All in Landscape Management

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

Visiting International Fellow - Burghard Meyer and Ralf Grabaum

superuser — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:15:17 +0000

Multicriteria Landscape Assessment and Optimisation

The system Multicriteria Landscape Assessment and Optimisation (MULBO) develops optimal land use combinations that are considered most likely to achieve sustainable landscapes (Meyer, Phillips & Annett 2008).

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IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Senior Research Fellowships

Host Organisation:

Department of Sustainability and Environment - State Government Victoria

Researchers:

Burghard Meyer

Ralf Grabaum

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscape Management

Keywords:

International Fellowship

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Managing Landscapes - matching soils, climate and enterprises

superuser — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:55:18 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms

Research Type:

Research Project

Researchers:

Lester McCormick

Peter Orchard

Graham Schwenke

Subjects

Subjects:

Climate (General)

Landscape Management

Soils

Keywords:

enterprises

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Aims:

Provide a greater understanding of soil health issues and management options in a land-capability framework, not simply an individual paddock basis
Improve skills in establishing and managing tropical perennial grass pastures in northern and central NSW
Assist participating farmers develop and implement a soil health plan that addresses production and environmental concerns
Produce soil health guides incorporating benchmarks and targets for on-going monitoring by participants

Method

Workshop sessions will comprise a mix of theory, demonstrations and practical exercises on land capability, climate variability, soil testing and interpretation, and the interactive development of local best management practices. There will be at least one demonstration site, using research links and on farm research/demonstrations to develop locally-based best management practices.

Managing landscapes to meet public biodiversity goals and farm business goals

superuser — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:13:01 +0000

This project had four core elements:

IDs and People

Program:

Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Program

Program Theme:

Incorporating native vegetation management

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

DAV40

Researchers:

Department of Primary Industry and Department of Sustainability and Environment

Subjects

Subjects:

Biodiversity

Landscape Management

Keywords:

farm

business

goals

Project Information

Outcomes:

To identify the capacity of commercial and non-commercial landholders to invest in conservation of native biodiversity, using current resources
To assess the impact of investing in conservation work on the landholders’ cash flow and farm business profitability
To determine what is required (such as resources, dollars, information etc) for landholders to invest in conservation of native
biodiversity
To identify the best, most practical ways of managing native biodiversity while maintaining cash flow, productivity and other
management goals
To assess the on-farm costs and benefits of undertaking any conservation work

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Dr Mark Stafford-Smith

superuser — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:24:10 +0000

Mark Stafford-Smith has worked for CSIRO, predominantly based in Alice Springs for 21 years. He was the Chief Executive Officer for the CRC for Desert Knowledge and has a deep understanding, and love of the Australian Rangelands. He is one of Australia’s and the world’s leading rangeland scientists.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Senior Research Fellowships

Research Type:

Senior Research Fellow

Researchers:

Dr Mark Stafford-Smith

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscape Management

Keywords:

Rangelands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Professor David Lindenmayer

superuser — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:44:44 +0000

Integrating agricultural production and biodiversity conservation

Professor Lindenmayer is Professor at the Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Melbourne. He is an internationally recognised conservation biologist who has made a long-term contribution to the ecologically sustainable management of Australia’s natural environment.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Senior Research Fellowships

Research Type:

Senior Research Fellow

Researchers:

Professor David Lindenmayer

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscape Management

Keywords:

Temperate woodland

wildlife ecology

landscape ecology

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Location

Locations:

South-Eastern Australia

Resources

External Links:

Australia's species meltdown (ABC Radio Australia, 10 June 2009)

A virtual farming experience

superuser — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:33:57 +0000

Lawry Pitman is a farmer from Corrigin in Western Australia. Lawry served his community for many years at the national, state and local levels on community, industry and government committees covering topics as diverse as land management, farm safety and commodity groups.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Lawry Pitman

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscape Management

Governance and Markets

Project Information

Summary:

Now he’s using all his experience and knowledge, and his own property, to showcase sustainability. ‘To prove that we are sustainable we are attempting to measure and monitor all aspects of sustainability - economic, social and ecological. Benchmarks are being set with the help of Western Australian agencies and R&D corporations.

‘Progress, or deterioration will be communicated to the community through whatever means is required’ says Lawry.

