WA farmers invited to help shape future ag investment

Landholders across the West Australian Wheatbelt and high rainfall regions of the south-west are taking part in a national Soil CRC survey investigating land and farm management practices. Over 4000 surveys have been sent to rural landholders, asking them about their farm practices, the challenges they face, and how they make their on-farm and land management decisions.

The survey also seeks to shed light on our farmers — who they are, their values and aspirations, and what succession planning looks like for them. This information will help identify factors shaping farming land management in Western Australia to inform future engagement, research and investment.

This is the second time landholders in Western Australia have been involved in the survey, which is led by Associate Professor Hanabeth Luke from Murdoch University and delivered in collaboration with local partners.

“Results from the previous survey in 2020 told us that WA farmers have a really strong understanding of the impact and the risk to their region from changing weather and seasonal patterns.

“They are the best data managers in the country, they are used to working in high-tech systems on big farms, are quite adept at having good systems in place, and are confident in managing and making strategic decisions based on large amounts of farm data.

“By running the survey again, we expect to gain insight into practice changes and trends that property managers are experiencing. This knowledge will help local grower groups and other support organisations to plan for the future,” Associate Professor Luke said.

This year, the Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is requesting an additional ten minutes of landholders’ time to complete a supplementary survey specific to grazing farmers in the high rainfall zone of south-west WA.

 “The results will guide us on how to best support farmers by improving our programs on best-practice nutrient management,” said DWER environment officer, Dr Deborah Holtham.

Other survey partners include the West Midlands Group, Wheatbelt NRM, Liebe Group and the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Associate Professor Luke said over 200 landholders have returned their completed surveys so far and she encourages all landholders who received the survey to complete it.

“Your feedback will be shared with the groups that are there to support local growers and landholders — these groups want to hear from you so they can tailor their services and support based on your needs.

“If you want to have a say, and are feeling unheard, this is a way to have direct input into decision-making for agriculture and natural resource management.”