Drought Projects
The Australian Government has established eight Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs across the nation through the Future Drought Fund. These hubs support farmers and communities to get ready for drought by connecting farmers with regional agricultural experts, innovation and new practices.
The Northern Western Australia and Northern Territory Hub (Northern Hub) is one of these hubs and it focuses on improving the drought resilience of farmers, traditional owners, and communities in the tropical Top End and rangelands.
In total the Future Drought Fund supports
– 28 projects
– 12 full or part time positions placed within our core members
Enhancing Grazing Practices
Water Use Efficiency
Cross Hub Projects
Rehydration
| Project title | project lead and partners | summary | progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory Open Access Cibo Labs Synoptic Platform | Territory NRM | Promoting the Use of Cibo Labs’ Free Lite Software: Workshops for Land Managers and Pastoralists Across NT Working with land managers and pastoralists across NT, this project will fund a series of workshops to promote the use of Cibo Labs’ “lite” version software, which is now available for free. Building on a previously funded FDF activity awarded to Territory NRM, this project is aimed at promoting conservation and native production systems in addition to pastoralists. The platform provides valuable information on forage availability, fuel loads for fire management, and the onset of drought conditions. | |
| Forage Mapping for Resilient Landscapes | Territory NRM | TNRM Project Extended for 24 Months: Evaluating Cibo Labs’ Impact on Producers, Management, and Environment Focused on producers in the NT – the TNRM project has been extended for 24 months to continue the successful establishment of 10 producer sites for Cibo Labs technology. This extension aims to evaluate the impact of adoption on production, management, and the environment. Through outreach activities, we will also work on improving the calibration of the algorithm. Furthermore, the project will support the training of extension staff in the region. | |
| Coordinated Dry Season Response | Kimberly Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association | Enhancing Climate Resilience for Pastoralists Discover how pastoralists can effectively assess climate, weather, and forage with the help of modern tools. This project aims to stimulate discussions and determine producer needs for better climate resilience. | |
| Stylo Legumes | WA Dept of Primary Industry and Regional Development | Increasing Green Biomass Availability in Native Pastures: A Project on Stylosanthes spp. in WA While the use of Stylosanthes spp. to increase green biomass availability in native pastures is common in Queensland, it has not been widely adopted in Western Australia. This project aims to address this by clarifying the approvals process, identifying suitable soils and phosphorus requirements, and addressing constraints to adoption. The project seeks to increase green biomass availability in native pastures by promoting the adoption of Stylosanthes spp. This approach has the potential to improve productivity, which can contribute to better grazing systems and increased profitability. | |
| Rangeland Courses | NT Dept of Industry, Tourism and Trade | Enhancing Rangeland Management Courses in the Northern Territory The Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism, and Trade aims to enhance its ability to offer fundamental one-day courses on rangeland management across the region. These courses are an introduction for new station employees and can later lead to more advanced Edge (MLA) courses delivered on-site with site-specific examples. The project, funded to broaden the reach of existing courses, will expand geographically to cover southern NT, engage indigenous-run stations, and develop additional modules to improve the courses’ technical aspects. This expansion aims to provide better training opportunities and support for new station employees in the region. The mentor program, established as part of the project, will also help bridge the knowledge gap and provide a supportive learning environment for participants. With these enhancements, the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism, and Trade will improve its ability to offer quality training programs and contribute to better rangeland management practices across the region. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge in rangeland management. | |
| Forage Management WA | Rangelands NRM | New Project to Extend Rangelands Work to Kimberley and Pilbara Regions in Western Australia A new project is underway to extend the successful Rangelands work in Western Australia’s Southern Rangelands to the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. The project’s main objective is to introduce satellite-based forage assessment on several properties in the region. The project will also provide training for producers to identify key pasture species and interpret satellite data for improved management. With accurate data and informed decisions, producers can better manage their pastures, which leads to better sustainability of grazing systems in the region. By providing this training, the project will not only benefit producers but also contribute to improving the overall sustainability of the region’s grazing systems. | |
