In a nutshell, this project is identifying the factors that influence mixed farmers' decisions, particularly decisions about changing their farming systems.
Decision making on mixed farms is a complex process. Many factors are taken into account simultaneously, with finance, family, environment and risk all part of the mix.
Gaining insight into the complex decision-making processes faced by mixed farmers will ensure research and extension programs consider the social aspects of decision making alongside economic and environmental factors.
Interviews already conducted have confirmed that a common reaction to the increasing complexity of farming is to simplify farming systems, sometimes by reducing the number of enterprises. The livestock component has often been reduced or removed because of labour difficulties, high workloads at critical times, a lack of skills, stress and less recreation time.
Research Questions
Grain & Graze farmers and advisers are helping the researchers answer these questions:
- What are the issues and barriers to change?
- How are the social implications of on-farm change being managed and solutions applied?
- How can farmers get the benefits of mixed farming and meet their goals?
- How can we communicate effectively with farmers and develop relevant extension programs to support them to manage mixed farming systems change?
In the latest 
Grain & Graze Discussion Papers Nov 06 (pdf - 128KB):
- 1/06 Australian Mixed Farming - A System Under Threat?
- 2/06 Decision Making on Mixed Farms - Managing Complexity
- 3/06 Advisors - Opportunities for Grain & Graze
- 4/06 Issues from Literature Review - Decision Making on Mixed Farms
- 5/06 Mixed Farming Decisions - Doing the Sums
- 6/06 Mixed Farming - Labour
- 7/06 Lessons for Extension
How the Project is Working
The project will include a review of reports and literature as well as extensive interviews and focus groups with farmers, providing an opportunity for farmers to become involved across the nine project regions.
A better understanding of farmer decision-making will also help the Grain & Graze program communicate more effectively with farmers and tailor research and extension activities accordingly.
This means that timely, relevant activities can be conducted which have maximum impact on farmer learning and increased confidence in making the right decisions.
Project Coordinator
Nigel McGuckian
RMCG, PO Box 2140
Bendigo Mail Centre, VIC 3554
Phone: 03 5441 4821
Email: nigelm@rmcg.com.au