its estuary and developing and retaining significant vegetation cover (15%), eventually placing 35 hectares under Conservation Covenants.

Economically, John increased the farms size and production and with vegetation shelter and covenants in place, the farm sold at above the area average price.

And socially, being a ‘land-carer’ has led to involvement in the local community at all levels an interaction John Fyfe wants to continue with help from Land & Water Australias Community Fellowship.

‘I would like to encourage farmers and farm advisors to understand that environmental sustainability is achievable within one generation on high production farms,’ says John.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Transforming the Land: the story of Lanark

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:30:42 +0000

Just south of Hamilton at Branxholme, John Fenton with his wife Cicely and family has spent nearly 50 years transforming his property Lanark ‘from three windswept paddocks to the complex ecosystem it is today’.

It wasn’t easy.

‘When I was reinstating wetlands, for example, the government was funding the draining of wetlands’ said John.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Social and Institutional Research

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

John Fenton

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Biodiversity

Primary Industries

Water (General)

Project Information

Summary:

It wasn’t easy.

‘When I was reinstating wetlands, for example, the government was funding the draining of wetlands’ said John.

Along the way there have public benefits urban and rural individuals working together to reinstate all the water bodies for the birds that had ‘all but disappeared’ and private rewards - an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture (Landscape Architecture RMIT).

John has ‘long advocated a process that allows the experience and expertise that is gained through on ground practice by individuals and groups on the land to be made available and accessible’.

With support from Land & Water Australias Community Fellowship and working with RMIT and a local author, John will publish the story of Lanark in a multi-media format for local communities or individuals keen to pursue similar goals.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Farmer as researcher: forty years in the field

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:27:21 +0000

For nearly forty years, the Jones have farmed at Henrietta in the states north-west, experimenting with different crops, grazing systems and machinery along the way.

‘I suppose I wanted to find out why certain things worked and others didnt,’ said Lance Jones.

Over the decades, Lance came to think about a new way of farming.

‘I decided to reduce the inputs and noticed that the cattle got better . Slowly I began to get interested in organics, and with the newly formed Organic Farming and Gardening Society in the 1970s I was able to talk with like minded people’.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Lance Jones

Addie Jones

Subjects

Subjects:

Innovation

Primary Industries

Field Crops and Horticulture

Keywords:

organic farming

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

For nearly forty years, the Jones have farmed at Henrietta in the states north-west, experimenting with different crops, grazing systems and machinery along the way.

‘I suppose I wanted to find out why certain things worked and others didnt,’ said Lance Jones.

Over the decades, Lance came to think about a new way of farming.

The Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship will provide financial support to the Jones to write about their experiences and their life at Henrietta, and importantly, the lessons theyve learnt over the decades.

At 81 years, Lance says ‘hes more determined than ever to tell his story about his move to organic agriculture and the role played by his grazing method’.

‘I want to pass on some of the essence of my 40-odd years of experience (and experimentation). . I feel it is important for our community to know that many of us farmers are innovative and creative even us oldies!’.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Milk production through sustainable Land & Water Utilisation

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:51:49 +0000

Max and Evelyn Warren’s family have been dairying in the Macalister Irrigation District since the 1950s.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Max Warren

Evelyn Warren

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscapes

Primary Industries

Livestock (Cattle)

Water (General)

Project Information

Summary:

Max and Evelyn Warren’s family have been dairying in the Macalister Irrigation District since the 1950s.

They established one of the first rotary dairies in the district and now operate the only Robotic Dairy in Australia, an example of best practices in design for animal welfare, efficiency in milk production and reduction of environmental impacts through water use efficiency and effluent and nutrient control.

The Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship has allowed the Warren’s to demonstrate the relationship between the micro-environment of the farm and the macro-environment of catchments via an interactive website www.roboticdairy.com. They have also created fact sheets on land and water use, effluent and nutrient control and environmental impacts for use by industry and students.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Developing a good regulatory practice model for environmental regulations impacting on farmers

superuser — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:54:02 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Social and Institutional Research Program

Program Theme:

Sustainable Farming

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

UNE60

Host Organisation:

University of New England

Researchers:

Paul Martin

Subjects

Subjects:

Primary Industries

Keywords:

model

environmental

farmers

regulations

Project Information

Summary:

Developing a good regulatory practice model for environmental regulations impacting on farmers

Current Activities

Status:

Pending

Irrigation Futures of the Goulburn Broken Catchment

superuser — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:28:25 +0000

The Goulburn Broken Irrigation Futures project used scenario planning with extensive stakeholder engagement to develop a vision and strategies for irrigated agriculture in the region over the next 30 years.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

VPI3

Host Organisation:

Department of Primary Industries and Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures

Researchers:

Dr Q.J. Wang

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Mapping and Modelling

Innovation

Primary Industries

Catchment Management

Irrigation

Keywords:

futures

sustainable irrigation

Catchment

census

Project Information

Outcomes:

The project outputs have recorded the above regional scale and agency-specific assessments and strategies. That work will assist agencies and businesses in the region to prepare for the future of irrigated agriculture over the next 30 years. The project has also demonstrated that scenario planning can be used with communities for regional planning. It has provided a methodology for such planning that can be used by other regional communities. The methodology provides a step-by-step guide to the processes used in the Goulburn Broken Irrigation Futures project, and the lessons learnt by the project team though their implementation.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

The Goulburn Broken Catchment is a major contributor to the state and national economies and the quality of life of consumers. The region faces significant challenges and opportunities. Issues such as free-trade agreements, climate change, water reform, and technological developments will have a significant influence on the future. As one of the oldest gravity irrigation systems in Australia, Goulburn-Murray Water’s irrigation system needs substantial renewal of its ageing infrastructure in the next 20 years. The consequences of these pressures are highly uncertain and will impact on the region’s economy, environmental assets and social fabric. It is therefore critical that the region develops a sound plan to strategically position itself for irrigation in the future.

Aims:

The project objectives were to:

Facilitate key stakeholders to develop a shared vision for the future of irrigation in the Goulburn Broken Region over the next 30 years, and to identify scenarios of major constraints and opportunities and of regional response options
Understand the social, economic and environmental consequences of various scenarios through impact assessment that integrates the best available knowledge
Facilitate key stakeholders to build consensus on preferred regional options for future irrigation, and recommend regional follow-up actions.
Develop a methodology that can be applied elsewhere in Australia for sustainable irrigation planning at a catchment scale.

Impact of Minimal Vineyard Irrigation Strategies on Soil and Plant Sustainability

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:06:59 +0000

The techniques developed by Clarke (2003) will be used to quantify and then model (eg using LEACHM & VineLOGIC) the long-term impact of irrigation with moderately saline irrigation water using a range of drip application techniques in combination with different surface soil management approaches on soil chemical & physical properties, plant physiological performance and wine grape quality through wine and analytical assessment.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

USQ9

Host Organisation:

University of Southern Queensland on behalf of the CRCIF

Researchers:

Andrew Sanderson

Rick Darroch

Matthew Durack

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Soils

Primary Industries

Irrigation

Keywords:

Land Management

rainfall

Wine

Project Information

Outcomes:

Practical vineyard management options that:

maximise vineyard water use efficiency
minimise long-term vine rootzone salinisation under precision irrigation application techniques.
enable wine grape growers to confidently grow grapes to winery specification using environmentally sustainable production systems

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Environmental pressures such as salinity and prolonged drought condition in the Murray Darling Basin have created a widespread recognition that irrigated water consumption has to be reduced to an environmentally sustainable level. Recently developed irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and RDI have achieved widespread adoption and there are now about 100,000 ha of drip /micro systems irrigated vineyard in Australia. The winegrape industry is aiming to further improve WUE through other management techniques such as the use of surface mulch, Partial Rootzone Drying, subsurface drip irrigation and sophisticated soil water monitoring technologies.

