Building a climate-smart ag future

In May 2026, Charles Sturt University students had the opportunity to participate in a Biofuels Hackathon at Bathurst, which connected them with industry mentors to solve real-world agricultural challenges, build practical skills, engage in innovation, and network with peers and

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Between January and March, 7 workshops and conferences were held covering a broad range of topics, including livestock production and welfare, farm business and emerging technologies and data-driven decision‑making tools. Some highlights include:

• AgriWomen Connect workshop was held at Binya to inform, empower and connect women in agriculture. Riverina LLS experts delivered sessions on seasonal animal health, farm business strategy, soil analysis and decision‑making tools.
• Southern Beef and Lamb School was held over 3 days in February 2026. It supported students, educators and industry to strengthen understanding of southern beef and lamb production systems through industry-led learning and practical engagement. The event strengthened agricultural literacy, built capability and confidence, and supported pathways into the livestock industry, while promoting sustainable, profitable and resilient beef and lamb production systems. Watch the highlight video and read the full wrap up about the Southern Beef and Lamb School. 
• Citrus Soil Health workshop held at Griffith in March 2026 supported citrus growers, advisors and industry to better understand and manage key factors influencing orchard productivity. There was a strong focus on soil health, pest and disease pressures, and emerging technologies. Practical demonstrations, including a soil pit inspection and discussions around sudden death in citrus, enabled participants to apply concepts to real-world conditions. The workshop supported the adoption of climate-smart and sustainable orchard management practices, improving participants’ confidence, skills and ability to implement evidence-based approaches to improve productivity, resilience, and long-term farm performance.
• Workshops on plant biosecurity and seed bomb rolling were delivered at the Harvest Festival Riverina in March 2026. Plant biosecurity content helped improve understanding of plant pest and disease identification, surveillance, and early detection methods, while the seed bomb rolling workshop increased awareness and understanding of biodiversity, native plant systems and practical climate-smart actions that can be applied at both household and farm scales. Overall, the workshops helped farmers and the broader community understanding biosecurity risks and the importance of proactive management to support more resilient agricultural systems and improved decision-making, and to be more aware of nature-based solutions that support climate resilience and sustainable land management.  

Between July and December, 19 workshops were held covering a broad range of topics, including sustainable land management and farm business and production management. Some highlights include:

• Ground Up workshops were held at Coolac, Young, Barmedman and Carathool, which supported producers to strengthen their farm business management skills while enhancing knowledge of soil health, livestock management, using real-time climate data and pasture forecasting tools, threatened species preservation and local Landcare initiatives. Local Landcare activities were also highlighted to encourage participants to engage with community-led initiatives and consider opportunities to improve environmental outcomes on-farm. The workshops enabled practical learning from experts, peer discussion and informed decision-making to support more productive, resilient and sustainable farming systems.
• Gundagai Lamb Tour and workshop supported producers to better understand market requirements and identify opportunities to access premium lamb markets. Through a guided tour of Gundagai Meat Processors and an interactive session with Gundagai Lamb, participants gained insights into supply chain expectations, carcase specifications, and processing standards required to achieve premium pricing. The event enabled participants to reflect on their on-farm practices and identify potential changes to improve market compliance, product quality and profitability.
• Hay Public School Future Rural Leaders Program: Years 5 and 6 hosted their Plains-wanderer Expo and Book Launch on Friday 15 August 2025, following a series of excursions. They built awareness of the critically endangered plains-wanderer, which is native to the region, while developing student skills in research, writing, creativity and communication. By linking conservation with literacy and the arts, students were able to share what they had learned in engaging and lasting ways. This initiative was made possible through the support of Riverina Local Land Services, Hay Landcare, passionate local farmers, and the dedicated team at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Together, they provided students with hands-on experiences, from learning in the paddock at Rosevale to engaging with conservation experts at Dubbo Zoo. This activity demonstrated how collaboration can inspire the next generation of rural leaders while supporting the protection of one of Australia’s most endangered birds.
• AgriWomen Connect workshops were held at Conargo, Harden and Mangoplah to support women in agriculture to strengthen their capabilities in farm business management, livestock health, sustainable land management and natural resource stewardship. The workshops also provided valuable insights into livestock health and its direct link to farm productivity, supporting participants to adopt best-practice, science-based management strategies. Overall, the events promoted informed decision-making, peer learning, and a holistic approach to improving both productivity and sustainability outcomes.  
• Top Fodder Silage workshops were held at Binalong and Tarcutta to support producers to improve fodder conservation practices. Participants gained a better understanding of selecting the right silage system, producing and storing high-quality fodder, and avoiding common pitfalls identified from a contractor’s perspective. The sessions encouraged forward-planning and informed decision-making to enhance feed quality, reduce waste and improve overall farm productivity and resilience.