Lawry is producing a CD-ROM describing the annual cycle, and costs and benefits of sustainable farm practice on a real life, working property.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Location

State & NRM Region:

Western Australia

Successfully managing saline watertables to realise production and environment synergies

superuser — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:12:32 +0000

‘Strategic tree planting’ is the story Yass farmer John Ive and his family want to tell. After moving to the Yass Valley near Canberra, John transformed ‘Talaheni’ from a run down grazing property into a productive farm with increased production and environmental values.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Researchers:

John Ive

Subjects

Subjects:

Innovation

Landscape Management

Salinity

Keywords:

Groundwater

Tree planting

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

‘Twenty years ago saline seeps were common, pastures poor and in decline, and erosion sites active. With a combination of approaches, starting with strategic tree planting, the worst of the salinity has been rehabilitated and groundwater over substantial areas is declining’ says John.

‘It’s been a long process, but along the way I’ve learned some valuable lessons - about the need to read the landscape and appreciate the processes, to keep detailed records and to be proactive’.

With support from the Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship, John will create a website documenting his management of saline watertables to realise production and environmental synergies with 22 years of diaries, photographs and data.

Since winning his Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship John Ive and his family have won: the 2004 NSW/ACT Regional Achievers Award; were nominees for the 2003-04 National Landcare Awards; winners of won the CPA Australia Triple Bottom Line Award and received a Commendation in the Award for Outstanding Service to the Environment at the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards in June 2004; and winners of the 2003 NSW Telstra CountryWide Landcare Research Award.

John has also been a guest speaker at Land & Water Australia’s Science in the Paddock Breakfast Briefings (number four).

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

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

Institutional change enabling kangaroo harvest to promote sustainable rangeland landscapes

superuser — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:24:24 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Social and Institutional Research Program

Program Theme:

PhD Students

Indigenous Natural Resources Management

Sustainable Farming

Research Type:

PhD Student

LWA Project Code:

UAD17

Host Organisation:

University of Adelaide

Researchers:

Dana Thomsen

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscape Management

Keywords:

kangaroo

Project Information

Summary:

Institutional change enabling kangaroo harvest to promote sustainable rangeland landscapes

Current Activities

Status:

Pending

Empowering land managers with wireless soil monitoring

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:28:28 +0000

Effective management of soil water requires a knowledge of its status as well as an interpretation of how its status should affect management decisions. Lack of both of these has limited landholders’ ability to manage soil water in the past.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Innovation Call

Research Type:

Innovation Call

LWA Project Code:

2283

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Land and water

Researchers:

Dr Warren Bond

Subjects

Subjects:

Monitoring and Assessment

Landscape Management

Project Information

Summary:

Soil water sensors commercially available today measure soil capacitance in most Australian heavy clay subsoils the difficulty of reliably installing pronged instruments, while maintaining the necessary contact and instrument geometry means metal rings are likely to be better however available designs sampled small volumes of soil and gaps around the sensors made imprecise measurements. The new sensor developed here overcomes these problems and also avoids confounding problems of saline water that effects capacitance-based sensors although the temperature dependence challenge will remain. The new sensor will be linked to a new buried data transmitter for convenient farm deployment.

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Use of Bayesian decision support tools in sustainable management

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:03:32 +0000

This project, lead by Barry Hart from Monash University, developed and tested Bayesian decision network (BDN) models that will assist decision-makers in making environmental flow allocations for Australian rivers and wetlands.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Innovation Call

Research Type:

Innovation Call

LWA Project Code:

002368

Host Organisation:

Monash University

Researchers:

Professor Barry Hart

Subjects

Subjects:

Conservation

Landscape Management

Project Information

Summary:

The project aims to develop and test Bayesian decision network (BDN) models that will assist decision-makers in making environmental flow allocations for Australian rivers and wetlands. The endpoint of the assessment will be focused on ecological sustainability. Sustainability will be examined within the context of regulatory frameworks that govern flow allocations (e.g. National Water Initiative). Two case studies have been developed: (a) La Trobe specifically to understand the hydrological components (magnitude, frequency, duration) that define a ‘flow event’ with two ecological endpoints (Grayling larval production, Blackfish larval production). (b) Daly River specifically to relate e-flows to two possible ecological (fish) endpoints – barramundi and sooty grunter. And now the concept is proven the project is building capacity and being used to generate scenarios.