There is some evidence that reducing the irrigation volume through precision irrigation techniques may have long-term negative impacts. In low rainfall areas where winter leaching is not sufficient, reduced irrigation could result in excessive salt accumulation in the root zone and also impact on soil properties, eventually compromising vineyard health and economic sustainability. A number of alternatives to the traditional drip irrigation approach of a lateral line suspended on a wire about 30 cm above the soil surface have been proposed in an effort to reduce soil structural decline and rootzone salinisation. Subsurface drip irrigation may provide potential benefits in situations where moderately saline water is used for vineyard irrigation such as in the lower reaches of the Murray Darling Basin.

Aims:

Quantify the soil salinity profile under a range of irrigation application & soil management practises in a wine grape vineyard in the lower reaches of the River Murray at Langhorne Creek SA.
Assess the effectiveness of winter rainfall in leaching accumulated salts from vine rootzones irrigated with differing irrigation application systems.
Determine the effects of these management practices on crop water use, vine performance and winegrape quality.
Develop simple predictive models to test and identify a range of management scenarios that will minimise vine rootzone salinisation without significantly increasing vineyard irrigation requirement.

Irrigation Decision Making Insight

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:37:56 +0000

Feedback from the 2000 release of Irrigation Insights 1 : Soil Water Monitoring identified the following gap – “now that we have the data, how do we use it to improve our irrigation decision ?” Further to this, it has been recognised that the modern farming system relies on an ever increasing number of different data streams.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

USQ10

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Land and water

Researchers:

Richard Stirzaker

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Innovation

Primary Industries

Irrigation

Keywords:

Monitoring

Project Information

Outcomes:

Better informed irrigation decisions through better informed researchers, extension staff, consultants and farmers.

The project will effectively remove a barrier in understanding how the data collected on-farm can be made to improve the irrigation decision and providing explanation of this to farmers/extension personnel and consultants.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Primary producers must maintain income in an era of increasing pressure from product quality, water reform and environmental sustainability areas. Collecting more information about their systems and using it better has been one of the major recommendations for facing these stresses. However, no guide to help with this exists.

Aims:

Better informed irrigation decisions through publication that :

Identify different data streams involved in the irrigation farmers decision
For each stream denote the minimum and optimum data collection requirements and interpretation guide for those streams for which limited current resources exist eg. soil moisture monitoring
Demonstrate how different information can be integrated to better inform the irrigation decision within whole farm decision making

A 'Ready Reckoner' to Determine Under What Circumstances an Evaporation Reduction System Would be Economical

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:04:13 +0000

The Goulburn Broken region faces significant challenges and opportunities. Issues such as free-trade agreements, climate change, water reform, and technological developments will have a significant influence on the future.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

USQ11

Host Organisation:

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

Researchers:

Eric Schmidt

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Landscape Management

Primary Industries

Irrigation

Keywords:

Strategic Planning

Innovation

social issues

Project Information

Outcomes:

A wide cross section of the community and stakeholder organisations contributed their knowledge and ideas to the exploration of the future of irrigation in the region.

The community and organisational stakeholders articulated their aspirations for the future of the region, the challenges and opportunities that the future may present, and strategies to build the region’s capability to manage those potential opportunities and challenges.

The project team collaborated with stakeholder groups to identify regional and agency-specific strategies for the future of the region, embed these findings in their strategic plans, and to develop practical tools to support the adoption of these findings.

The project has demonstrated that scenario planning can be used by communities for regional planning. It has documented a regional scenario planning methodology which can now be used by others, and has supported the use of the methodology in other regions.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

This project evolved from the scoping study undertaken by Peter Watts (FSA1), which looked at Reduction of Evaporation from Farm Dams. One area recommended for further work was the development of a simple computer model (a ready reckoner) which would allow site-specific assessment of evaporation mitigation technologies.

Aims:

Facilitate key stakeholders to develop a shared vision for the future of irrigation in the Goulburn Broken Region over the next 30 years, and to identify scenarios of major constraints and opportunities and of regional response options.
Understand the social, economic and environmental consequences of various scenarios through impact assessment that integrates the best available knowledge.
Facilitate key stakeholders to build consensus on preferred regional options for future irrigation, and recommend regional follow-up actions.
Develop a methodology that can be applied elsewhere in Australia for sustainable irrigation planning at a catchment scale.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Victoria

Locations:

Goulburne-Broken Catchment

Changing Irrigation Systems and Management in the Harvey Irrigation Area

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:30:24 +0000

Project DAW45 was conducted over the Harvey irrigation seasons 2003-04 and 2004-05. Seasons in Harvey are relatively consistent extending usually from October to May.

