Hunter climate-smart farming network

The Hunter Climate-Smart Farming Network project addresses the well-researched barriers to adopting climate-smart agricultural practices in the Hunter Local Land Services region and demonstrates the benefits of productive, practical and socially acceptable practices.

Through partnerships with existing groups, this project fosters stronger networks and peer learning to increase adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.  

Project background

The work aims to reduce threats to agriculture in the region, which include:

• grazing management practices
• poor soil health
• pest animals
• knowledge gaps in effective land management practices
• climate change, especially changing rainfall patterns and temperature extremes.

Project objectives

This project aims to increase adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices among the Hunter Local Land Services farming community by:  

• addressing the barriers to adoption  
• fostering stronger networks to support adoption  
• facilitating knowledge sharing and peer support  
• building knowledge in natural resource management practices that protect and conserve natural capital and biodiversity
• demonstrating the benefits of productive, practical and socially acceptable practices.

Project delivery

Work includes:

• on-farm demonstrations focusing on soil health, acid soils and productive perennial pasture systems
• showcasing climate-smart agricultural practices best suited to Hunter landscapes, climatic conditions and agricultural systems
• tailored extension services
• peer-to-peer learning opportunities
• circulation of education materials
• skills and knowledge surveys. 

Project timeline

2024–26:  

• networking with landholders and establishing demonstration sites
• conduct baseline soil testing
• conduct baseline skills and knowledge survey
• run 10 landholder networking events
• conduct 4 on-ground demonstrations.

2026–28:  

• conduct indicator soil testing
• run 10 landholder networking events
• continue 10 on-ground demonstrations  
• carry out skills and knowledge surveys (after each event)
• publish/circulate education materials
• publish/circulate demonstration site results
• project close (30 June 2028) and outcomes reporting.

Work underway

• 14 landholder networking events.
• 4 demonstration sites established.  
• 26 soil tests conducted. 

Funding and partnerships

Our key delivery partners are:

• land managers
• producers/livestock managers
• Gloucester Pastoralist Association
• Karuah and Great Lakes Landcare
• Manning Landcare
• Mid Coast Council. 

This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel. All outcomes for this project are recorded in MERIT.