Projects
Long-term trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices in Victoria
Long-term trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices in Victoria
The purpose of the trials is to investigate innovative and transformational cropping, grazing and mixed farming practices through the lens of drought resilience and associated risk management. The ‘Central Hub’ trials are conducted by the University of Melbourne, established at their Dookie campus. These trials have intensive scientific data collection...
- This project is led by the University of Melbourne, with funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
- Jessie Wettenhall
- Rokewood
- Current
Clover for Crops – Introducing clover into crop rotations
Clover for Crops – Introducing clover into crop rotations
How can different clover species be strategically integrated into crop rotations to improve nitrogen input, grazing opportunities, and overall farm profitability and resilience in South West Victoria's mixed farming systems?
- Meat & Livestock Australia and Grains Research and Development Corporation
- Lisa Miller, Cameron Barr
- Skipton/Rokewood Regions
- Current
MLA Innovative Mixed Farming Project
MLA Innovative Mixed Farming Project
The purpose of the project is to increase the profitability and resilience of farms in Southern Australia through an increase in livestock numbers and the productivity of those animals through the extension and adoption of MLA products and programs. It aims to capitalise on the recent shift in interest from...
- Meat and Livestock Australia
- Rokewood
- Current
Autumn/Winter Feedbase Planning
Autumn/Winter Feedbase Planning
This series of workshops was put together by Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural Services, Lisa Miller, Jessie Wettenhall, Michelle McClure, SFS in response to the current 2024-2025 dry-uncertain times experienced across South West Victoria. The aim of the workshops was to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to plan and...
- This project is supported by Southern Farming Systems, South West Node of the Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and Meat & Livestock Australia.
- Jessie Wettenhall, Michelle McClure
- Rokewood & Yulecart
- Current
Uncertain Times Workshop – Reset, Recover, Regenerate!
Uncertain Times Workshop – Reset, Recover, Regenerate!
This workshops was put together by Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural, Lisa Miller, Jessie Wettenhall, Michelle McClure, SFS & Jane Gaussen, The Livestock Vet and Malcolm Rowe, Victoria West Rural Financial Counselling Service in response to the continuing dry season experienced across South West Victoria. The aim of the workshop is ...
- This event is part of the Victorian Government’s Drought Assistance Package for South West Victoria.
- Michelle McClure, Jessie Wettenhall
- Hamilton, Dergholm, Harrow, Moonambel
- Current
Carbon Farming Outreach Program
Carbon Farming Outreach Program
The Carbon Farming Outreach Program (CFOP) aims to support farmers and land managers to make decisions around carbon farming and increase knowledge of greenhouse emission management on farm. Southern Farming Systems is collaborating with Grower Group Alliance for the delivery of the National Industry–led Carbon Farming Outreach Program. Delivered with...
- Southern Farming Systems is collaborating with Grower Group Alliance for the delivery of the National Industry–led Carbon Farming Outreach Program. Delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Carbon Farming Outreach Program.
- James Palmer, Brett Davey, Ashley Amourgis, Audrey Gripper
- Southwest Victoria, Gippsland and Tasmania
- Current
Uncertain Times Workshop Series Winter-Spring
Uncertain Times Workshop Series Winter-Spring
This series of workshops was put together by Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural, Lisa Miller, Jessie Wettenhall, Michelle McClure, SFS & Jane Gaussen, The Livestock Vet in response to the current 2024 dry-uncertain times experienced across South West Victoria. The aim of the workshops was to equip participants with the knowledge...
- This project is supported by Southern Farming Systems, South West Node of the Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and Meat & Livestock Australia.
- Jessie Wettenhall, Michelle McClure
- Lismore, Hamilton, Harrow
- Current
Dry Times – Strategies for managing a late break and lambing
Dry Times – Strategies for managing a late break and lambing
From consultation with farmers in the Skipton & Lismore region, Souther Farming Systems as the Sout West Node of the Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation HUB discovered a need to provide key information and strategies to handle the current dry situation farmers are facing in South West Victoria going...
- Australian Government's Future Drought Fund
- Michelle McClure, Jessie Wettenhall
- Lismore
- Current
Sheep Containment Feeding
Sheep Containment Feeding
The inclusion of containment feeding in livestock enterprises can lead to improved productivity, improved reproductive performance, enhanced landscape and pasture management, greater drought resilience and increases in profitability. A new project has been developed focused on supporting sheep producers to implement best practice containment feeding, suited to their individual farming...
