Stress Testing Regenerative Agricultural Practices – STRAP

Drought resilience in novel emerging dryland farming practices - A scientific and economic basis (Stress Testing Regenerative Agricultural Practices - STRAP)

The project aims to rigorously study regenerative cropping and pasture management to boost drought resilience in southern Australia's dryland farming systems. It is farmer-led with scientific support from CSIRO, involving five long-term trials across key eco-climatic zones and four large demonstration trials. The data collected will be modelled to predict outcomes of different management scenarios, helping stakeholders visualize impacts on soil resilience and sustainable productivity.

The project is evaluating a range of regenerative practices based on five key principles:

1. Minimising soil disturbance
2. Maintaining soil cover
3. Keeping living roots in the ground
4. Increasing plant diversity
5. Integrating livestock where appropriate

In 2026, sites have been established at Ungarra and Port Kenny on the Eyre Peninsula. The Ungarra site features key 6 treatment rotations. The trial site is a rolling design where each treatment phase appears in every year of the trial (4 years).

1. High Production (Wheat-Canola-Wheat-Canola)
2. Diverse Within (Lentil/Canola-Barley/Vetch-Beans/Lentils-Spring Wheat)
3. Pasture Inclusive (Oats/Vetch x4) (grazing to be stimulated with mowing)
4. Amendment Driven (BM Vetch-Faba Bean-Spring Wheat-Spring Wheat)
5. Cover Focus (Lentils-Winter Canola-Cover Crop-Winter Wheat) (Pigeon Pea for summer crop)
6. Legumes for N (BM Vetch-Spring Wheat-Faba Bean-Spring Wheat)