This project is focused on improving soil condition and management practice in the Murray Local Land Services region.
The work will reduce:
- stagnant agricultural productivity growth
- threats from climate change to productivity and business resilience
- a lack of baseline and trend data for soil condition
- a lack of mechanisms to link funded activities with practice change and desired outcomes.
Project objectives
This project in the mid-Murray area will:
- assess land condition
- improve the area's long-term productivity
- reduce threats to agriculture.
Project delivery
Work includes:
- creation of baseline data and identification of soil condition trends using DustWatch data and historical Murray LLS records dating back to the 1940s
- establishing farmer-led discussion groups
- demonstration site identification, mapping and ongoing monitoring
- on-ground demonstrations of best practice land management methods, techniques and tools
- soil testing
- landscape assessment and monitoring to inform future practice
- developing and implementing management plans with landholders using the soil knowledge database
- increasing landholder knowledge of current best practice
- identifying knowledge gaps and impediments to adoption of best practice
- field days and workshops for farming communities
- skills and knowledge surveys
- circulation of information and education materials.
Project timeline
2024–25:
- establish contracts/agreements for demonstration sites with participating landholders
- select and map demonstration sites
- conduct baseline plant survey
- conduct baseline soil testing
- develop database using historical and DustWatch data
- use database to identify soil condition trends
- run farmer discussion group meetings.
2025–28:
- conduct indicator plant survey
- conduct indicator soil testing
- run farmer discussion group meetings
- conduct on-ground demonstrations of best practice land management methods and tools
- run 13 field days and workshops for farming communities
- carry out skills and knowledge surveys following events
- conduct annual landscape assessment and monitoring
- conduct annual demonstration site monitoring
- project close (30 June 2028) and outcomes reporting.
Work underway
- Formation of 5 farmer led discussion groups spread across the Murray region.
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Funding and partnerships
Local Land Services' key delivery partners are:
- farmers and land managers
- soil science experts
- agricultural experts
- CSIRO
- NSW Department of Environment and Heritage – Community DustWatch
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by Murray Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
Related information
Learn more about:
For more information contact admin.murray@lls.nsw.gov.au or phoning 1300 795 299.
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