| Spinifex Dominated Pastures | Kimberly Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association | Spinifex Dominated Pastures: Importance During Drought & Knowledge Collation Project While Buffel and Mitchell grass pastures are well-understood and productive, Spinifex dominated pastures remain relatively under-researched. However, during times of drought when other feed sources are scarce, Spinifex pastures become increasingly important. To build a strong foundation for a future long-term demonstration site, the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association (KPCA) is leading a project to collate existing knowledge on Spinifex pastures. The project will start by gathering information from published literature and will then conduct interviews with pastoralists and indigenous stakeholders. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is co-funding the project. Through this Spinifex knowledge collation project, we aim to provide a better understanding of the importance of these pastures and identify opportunities to increase their productivity. | |
| Forage Champions | NT Farmers | Applying ‘myBMP’ Cotton Concept to Forage Production in the NT A project led by NT Farmers is set to apply the cotton ‘myBMP’ concept to forage production in the Northern Territory. This approach aims to create a grower community for best-management-practice production of forage. By applying the ‘myBMP’ concept to forage production, the project seeks to improve productivity, sustainability, and profitability. This approach has already proven successful in the cotton industry and is expected to provide similar benefits to forage production. |
| Project title | project lead and partners | summary | progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Year Review | Rangelands NRM | Evaluating Ecologically-Based Rehydration Works in Western Australia’s Pastoral Stations Discover the longer-term consequences of at least 170 ecologically-based rehydration works on Western Australia’s pastoral stations. Learn from the collated learnings across ecoregions and production systems to build resilience and regenerate the land. Over the last 30 years, ecologically-based rehydration works have been performed on over 170 pastoral stations in Western Australia. However, the longer-term consequences of these works have not yet been evaluated, making it difficult to determine their overall effectiveness. This project aims to fill this gap by providing the first evaluation of the longer-term consequences of these rehydration works. Additionally, the project will collate learnings across ecoregions and production systems, providing valuable insights into regeneration and resilience building. The findings of this project will be disseminated through publications for print and social media, providing guidelines and stories of both success and failure. By sharing this information, we hope to encourage more sustainable practices and help others learn from the successes and challenges faced in rehydrating and regenerating the land. | |
| Pastoral Census | Territory NRM | Upcoming Pastoral Surveys in Northern Territory and Kimberley-Pilbara Regions Learn about the upcoming pastoral surveys to be conducted in the NT and Kimberley-Pilbara regions, which will be updated with a smaller question set and leveraged station visits to reduce cost. In 2010, pastoral surveys were conducted in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley-Pilbara region. This project aims to update the NT survey and potentially replicate it in Northern WA. To reduce costs, the survey will use a smaller question set and leverage station visits from other projects. An important milestone in this project will be the development of a questionnaire that can be used by multiple organizations, making it more useful and cost-effective. | |
| Ord Water | WA Dept of Primary Industry and Regional Development | Investigating Water Use and Efficiency in the Ord River Irrigation Area This project investigates current irrigation practices and water use in the Ord River irrigation area, as well as barriers and incentives to adopting greater water use efficiencies. It aims to investigate current irrigation practices and water use in the Ord River irrigation area, with a focus on identifying barriers and incentives to adopting greater water use efficiencies. While this proposal is more related to industry expansion, it has important implications for future adaptation to increasingly limited water resources. The cost of this project is relatively small, and almost half of the funding will be used for extension activities to identify barriers and incentives, which is in alignment with the objectives of the Northern Hub. Stay tuned for updates on our findings, as we work to promote greater water use efficiency in the Ord River irrigation area. | |
| Coordinated Dry Season Response | Kimberly Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association | Enhancing Climate Resilience for Pastoralists Discover how pastoralists can effectively assess climate, weather, and forage with the help of modern tools. This project aims to stimulate discussions and determine producer needs for better climate resilience. | |
