Condamine Alliance NRM Regional Investments: 2013-18 Agriculture

Brief description

RGD14-003 Condamine Catchment Natural Resource Management Corporation Limited. This project will significantly contribute to the sustainability of agricultural landscapes in the Condamine catchment over the next five years to improve knowledge, skills and practices for sustainable agriculture. Objectives include engaging 350 farmers and advisors; improving management practices on over 30,000 hectares of cropping and grazing land; and promoting innovative approaches and solutions. Implementation will be supported through partnerships with industry groups (e.g. Conservation Farmers Inc.), Landcare groups, agribusiness agronomists, private service providers and public sector stakeholders (e.g. DAFFQ) to enhance involvement, up-take and leveraging of resources. Communication, engagement, and adoption pathways will reflect the target audience’s needs, priorities and value propositions around sustainable agriculture. This project will support farmers to adopt land management practices that result in better management of: crop residue; soil nutrition; and, ground cover. The project methodology is based on the Knowledge Network Engagement Model, which is a systems based approach for engagement and adoption developed in the Condamine region using the best available extension science and expertise. This approach has underpinned the delivery of highly successful sustainable agriculture projects within numerous previous Australian Government funded programs. Engagement of farmers is undertaken through their preferred knowledge networks to identify and address locally relevant issues & priorities. In this way, support is able to be targeted to help improve management and/or the adoption of practices that best meet individual needs and address sustainable agriculture issues such as soil health, nutrient management and productivity. Knowledge networks are the human infrastructure through which farmers receive and seek the information, advice and feedback that is consolidated to form their knowledge base. Participants in the network are the people they interact with and includes other farmers, trusted advisors and agribusiness service providers. Engagement, awareness and skills development is through the relevant and preferred mechanisms of the specific audiences and participants, including: media releases; newsletter articles; sustainable agriculture program information sheets; stakeholder meetings; information sessions; discussion groups; workshops; field days; specialist advice; on-farm trial/demonstration sites; case studies; fact sheets; machinery and technology demonstrations; specialist communication products (e.g. videos, webinars, twitter, face book, web presence); peer site visits; etc. The methodology underpinning this project is grounded in contemporary extension theory and recognises the continuum from engagement to adoption along which participants are spread depending on their current knowledge, skills and perceptions/attitude.