The successful recipients of the Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Grants, announced by the Government on Friday, will research new and emerging agriculture practices around cropping, grazing and mixed farming over the next six years.
The researchers aim to assist farmers in preparing for droughts by equipping them with the data and confidence to invest in technologies and practices that have been proven across different landscapes and production conditions.
Prime Minister Albanese said Australian farmers are some of the best in the world at preparing for and managing drought, putting them at the forefront of climate adaptation.
"We've listened to the industry and we will continue to make sure farmers and rural communities are ready to face the next drought," Albanese said.
"Being prepared for drought is not just good for farmers, it's also important for rural and regional communities, supermarket consumers and Australia's trade industry."
FUNDING RECIPIENTS
Flinders University will receive $8 million to lead a consortium on climate resilience of cropping, livestock, and mixed farms, which will be assessed through a network of long-term trials across multiple sites in South Australia covering pastoral, low, medium, and high rainfall zones.
Deakin University will receive $7.99 million to investigate the diversity in pastures to build resilience, and support 365 days of feed production in southern temperate grazing enterprises. These trials will be undertaken across multiple sites in Victoria, Western Australia, SA and Tasmania.
The University of Melbourne will receive $7.2 million to consider the effectiveness of farming-systems adaptations thought to improve drought resilience of broadacre grains, grazing and mixed farming systems, with trials to be undertaken across multiple sites in Victoria and Tasmania.
Charles Sturt University will receive $6.23 million to investigate the interdependence and whole-system effects of cropping and livestock components, and managing environmental and social impacts in response to seasonal variation, with trials to be conducted across multiple sites in New South Wales.
NQ Dry Tropic Limited will receive $4.32 million to look at the effectiveness of virtual fencing in enabling rangeland graziers to implement fine scale and drought resilient grazing systems over large areas, with trials to be undertaken in Charters Towers (Queensland).
Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils will receive $3.94 million to evaluate drought reliance in farming systems and soils through an established network of long-term trials across multiple sites in WA, NSW and Victoria.