| Facilitating the Trade of Aboriginal Water Reserves in Northern Territory | Territory NRM | This project presents a clear process for trading Aboriginal water reserves in the Northern Territory, enabling this resource to be traded for the benefit of both producers and Indigenous owners. It aims to facilitate the trade of Aboriginal water reserves in the Northern Territory by presenting a clear process that benefits both producers and First Nation’s owners. Water is a valuable resource, and by enabling its trade, we can create opportunities for economic growth and development. The project will provide a clear and transparent process for trading Aboriginal water reserves, empowering First Nation’s owners and enabling producers to access the water they need to grow their businesses. Stay tuned for updates on our progress as we work to promote sustainable and equitable water use in the Northern Territory. | |
| Soil Pits for Sustainability | NT Farmers | Using Soil Pits to Promote Soil Stewardship and Producer Knowledge Learn about this NT Farmers led project to establish and use three demonstration sites to promote soil stewardship and improve producer knowledge through the effective use of soil pits. Soil pits are an effective tool for outreach, providing a clear demonstration of soil constraints, plant root growth, and infiltration. This project aims to establish and use three demonstration sites to promote soil stewardship and improve producer knowledge by using soil pits as an effective tool for education. By demonstrating the importance of soil health and the impact it has on plant growth, we can encourage producers to adopt more sustainable and efficient practices. This project will help producers gain a deeper understanding of soil constraints and provide them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about land management. Stay tuned for updates on our progress as we work to promote sustainable and responsible soil stewardship in our community. | |
| Climate Smart Agriculture | NT Dept of Industry, Tourism and Trade | Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices in Northern Territory This project raises awareness of climate-smart agriculture practices that build soil organic matter by demonstrating them on-farm and identifying key messages to increase adoption. Run in collaboration with NT DITT and NT Farmers. Our project, in collaboration with NT DITT and NT Farmers, aims to promote climate-smart agriculture practices in the Northern Territory by demonstrating them on-farm and identifying key messages to increase adoption. By raising awareness of these practices, which build soil organic matter and improve soil health, we can help producers mitigate the impacts of climate change on their operations. Through on-farm demonstrations and engagement with producers, we will identify the most effective messages for increasing adoption of these practices. This project will help to build resilience in Northern Territory agriculture and horticulture by promoting sustainable and responsible land management practices. Stay tuned for updates on our progress as we work to promote climate-smart agriculture practices in our community. | |
| Community Groundwater | Charles Darwin University | Enabling Citizen Science Groundwater Sampling in Northern Territory This project enables citizens to collect groundwater samples and send them to CDU for analysis, funded through the provision of collection kits and analysis for one or more regions within the Hub, contingent on the success of a $400k proposal to the Ian Potter Foundation for developing a collection app. We aim to enable citizen science groundwater sampling in the Northern Territory by providing collection kits and analysis for one or more regions within the Hub. Through this project, citizens will be able to collect groundwater samples and send them to CDU for analysis, contributing to our understanding of groundwater resources in the region. This proposal is contingent on the success of a $400k proposal to the Ian Potter Foundation for developing a collection app, which will make it even easier for citizens to participate in this important research. By engaging citizens in the collection of groundwater samples, we can promote community involvement and increase our understanding of groundwater resources in the Northern Territory. | |
| Improving Water Management at Bullara Station | RDA Pilbara | Improving Water Management for Sustainable Tourism at Bullara Station Discover our project to provide potable water and improve wastewater management at Bullara Station, supporting sustainable tourism and plans for water reuse as a demonstration site for other stations. Bullara Station is a pastoral station that has a home-stay tourism operation with up to 500 daily visitors. Our project aims to provide potable water and improve wastewater management at Bullara Station to cope with this high volume of visitors. By improving water management, we can promote sustainable tourism and ensure that the station can continue to accommodate visitors in the future. This project is just the first stage of our larger plans for Bullara Station. In the second proposal stage, we plan to reuse water for forage production and serve as a demonstration site for other stations. By demonstrating the benefits of sustainable water management, we hope to encourage other stations to adopt similar practices. Stay tuned for updates on our progress as we work to improve water management and promote sustainable tourism at Bullara Station. |
