Farm data survey to guide priorities

Wimmera landholders have the opportunity to help guide investment into land and water management by sharing their views about soil, rivers and streams on their property.

Southern Cross University has sent 2000 Wimmera Rural Landholder Surveys to a random selection of people, asking them about long-term property plans and their views about their land and wetlands.

The survey also asks for views on soil management, native vegetation clearing, soil carbon, Aboriginal heritage and funding for on-farm environmental projects.

Other topics include types of farming, farming practices, farmers’ preferred sources of information, succession planning and why people’s farms are important to them.

Dr Hanabeth Luke is leading the survey for Wimmera Catchment Management Authority.

The survey is part of national project ‘Surveying On-farm Practices Across Australia’ being undertaken by the Soil Cooperative Research Centre. Project partners with Soil CRC are Southern Cross University, Wimmera CMA and Charles Sturt University.

Previous Wimmera surveys were conducted in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 and have helped guide investment in land and water management.

Wimmera CMA board chair Peter Hilbig said survey results gave the organisation a comprehensive understanding of past and future trends in land management and helped identify the requirements and needs of landholders now.

“The CMA pores over these results because they allow us to further understand the issues facing farmers,” he said.

“We can then strongly argue a case for projects and funding that will have the most impact and relevance for our region in the long-term.

“This knowledge from the grassroots complements the great guidance and feedback we receive through our everyday work with landholders and helps strengthen the partnerships we have with the farming sector.

“This is important when we are working on environmental projects on private land.”

Mr Hilbig said the highest-ranked property issue in 2017 in the Wimmera was the impact of drought and changing rainfall patterns on property viability.

The 2017 survey also found 45 percent of Wimmera croppers used minimum tillage and 31 percent used precision farming.

Almost 27 percent of graziers had fenced native bush or grasslands to manage stock access and 34 percent had established stock containment areas.

Mr Hilbig said although results between surveys could be compared, the CMA was first and foremost focused on current issues.

“So much has happened in the agricultural space since 2017 including a boom in technology, wet cropping seasons, COVID and hikes in the cost of inputs such as fertilisers and fuel,” he said.

“We look forward to gaining a better understanding of priority issues for Wimmera farmers and how best we can support them.”

Mr Hilbig said the CMA was pleased to be adding Wimmera farm data to the national project and contributing to creating a clearer picture of key priorities for farmers right across the country.

Dr Luke said surveys were confidential and people who received a survey and had questions could email Hanabeth.luke@scu.edu.au or call 1800 317 503.

People can also complete the survey online at soilcrc.com.au and click on Wimmera Survey.