Resilience projects under way

STRENGTHENING the state’s drought preparedness and resilience will be the focus of multiple diverse projects rolling out across six SA regions, including two at a Loxton hub.

Supported by the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, a total of 14 projects have commenced in collaboration with a range of Hub partners.

The two projects being undertaken through the Loxton-based SA Drought Hub are:

• Soil zone mapping for variable rate nutrition management – led by Mallee Sustainable Farming
• Improving canola establishment in dry conditions – led by Murray Plains Farmers.

SA Drought Hub director Dr Stephen Lee said the projects involve 34 partners, including farming systems groups, Landscape Boards and other organisations.

“It is heartening to see so many organisations actively working on these projects which have been informed through a comprehensive issues and opportunities identification process throughout SA,” he said.

“Outcomes from these projects – and the many more that are in development as part of an ongoing process – will support our farms and regional communities through the extension of knowledge and impactful practice change.”

The 14 projects align with the regional priorities for increased drought resilience – identified through consultation workshops and stakeholder discussions held across the state in 2021 – and are financed by almost $700,000 in funding and more than $1m of in-kind support.

Led by the University of Adelaide in partnership with PIRSA, the SA Drought Hub is one of eight Hubs established across the nation in 2021 through the federal government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF).

The SA Hub is also involved in three FDF cross-hub projects, with $790,000 in total funding, including:

• SA-led image-based sensing for improved irrigation scheduling of horticultural crops
• Drought resilience practices in mixed farming systems
• Managing rangelands for drought resilience.