Over $23 million is being invested through the Future Drought Fund in projects that demonstrate land management practices that help continued agricultural productivity and profitability during times of drought, and a quicker recovery coming out of drought.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes program is funding 26 projects.
"These projects involve more than 300 demonstration sites covering around 23 million hectares of agricultural landscape, and the knowledge generated about drought resilient practices could be relevant for up to 85 million hectares of farming land," Minister Littleproud said.
"The projects will directly involve over 1,100 farmers, and the knowledge gained from the projects will potentially be shared with over 19,000 farmers across Australia."
The projects will demonstrate land management practices, and share knowledge with farmers through field days, workshops, paddock walks, publications, and similar activities.
The land management practices that will be demonstrated include:
- Managing groundcover to protect pastures and soils as drought conditions take hold, through management of grazing pressure and stocking densities
- Using more drought resilient pasture systems, including the native perennial grasses and shrubs, and legume species
- Improving water infiltration and the water holding capacity of soils by managing difficult soils, such as sandy and saline
- Sowing practices and technologies that respond to weather conditions and optimise the use of available water
- Using inter-row vegetation in irrigated horticulture to improve water infiltration and soil health
- Restoring bare ground areas, bringing drought affected soils back into productivity
- Improving farm dams and riparian areas so they are more effective in making water available in times of drought.
Each project receives a grant between $500,000 and $1 million and will run till mid-2024.
For a full list of projects visit: https://www.awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/drought/future-drought-fund/drought-resilient-soils-and-landscapes
Fast Facts:
- The 26 successful projects will provide best practice examples of work that not only benefits the land and local community but can be successfully applied at scale.
- Collectively, the projects involve demonstrating drought resilient farming practices at over 300 demonstration sites, covering up to 23 million hectares, and directly involving over 1,100 farmers.
- The Future Drought Fund is a long term sustained investment of $100 million each year in programs and initiatives to build drought resilience.
