Farmers and producers in the Central West are boosting their farm’s profitability and sustainability through this benchmarking project with Central West Local Land Services (CWLLS).
Adapt 2 – Optimising resources for enhanced production – builds on previous successes with the CWLLS Adapt project to reduce threats to agriculture in the region, which include:
- low ground cover causing soil to erode
- insufficient knowledge of land management practices and appropriate intervention actions
- limited knowledge about sources of on-farm emissions and emission reduction practices
- a changing climate and rainfall patterns resulting in variable seasonal conditions and financial returns.
During the project period from April 2025 to December 2027, participants are receiving:
- coaching
- guidance
- resources
- ongoing support to improve their farming business.
Project objectives
This project establishes strong, long-term peer-based networks across the Central West NSW region to drive business improvement, highly efficient production and careful nurturing of natural on-farm assets.
This project assists Central West farmers and producers to:
- adopt practices that reduce emissions
- build resilience to climate change
- drive sustainable agricultural growth
- improve production efficiency
- participate in carbon and natural capital conservation.
The first step in this process is ensuring their agricultural businesses are profitable and sustainably productive.
Project delivery
This project brings together farmers from across the region into economic benchmarking groups coordinated by farm economic benchmarking consultant Agrista.
Business benchmarking focuses on finances and emissions to identify areas for improving production efficiency.
The benchmarking reports provide productivity measures at a whole farm level, including:
- return on assets managed
- operating return on equity
- operating profit (% gross profit)
- gross profit per full time equivalent labour unit
- scale (DSE managed).
In addition to benchmarking and financial upskilling activities, CWLLS is delivering production focused training to participants on complimentary demonstration sites to facilitate paddock-based learning and farmer-driven solutions. Topics include:
- cropping practices
- pasture assessment
- fodder conservation
- carbon farming
- natural capital
- livestock assessments
- soil masterclasses
- and many more.
Activities are driven primarily by what is relevant to the benchmarking group.
Project timeline
2025–27
- Select participants and establish work agreements (participant selection will conclude in 2026).
- Facilitate benchmarking groups and deliver individual reports to participating farmers and producers.
- Deliver 2 production-based training sessions per year for participants.
- Deliver 2 benchmarking workshops per year to present insights and the levers driving productivity.
- Establish demonstration sites for participants to build skills, knowledge and confidence in applying new learnings.
2028
At project close on 30 June 2028:
- A total of 6 benchmarking workshops delivered for participants.
- A total of 6 production-based training sessions delivered for participants.
- 90 farm benchmark datasets delivered for calendar years 2025, 2026 and 2027.
- 20 demonstration sites or on-farm trials delivered.
- Outcomes reporting.
Work underway
- Expressions of interest closed on 30 June 2024, farms were assessed, and participating land managers have been selected.
- Trials and monitoring have commenced.
- Participating producers are being assisted to obtain their net carbon emissions baseline.
- The first benchmarking meeting was held with participants.
Big Tech Big Ideas field day
Experience the latest farm technology solutions up close, with live demonstrations, hand-on activities, and speaker sessions from industry leaders.
This 2-day event in March 2026 is being delivered under the Adapt 2 project in collaboration with Farms of the Future program.
Project updates
September 2025
Parkes Grazing Forum
Held 3 September 2025, the Parkes Grazing Forum was a huge success with more than 80 farmers and their agronomy advisors coming along to learn more from LLS and DPIRD researchers and extension experts. The group wandered through LLS's pasture variety demo site and learned more about species and variety suitability.
- 81 farmers, agronomists and advisors
- 10 leading researchers and extension specialists from DPRID, LLS and industry
- 50 pasture varieties featured in paddock walk-through trial plots.
Over the course of the day topics covered:
- managing acidity
- low emissions pasture
- sheep and goat eID
- Southern Multi Breed Project
- dual purpose crops
- mixed species fodder
- drench resistance trials
- sheep nutrition.
We’re proud to bring cutting-edge research to the Central West and support our local producers with the tools and knowledge to thrive.
Find out what's happening in the Central West
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Funding and partnerships
Our key delivery partners are:
- farmers
- private land and livestock managers
- Agrista farm economic benchmarking consultant.
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by Central West Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel. All outcomes for this project are recorded in MERIT.
For further information, please contact:
Rohan Leach
Phone: 0417 021 795
Email: rohan.leach@lls.nsw.gov.au
Neroli Brennan
Phone: 0428 692 713
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