The Grain & Graze Program commissions research to help mixed farmers improve the profitability and sustainability of their farms.
Farmers are directly involved in local research and trials, testing new farming practices on more than 100 sites across Australia, and feeding these results back into the research projects.
Researchers focus their projects on cropping, pastures, livestock, profitability, whole-farm economics, social issues, feedbase management, farming systems and natural resources such as soil, water and biodiversity.
Getting Involved
Researchers, farmers, farming groups and catchment groups are welcome to become involved with the Grain & Graze Program by contacting your nearest regional or national coordinator.
Partners
Grain & Graze is a collaboration between Meat & Livestock Australia, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Australian Wool Innovation Limited, and Land & Water Australia. Together, they have invested $14.5 million over five years, with substantial co-investment from regional bodies.
Grain & Graze works together with more than 65 organisations across Australia, including a large number of farmer and landcare groups, research providers and catchment management authorities.
Regions
Each of the nine regions in the Grain & Graze program has a regional coordinator who knows the area and manages the local program. There are Grain & Graze initiatives relevant to your area and production systems. To find out more, please contact your nearest Regional Coordinator.
Grain & Graze works across nine regions:
Avon (south WA)
Border Rivers (southern QLD and northern NSW)
Central West/Lachlan (central NSW)
Corangamite/Glenelg-Hopkins (south-west VIC)
Eyre Peninsula (south-central SA)
Mallee (south-west NSW, south-east SA, north-west VIC)
Maranoa / Balonne (QLD)
Murrumbidgee (NSW)
Northern Agricultural Region (south-central WA)
National Projects
While the strength of Grain & Graze lies in its regional approach, there is much to learn by looking across the regions. Some principles of profitability, sustainability and social cohesion remain constant.
For this reason, Grain and Graze runs four national projects that investigate aspects of farming systems common to all regions:
Program Targets
Grain & Graze has three targets:
- A 10% increase in mixed farm profitability, driven by a 5% increase in grain yields and a 10% increase in livestock production;
- Improved condition of natural resources on mixed farms in line with regional or catchment targets; and
- Confident and knowledgeable mixed farmers making decisions and using tools that sustain production and promote
biodiversity.
Program Management
Grain & Graze is a collaboration between the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Meat & Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation Limited, and Land & Water Australia. Land & Water Australia is the managing agency.
Former president of the National Farmers' Federation, Mr Ian Donges, is the independent Chair for the Program. Mr Donges is a farmer running a mixed cereal, sheep and beef enterprise near Cowra, NSW.
A management committee oversees the Grain & Graze Program.
Day to day operations are managed by Dr Richard Price, the National Coordinator. Extension activities are managed by Gillian Stewart, the National Extension Coordinator and Merryn West manages the communications.
How to Find Out More
To find out more about Grain & Graze 's projects and how you can become involved, please contact your nearest Regional Coordinator, the National Extension Coordinator Gillian Stewart (02 6263 6042), or the Communications Officer Merryn West (02 6263 6013).
