Agricultural production in Northern Australia will be bolstered with research beginning on the collaborative Cotton Grain Cattle (CGC) program, just announced in Darwin today.
This four-year, $8 million project is a collaboration between CRDC, the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) who will oversee the program.
It involves around 30 partners including universities, state/territory governments and industry stakeholders to enhance the productivity and sustainability of the northern regions of Western Australia (WA), the Northern Territory (NT), and Queensland.
Comprising six interlinked projects, the program is designed to address pressing research gaps in the emerging broadacre regions of Northern Australia, while also boosting the value delivered to the cattle industry. The program is based on an analysis undertaken by the CRCNA which highlighted the importance of integrated agricultural systems in the north. It revealed that the greatest RD&E investment value is achieved when cropping is coordinated with other activities, such as beef production. By focusing on these key areas, the CGC is set to elevate the agricultural profile of Northern Australia, creating a robust and sustainable sector that will benefit the local economy.
The six projects of CGC are:
- Crops for cattle to increase the efficiency of Northern Australian cattle production systems using local crops to improve dry season weight gain (NT)
- Fundamentals of cropping-systems that deliver sustainable growth of the agricultural sector (NT)
- Cropping-enabled cattle production enabled by feed products from irrigated cropping (WA)
- Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) sustainable systems for diversification of ORIA cropping (WA)
- Extension capacity of cropping systems, enhancing to sustain growth (NQ)
- Cotton, Grains, Cattle farming systems (NQ)
CRDC Innovation Broker Susan Maas took a secondment from CRDC to assist CRCNA develop the CGC program. She says the project aims to unlock the potential of the north's agricultural capabilities while ensuring responsible resource management and environmental stewardship. It also recognises the increasing importance of local cotton and grain production to optimise the northern cattle industry.
Susan was involved in creating the six linked projects that will be based across tropical North Qld, Douglas Daly in the NT and the Ord in WA.
"This initiative represents a major step forward in building on past crop-specific northern research to support the establishment of a robust and sustainable farming system," Susan said.
"The project engages with local stakeholders and has ongoing local oversight: both essential components in ensuring the project delivers on the needs of northern growers and producers, and contributes to the long-term growth and prosperity of the northern agricultural sector.
"There's a huge interest in northern cropping, and increasing demand for cotton seed and grains within the cattle industry.
"The program focuses on collaboration and regional impact, and ensures we're moving away from isolated research efforts to a cohesive farming system that benefits the entire region.
"CRDC's committed to the sustainable development of cotton in the north, underpinned by RD&E, the adoption of best practice and the meeting of community expectations: so we're thrilled to be part of the CGC program," Susan said.
GRDC and CRDC are investing approximately $1 million each into CGC, demonstrating their commitment to northern broadacre production.
Dr Joe Eyre of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at the University of Queensland is leading the Cotton, Grains, Cattle farming systems (NQ) sub-project.
He says that the program will aim to answer questions relevant to cotton-grains-cattle farming systems in North Qld and provide stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions.
"Our research will identify best practices for pest and disease management, canopy management, and soil water capture and conservation in the north," Joe said.
"We will also explore opportunities for increasing the value and resilience of cropping systems, and the potential for on-farm produced feed sources for cattle."
For more, visit www.crcna.com.au.
