Soil CRC contributes to drought research

A foundational project of the Soil CRC, Surveying farm practices is contributing to important drought resilience research through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

The Soil CRC project led by Dr Hanabeth Luke from Southern Cross University surveyed four different farming regions across Australia, including the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. They asked landholders about what drives their farm management decisions.

The Soil CRC Surveying Farm Practices survey being filled out.

Dr Luke’s research found that many young farmers in the Eyre Peninsula did not have the networks needed to build their drought resilience.

Following on from this research, a new project will help young farmers in the Eyre Peninsula form stronger networks to combat drought related challenges. The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR) has awarded Southern Cross University $77,000 for the new project.  

The project will support the community of the Eyre Peninsula to build drought resilience by identifying and implementing strategies through workshops and mapping. Local champions will share key knowledge with young landholders to enhance networking opportunities around drought-resilient practices.

Program Manager Amanda Scott says they will work closely with young farmers and agricultural innovators in the region.

“We know that networks are the glue that binds communities together and networks are the conduit for collective action, but it’s really difficult to get an accurate picture of what a network in the community actually looks like,” Ms Scott said.

The network mapping tool will highlight patterns and connections that might not have been seen before.

“We can see, for example, where there might be blockages in where communications are not reaching the young farmers, or we can also identify some of these champions — they may be people, they may be events, they may be organisations that are really connecting with these young farmers and we can help channel more information and support through these champions,” Ms Scott said.

The project is a partnership between Southern Cross University and Agricultural Innovation and Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP) – both participants in the Soil CRC. It is one of 33 initiatives funded by the Networks to Build Drought Resilience program by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and a range of other donor partners.

The Networks to Build Drought Resilience program focuses on strengthening social connectedness, building social capital and funding transformative local initiatives that will enable agricultural communities to be more prepared for the impacts of drought.

Soil CRC CEO Dr Michael Crawford said “this project is just one example of a project that has spun out of the foundational research and network enhancing activities of the Soil CRC, leading to beneficial outcomes in areas related to soil, and elsewhere as well.”

Listen to an interview with Amanda Scott and Lorraine Gordon about the project.