- This project received funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund
- Grace Evans, Jessie Wettenhall
- SW Victoria
- Current
Understanding the Research, Development & Extension needs of the fodder industry
Understanding the Research, Development & Extension needs of the fodder industry
Victoria is the engine room of Australia’s fodder production (40% of Australian total, 90% sales), yet the domestic fodder production (hay / silage) is very laissez faire. It operates primarily through many individuals making decisions depending on seasons, circumstances and local demand (unlike the fodder export industry, which has its...
- This project is supported by Southern Farming Systems, through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.
- Current
Containment for livestock
Containment for livestock
It has been identified that is commonly recognised the need to have livestock containment areas on farms is a good risk management tool in drought, but there are many questions around issues with these area's that we may or may not have the answers too.
- This Project is supported by Southern Farming Systems & Riverine Plains Inc, through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.
- Lisa Miller, Michelle McClure
- South West Victoria
- Current
BUILDING DROUGHT RESILIENCE
BUILDING DROUGHT RESILIENCE
How prepared is your farming business to predicted climate change? Climatic risk (including drought) is an accepted part of farming and historically most businesses have been able to survive these challenging periods and rebound. However climate change is increasing this variability, to an extent that events are predicted to be...
- Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Future Drought Fund
- Grace Evans
- SW Victoria
- Current
LESS WEEDS, BETTER PASTURE
LESS WEEDS, BETTER PASTURE
The less weeds, better pastures package will provide information to producers and advisors on the growth and management of common weeds in pasture. It will provide assessment methods and trigger points to inform when to intervene with weed control and what tactics to keep weeds to a manageable level where...
- MLA
- Lisa Miller
- Southern Feed Base
- Current
DUNG BEETLE PROJECT
DUNG BEETLE PROJECT
To understand which dung beetle species are common or rarely encountered in different regions of Australia by monitoring 120 sites across Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia is supporting a new project to enhance dung beetle benefits to farmers through funding from the Australian Government’s Rural Research & Development for Profit...
- Charles Sturt University & MLA
- Natalie Jenkins, , Grace Evans
- South West Victoria, Gippsland & Tasmania
- Current
CORANGAMITE CMA REGIONAL LAND PARTNERSHIPS
CORANGAMITE CMA REGIONAL LAND PARTNERSHIPS
This Corangamite CMA RLP project is supported through the Australian Governments National Landcare Program phase two. SFS will work with farmers, community groups and agriculture industry groups to enhance soil health on farms. This project will focus on supporting farmers to make informed decisions to enhance soil condition under changing...
- Corangamite CMA & Australian Governments NLP2
- Lisa Miller
- Corangamite NRM region
- Current
MIXED COVER CROPS FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING
MIXED COVER CROPS FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING
A project is currently underway, focusing on ‘Mixed Cover Crops for Sustainable Farming’, with funding through the National Landcare Program Phase 2 (NLP2). Ag Excellence Alliance is leading the work and Southern Farming Systems have been subcontracted to undertake the work in south-west Victoria, Gippsland and Tasmania.
- Australian Governments NLP2 & GRDC
- Ashley Amourgis, Brett Davey, Natalie Jenkins
- South West Victoria, Gippsland & Tasmania
- Current
MORE SUB CLOVER
MORE SUB CLOVER
The how do I get more sub clover package will provide producers and advisors with a simple diagnostic approach to assess clover pastures, identify the leading reasons for possible sub clover decline and what management practices are available to address these limitations. The package expands on past knowledge with updated...
- MLA
- Lisa Miller
- Southern Feed Base
- Current
PERSISTENT & PRODUCTIVE PASTURES
PERSISTENT & PRODUCTIVE PASTURES
The persistent and productive pastures package will enable producers and advisors to learn and apply management practices that will enhance run down pastures and maintain good pastures on their farms. It is based on the practices leading producers have proven to work, along with the latest insights from the MLA...
- MLA
- Lisa Miller
- Southern Feed Base
- Current
REALISING BENEFITS FROM SHEEP eIDS
REALISING BENEFITS FROM SHEEP eIDS
With eID in sheep now mandatory in Victoria, there are many benefits for producers to use the technologies on-farm to help assist in decision making and increasing productivity.
- Meat and Livestock Australia
- Grace Evans, Jessie Wettenhall
- South West Victoria
- Current
