Adapting cropping systems to changing climatic conditions to reduce inputs and maximise water use through improving crop competitiveness

This project will address two major threats to no till farming & stubble retention systems, which have been critical to sustaining profitable farming in the region over the past 35 years. Reliance on herbicides for weed control has led to resistant weeds, forcing farmers to return to tillage and burning to control these weeds. Increasing row spacing to manage stubble has led to increased erosion risk between rows and reduced yield potential. The project will demonstrate the benefits of increasing the distribution of seed per m2 using innovative farmer equipment. Two demonstration sites will be monitored to measure ground cover, water use, erosion risk and weed numbers. The sites will be a focus for farmer discussion groups to analyse what is being observed and to discuss ways of incorporating the practices into their farming systems. AIR EP will promote the outcomes of the project to the broader farming community via e-newsletters, at post-harvest & spring paddock walk events.