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Knowledge & tools to manage fertigation technologies in highly productive citrus orchards for minimal environmental footprint

superuser — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:02:20 +0000

High frequency fertigation is being adopted by Australian citrus producers as an alternative to traditional approaches to supplying water and mineral nutrients to trees. Information, guidelines and practical tools to assess performance are insufficient to support the economic & sustainable use of these technologies for citrus production on Australian soils.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

DAN5027

Host Organisation:

NSW DPI/SARDI

Researchers:

Michael Treeby

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Landscape Management

Soils

Irrigation

Keywords:

Citrus

fertigation

nitrate

leaching

management tools

rootstocks

uptake

soil solution

Project Information

Outcomes:

Adoption of practices associated with:

more efficient use of water
more efficient use of mineral fertilisers
reduced on- and off-site impacts of the use of modern irrigation/fertigation technologies
improved awareness and raised understanding of issues underpinning appropriate use of irrigation/fertigation technologies in other high value horticultural crops

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Background

Project Background:

It is generally accepted that drip irrigation is the most efficient irrigation system, and the adoption of drip irrigation systems is generally accompanied by the adoption of technologies that allow nutrient application as frequently as water application. Sometimes these technologies are adopted along with a confidential service agreement, in which case management regimes (i.e. fertiliser recipes) are prescribed. More often, these technologies are being adopted without support, and nutrient supply regimes are based on experience and hearsay, and nutrient inputs often reflect the inefficiencies inherent in delivery technologies used in the past.

Either way, wider knowledge and higher skill levels are needed, and a lack of such skills and that knowledge are an impediment to adoption and to the most efficient use and management of drip irrigation/fertigation technologies by growers. Research and extension organisations have very little or no experience with the newer technologies, and are unable to properly service the skills and information needs of growers. Thus, there is a strong need to demonstrate to industry the integration of modern efficient drip irrigation management with current “best bet” nutrient supply based on advanced understanding of citrus nutrient needs. There is also a strong need to widen the knowledge and skills base of growers and increase the availability of decision support tools. This will enable better decisions to be made in relation to irrigation and nutrient supply to reduce the potential environmental foot print associated with the mismanagement water and nutrient supply.

Aims:

Develop guidelines, practical grower-friendly tools and information packages and provide training for irrigators and support industry for the sustainable and economical use of the new fertigation technologies in citrus production by:

quantifying nutrient capture by roots of commercially relevant citrus rootstock genotypes in relation to supply
establishing commercial-scale demonstration sites of commercially relevant citrus scion varieties growing on commercially relevant rootstock genotypes by re-developing existing plantings to enable short- and long-term responses to nutrient supply to be quantified
developing framework to quantify water and nutrient escape below the rootzone of citrus trees growing in lysimeters
identifying the phenological stages when leaching is most likely to occur
evaluating and demonstrating to industry the efficacy of nutrient capture under different short- and long-term supply regimes using demonstration sites
studying the effect of commonly practiced high intensity fertigation regimes on salt, water and nutrient movement within and below the root zone of the commercially relevant citrus enterprises
calibrating a 2D/3D solute transport model under lysimeters and validate under field conditions for predicting nutrient and water flux beyond the root zone

Management of irrigation water storages: carryover rights and capacity sharing

superuser — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:54:09 +0000

The research will investigate two decentralised approaches to storage management - carryover rights and capacity sharing.

This project examined and compared carry over and capacity sharing rights to consider outcomes to central control of storages (dams). This will include the development of a model to quantify the potential benefits from adopting decentralised storage management policies. The project will also involve a detailed examination of existing capacity sharing schemes in Queensland.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

ABA5066

Host Organisation:

ABARE

Researchers:

Tim Goesch

Subjects

Subjects:

Landscape Management

Water (General)

Irrigation

Keywords:

Storage

Carryover

Capacity sharing

Project Information

Outcomes:

Improved understanding of water storage management issues by industry and policy makers
Improved understanding of alternative water storage management options including carry over rights and capacity sharing
Improved understanding of the capacity sharing schemes operating in Queensland
Potential change in storage management policy by governments, away from centralised management and toward more decentralised approaches such as capacity sharing

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Current Activities:

This research project investigates two decentralised approaches to storage management: carryover rights and capacity sharing. Capacity sharing (otherwise known as ‘continuous sharing’) has been successfully introduced by SunWater at the St George and Macintyre-Brook irrigation schemes in Queensland. Preparations are currently underway for a field trip to St George and Inglewood (MacIntyre-Brook) in Queensland, where ABARE will interview a number of key stakeholders including local irrigators and SunWater staff. This trip is scheduled to take place on the 21st to 24th October, 2008.