The project was conducted in two stages to ensure adequate consideration of the issues and planning for the case study, along with integration with other related research work, prior to the commencement of the case study.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

DAW45

Host Organisation:

Boorara Management

Researchers:

Ken Moore

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Soils

Primary Industries

Water (General)

Irrigation

Keywords:

Sustainability

agronomy

farm productivity

centre pivot

Project Information

Outcomes:

The Project has demonstrated, in a two-year on-farm case study during 2003-04 and 2004-05, that water savings can be achieved along with increased pasture production and better quality pasture through centre pivot irrigation. Associated with the economic benefits were minimal water and nutrient run-off thereby contributing to the sustainability of irrigation in the Harvey Water Irrigation Area.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

The essence of Project DAW45 evolved from the initial idea of an on-farm trial comparing centre pivot and surface irrigation; to a demonstration case study of the comparative performance of pivot and surface irrigation; to recognition that the greatest benefits will accrue to farmers and the HWIA by improving the performance of both centre pivot and existing surface irrigation.

Aims:

Bring innovation to irrigation systems and agronomy on-farm in the South West Irrigation Area that will increase water use efficiency and farm productivity, and reduce ecological impacts through factors such as water and nutrient seepage to the water table, downstream nutrient run-off and soil structural problems.
Demonstrate and document a model of integrated R&D and knowledge management through a strategic alliance that is capable of achieving sustainable irrigation on-farm and extended across the broader farming community and irrigation area with lessons.
Develop a learning and information exchange strategy to provide opportunities for SWIA irrigators to learn from other Australian irrigation areas and industries.
Demonstrate the energy efficiencies and overall energy balance of a pressurised gravity-fed piped system of irrigation water delivery.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Western Australia

Locations:

Harvey Irrigation Area

Understanding and Developing Effective Knowledge Management Systems

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:34:27 +0000

Knowledge is constantly generated through research and experience. With our total knowledge estimated to be doubling every 7 years, we question how effectively it is being managed to ensure that end-users are aware of, can rapidly access and are able to challenge and test this knowledge as it applies to their needs. How do users want and need knowledge – and are our current delivery mechanisms effectively meeting this need?

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CRD1

Host Organisation:

Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre

Researchers:

Mr Graham Harris

Subjects

Subjects:

Primary Industries

Water (General)

Catchment Management

Irrigation

Keywords:

Knowledge Systems

Extension

Water Management

Organisational systems

Project Information

Outcomes:

Long-term collaborative arrangements established for water management extension to meet needs of end-users.

Understanding and systems in place to improve water management techniques
Effective knowledge management systems identified, tested and evaluated
Primary producers and consultant agronomists utilising irrigation knowledge resources and decision support tools that have been developed to meet their needs
Links between commodity groups and industry partners understood and strengthened
Collaboration between public and private sector knowledge management systems optimised
Systems thought and knowledge planning skills of managers and extension team enhanced

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Significant investment is made in rural industry and natural resource management research, development and extension. Coupled with on-farm experiences and private sector consulting development, the body of knowledge to draw from in making any decision is ever increasing in both quantity and complexity. This project aims to develop systems that will assist organisation in managing this knowledge in order to be better placed to assist their clients’ decision making. It will look at the full range of mechanisms including printed/web information, learning groups, one–on–one consulting, training, decision support tools, etc. The issue is one that applies to all commodities – this project will focus on rural irrigation systems.

Aims:

Assess existing frameworks for efficient, rapid transfer of new, timely information to end-users and from this develop new tools and strategies for knowledge management.
Understand the needs, wants and other factors influencing decisions and utilisation of research information by primary producers, consultants, resellers, extension networks and organisations.
Effectively partner public and private sector information service providers across commodities to achieve enhanced water management outcomes.