Assisting Growers to Redesign Cropping Strategies for Drought-Resilient Profits
The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), in partnership with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) (supported by the SQNNSW Innovation Hub) conducted four Personalised Cropping Decision workshops throughout August and September for growers, agronomists, and agricultural consultants to assist farmers in personalising their cropping strategies.
In northern New South Wales (Coonamble and Narrabri) and south east Queensland (Tuckerang and Roma) the team of extension-oriented scientists introduced growers to using the ARMonline decision support tools. The tools provide crop yield and gross profit estimates for the specific soil and climate conditions at farmers’ locations and specific to their management choices. The workshops enabled participants to compare the performance of alternative cropping strategies through a guided self-learning process.
Agronomic and financial performance of a farmer-specified cropping system in Tuckerang (QLD)
Lorinda Otto, SQNNSW Innovation Hub Roma Node Manager, co-facilitated the workshops in Tuckerang and Roma. “Farmers have a depth of knowledge when it comes to how to manage the variability of seasonal climates on their farm. However, tools like ARMonline provide them with a low-risk environment to explore alternative cropping ideas before planting them on their farm. The tool is a conversation starter between growers to identify if there are any risks or weaknesses in their current cropping pattern and also to find suitable alternative cropping strategies", Lorinda said.
Pippa Jones, SQNNSW Hub North West NSW Node Manager reports from her experience at the Narrabri workshop: “The workshops were a great mix of technical delivery on the use of the online tool and peer-to-peer learning between farmers, agronomists and consultants. Pooling the knowledge from multiple farming experiences and diverse participants meant that participants could learn from one another to improve learning outcomes”.
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Personalised Cropping Decisions Workshop in Roma Pictured (L-R): Lorinda Otto (SQNNSW Innovation Hub Roma Node Manager, based at SQ Landscapes), Dr Andrew Zull (QDAF), Fred Clark (RFCS), Celeste Ogg (AgForce QLD), Dr Uwe Grewer (UniSQ). |
Personalised Cropping Decisions Workshop in Narrabri Pictured (L-R): Dr Andrew Zull (QDAF), Neri Ann Averion (UniSQ), Pippa Jones (Local Land Services), Prof Keith Pembleton (UniSQ), Liam Baker (Local Land Services), Bill Manning (Local Land Services), Dr Uwe Grewer (UniSQ). |
Further information
Are you keen to re-design your own cropping system or organise a similar workshop in your region?
Please feel free to contact us and look for future training announcements.
| Keith Pembleton University of Southern Queensland P: 0408 880 669 E: keith.pembleton@unisq.edu.au |
Andrew Zull Qld Department of Agriculture and Fisheries P: 0417 126 941 E: andrew.zull@daf.qld.gov.au |
Uwe Grewer University of Southern Queensland P: 07 4631 1414 E: uwe.grewer@unisq.edu.au |
Funding acknowledgement
The new ARMonline tools and workshop methodology were developed jointly by the University of Southern Queensland and the Queensland Government's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The project is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the University of Southern Queensland, and the Queensland Government's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.