Background

Project Background:

The intertemporal management of irrigation water storages involves a consumption-storage decision, where the benefits of consuming water today need to be evaluated against the uncertain benefits of storing water for future use. Traditionally in Australia state governments have centrally managed this decision: making decisions on water allocations (water released for consumption today) based on current storage levels and expected inflows. Storage release policies can be thought to vary along a yield-reliability spectrum: ranging from conservative (low yield-high reliability) to aggressive (high yield-low reliability).

Yield refers to long run average allocations associated with a particular release policy, whereas reliability refers to the variability in allocations associated with this release policy. For example, a conservative release rule would release a smaller percentage of available water for immediate consumption on average, holding more water over in storage for use in future periods, resulting in lower but more reliable allocations. Traditionally the Victorian government have tended to adopt more conservative release polices than the NSW government.

Aims:

Identify and describe the main water storage management options (centralised management, carryover and capacity sharing)
Explain why centralised management may lead to a less efficient allocation of water over time compared to decentralised management options
Outline the differences between carry over rights and capacity sharing systems and consider the potential advantages of capacity sharing
Develop a quantitative economic model to illustrate the potential benefits to irrigators (higher and less variable incomes) from adopting more decentralised storage management options
Conduct a detailed examination of capacity sharing schemes in Queensland (otherwise known as ‘continuous sharing’ schemes) particularly in the St George region
Contribute to and influence the debate on options available to governments to help irrigators adapt to lower and more variable water supplies under climate change

Farm Dam Management

superuser — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:30:38 +0000

This proposal will develop and deliver integrated farm dam management information to allow irrigation businesses to optimise the use and returns from farm dams.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CIF5032

Host Organisation:

Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures

Researchers:

Deborah Atkins

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Landscape Management

Water (General)

Irrigation

Keywords:

Aquaculture

Evaporation

integration

seepage

drainage

recycling

Project Information

Outcomes:

Farm dam asset managed for optimal benefits by irrigation dependent businesses by:

Improving quality of advice available to farm managers from advisors and consultants
Increasing the effective irrigation water available from farm dams by providing accessible information and options for managing and reducing water losses,
Providing decision support tools where advisors, consultants and dam managers can assess technical and financial options for reducing excessive losses from drainage, seepage and evaporation,
Highlighting potential other usages of farm dams such as for water recycling and aquaculture.

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Current Activities:

The next 6 months will be in compiling Version 1 of the resource package. This will include list of resources, current research and links to information. There will be two field days for farmers in central NSW and North-east Victoria to pass on information on methods to estimate evaporation and seepage losses and methods to reduce losses. Training days will be available for advisors and consultants in using equipment and software and the latest research.
A Dam Evaporation Calculator that helps a person estimate the costs of mitigation techniques will be available on the CRCIF website along with a technical manual.
Three case studies will be started on dairy, horticulture and viticulture enterprises to present information on successful farm dam management.

Background

Project Background:

Australia has in excess of two million farm dams. In this project farm dams cover both structure which intercept water from watercourses and overland run-off and “on-farm” storages which pump water into dams, from rivers, groundwater or channels for storage.

Outside of major irrigation schemes and groundwater systems these provide an important source of irrigation water to the viticulture, horticulture and dairy industries. Farm dams also provide flexibility for growers to store water on-farm and optimise the use of water availability.

Farm dams management is becoming more important. The drought and subsequent water shortages has focused attention on managing water stored in farm dams. Further more, farm dams are being subject to greater controls in most jurisdictions.

Much of the information currently available has focused on construction of farm dams (eg Barrett 2007, Lewis 2002). This project addresses the need for information on the management of existing farm dams.

Aims:

To collate the most up-to-date resources on dam management
To create an integrated summary
To further develop the Dam Economic Ready Reckoner software and integrate an online tutorial
To improve the quality of advice given by advisors and consultants by offering information through the Farm Dam Resource Kit and training in using software