A new US$10 million project has been launched to assist grain growers in Western Australia’s high rainfall zone (HRZ) by improving farming systems and ensuring long-term sustainability and profitability. The project, which will run for five years, aims to help growers optimize their crop rotations, manage disease risks and implement effective crop management strategies.
The project is a collaboration between the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). The GRDC is contributing US$3.15 million, while DPIRD is providing an additional US$6.8 million.
Hon. Jackie Jarvis ML, Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Small Business at Parliament of Western Australia announced the project during the Albany Agricultural Show in Albany.
The HRZ in WA faces unique agricultural challenges, including a higher occurrence of crop diseases. These challenges, combined with tight crop rotations, often affect the performance and profitability of farms in the region. According to GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart, crop sequencing is a critical factor influencing system performance, and the new project will address this issue through a farming systems approach.
“Applying a farming systems approach, this new $10 million project led by DPIRD will explore cropping rotation options in the HRZ, including legume phases, providing growers with practical strategies to maximize enterprise profitability and ensure sustainability of their enterprise.”
In particular, the project will focus on regions such as Albany and Esperance, where tight cereal-canola rotations are common. Grain growers in these areas often face soil fertility and disease risks that could worsen over time if not addressed.
DPIRD research scientist and project lead Stacey Power explained that current cropping practices in the HRZ are constrained by disease and soil fertility concerns, which may worsen without intervention.
“This project will help develop more sustainable farming systems for grain growers, offering strategies that support long-term soil health, better crop rotations, and improved farm margins.”
The project will work closely with local grain growers to understand the best mix of crops that will optimise paddock potential and enhance farm profitability. The research will examine crop rotation options, including the role of legumes, which are often missing from the cropping sequences in the HRZ.
GRDC Senior Regional Manager West, Peter Bird, highlighted that the project builds on prior GRDC investments aimed at improving crop profitability and addressing yield gaps in WA. One such project, led by Grower Group Alliance, focuses on closing the economic yield gap for grain legumes in the state.
“While crop diversity and lower input systems are recognized as beneficial, rotations excluding a legume phase remain common in the HRZ. This project will take a holistic approach to evaluate the impact of crop types, rotations, agronomy and disease management on long-term sustainability and profitability for HRZ growers.”
Experienced researchers and agronomists from both port zones will collaborate on the project and help design trials to determine the most effective crop rotations for HRZ growers.
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The project is currently in its design and consultation phase, with the first set of trials expected to begin in the 2025 growing season. The trials will test different crop rotations and farming practices in real-world conditions, allowing growers to apply new strategies to their operations.
By focusing on crop diversification and integrated disease management, the project aims to improve the resilience of farming systems in WA’s high rainfall zone and ensure more profitable and sustainable farming practices for years to come.