Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (second from left) pictured with DCRA President Ian Gourley, University of Sydney’s Narrabri campus commercial cropping supervisor Kieran Shephard and Director Northern Region Agriculture Dr Guy Roth at the University of Sydney’s Narrabri campus, where three trial sites will be set up to utilise AquaTill technology thanks to $198,000 in Federal Government funding through the Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund’s Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program.

• Parkes electorate to share in $13.4 million from the Future Drought Fund’s Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program
• The program will help build drought resilience in our agricultural landscapes

Three groups in the Parkes electorate will share in more than $465,000 in Australian Government funding to help local farmers and communities to improve the natural resource management and agricultural landscapes.

Condobolin and District Landcare Management Committee Incorporated, Dryland Cotton Research Association and Western Landcare NSW Incorporated will each receive funding through the $13.4 million Future Drought Fund’s Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the funding would enable farmer groups and agricultural organisations to adapt their practices and enhance their farming systems to increase drought resilience.

“Future droughts are inevitable, and while Australian farmers are well accustomed to climate variability, climate change is increasing the importance of managing drought risk,” Minister Littleproud.

“This funding will support tangible projects that will help address this.

“The projects being funded will include a strong focus on local engagement, conducting training through face-to-face workshops, field days and small group training sessions.”

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton welcomed the funding and said each of the local projects will help mitigate the impact of future droughts.

“Effective risk management at the farm and regional level can go a long way in helping to drought-proof our region,” Mr Coulton said.

“Western Landcare NSW has received $200,000 to go towards a project partnering farmers in arid NSW with researchers and practitioners to demonstrate, learn and share their rangeland rehydration journey. It’s all about building capacity, adaptation, and landscape transformation.

“Dryland Cotton Research Association (DCRA) has been awarded $198,500 for a project to enhance drought resilience in dryland farming systems by incorporating novel minimum soil disturbance techniques.

“Condobolin and District Landcare Management Committee will establish a resilient grazing support group with $66,894 in funding.

“These innovative projects will ensure our agricultural landscapes can adapt and regenerate into the future.”

Mr Coulton recently met with DCRA President Ian Gourley and Dr Guy Roth, Director Northern Region Agriculture at the University of Sydney’s Narrabri campus, to announce the grant.

DCRA Research Coordinator Annabelle Guest said DCRA has been working to create a system for using ultra-high water pressure technology (AquaTill Injeticide) which minimises soil disturbance and allows groundcover to be maintained throughout the cropping sequence, while providing growers with flexibility in nutrition application to minimise upfront costs.

She said this funding will help implement AquaTill technology at multiple times during the cropping phase.

“Maintaining groundcover is essential for rainfall capture, moisture conservation and providing an opportunity to grow a crop,” Ms Guest said.

“Dryland farmers in the DCRA are always looking to find the optimal sustainable cropping system through balancing water use efficiency and profitability.”

Fast Facts:

• The $13.4 million Natural Resource Management grants are part of the Government’s Future Drought Fund program
• Projects will focus on building the sustainability and resilience of agricultural landscapes
• Find out more by visiting agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought-fund