| Project title | project lead and partners | summary | progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rangelands Demo Sites | Northern Hub via KPCA + 5 other Hubs | Rangeland demonstration site(s) showcasing technologies and techniques that use mapping and other technologies to improve rangeland management, supporting primary producers in becoming more resilient to climate variation. This project aims to showcase technologies and techniques that use mapping and other technologies to improve rangeland management, supporting primary producers in becoming more resilient to climate variation. Through our demonstration site(s), we will showcase best practices and new technologies that can help producers prepare for and adapt to the changing climate. By providing access to these resources and tools, we can support sustainable and resilient agriculture in the Northern Territory. Our project is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest developments in technology and agriculture, and we are excited to share our findings with the community. Stay tuned for updates on our demonstration site(s) as we work to improve rangeland management and promote climate resilience among primary producers in the Northern Territory. | |
| Building Drought Resilience in Irrigated Horticulture | SWWA Hub + Northern Hub (via NTFarmers) and Vic Hub | Learn about our collaboration between the South West WA, Northern Hub (NT and NW WA), and Victorian Drought and Innovation Hubs to improve drought resilience in irrigated horticulture, establishing on-farm demonstration sites and supporting growers with irrigation management. Our project aims to improve drought resilience in irrigated horticulture by establishing on-farm demonstration sites at growers’ properties in Southern WA, Northern WA, Northern Territory, and Victoria. As part of a collaboration between the South West WA, Northern WA & NT, and Victorian Drought and Innovation Hubs, we will support growers with Irrigation Development Officers (IDOs) to build their capacity to strategically implement soil moisture monitoring and irrigation management. By improving irrigation management, we can help growers to better cope with drought and other environmental stresses, ensuring that they can continue to produce high-quality crops even in adverse conditions. Our project is committed to sharing knowledge and best practices across different regions, and we are excited to work with growers and other stakeholders to promote sustainable and resilient agriculture. Stay tuned for updates on our progress as we work to build drought resilience in irrigated horticulture. | |
| Fast-tracking Grazing Management for WA and NT Pastoral Industry | Northern Hub (via Rangelands) + SWWA Hub | Our citizen science proposal will enable people to collect groundwater samples and send them to CDU for analysis, promoting community involvement in groundwater management and monitoring. Our project aims to address the gaps in grazing management practices in the Western Australian (WA) and Northern Territory (NT) pastoral industry by testing and refining an interoperable system that allows pastoralists to manage grazing pressure and adapt to changing climatic conditions. By fast-tracking the work required to bring the WA and NT pastoral industry in line with the rest of the country, we can ensure that properties are future-proofed against environmental stresses and the industry remains sustainable in the long term. Through this project, we will work closely with pastoralists to test and refine the interoperable system, ensuring that it is tailored to their unique needs and contexts. By promoting better grazing management practices, we can improve the resilience of the pastoral industry and help it to adapt to the challenges of a changing climate. Stay tuned for updates on our progress as we work to fast-track grazing management for the WA and NT pastoral industry. |
| Project title | project lead and partners | summary | progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restoring Natural Functions in Central Australian Rangeland Catchments | Top End Conservation Management Bushfires NT CDU (RIEL & NAFI) Tierra Australia Mulloon Consulting Pty Ltd | This project aims to improve drought resilience at scale by constructing working demonstrations of landscape rehydration on four pastoral properties located in central Australia. The demonstrations will be located at major watercourse catchments in two catchment areas. Additionally, the project will develop and implement innovative sustainable grazing systems and a fire reduction strategy for all four project sites post rehydration works. The effectiveness of old rehydration works on a pastoral station, where rehydration works have occurred for over 40 years, will also be evaluated. Join us as we work towards sustainable land management and drought resilience in Australia’s pastoral industry. |