A FOUR-year research, development and extension (RD&E) program is poised to enhance the productivity and sustainability of the northern regions of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) has joined forces with the Cotton Research Development Corporation (CRDC), the Co-operative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), universities, State governments and industry stakeholders to launch the innovative CRCNA Cotton Grain Cattle Program.
Comprising six interlinked projects, the program is designed to address pressing research gaps in the emerging broadacre regions of northern Australia, while also boosting the value delivered to the cattle industry.
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It is based on an analysis undertaken by the CRCNA which highlighted the importance of integrated agricultural systems in northern Australia.
It revealed that the greatest RD&E investment value is achieved when cropping is co-ordinated with other activities, such as beef production.
By focusing on these key areas, the Cotton Grain Cattle Program is set to elevate the agricultural profile of northern Australia, creating a robust and sustainable sector that will benefit the local economy.
This initiative underlines GRDC and CRDC's commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation across the grain and cotton industries and equates to a total investment of about $1 million each.
This substantial investment signals a tangible and sustained commitment to the advancement of broadacre production in the region.
GRDC acknowledges cotton as the emerging pillar broadacre crop in northern Australia and the importance of parallel investment in grains RD&E to complement and inform this growth, thereby ensuring the development of a long-term, sustainable farming system.
"In addition to supporting this program in a way that is proportional with the current level of grain production in far northern Australia, we have continued strong stakeholder liaison across Northern Australia to identify relevant grains RD&E need and investment opportunities," Ms Meppem said.
"Through partnering with our fellow broadacre RDC and the CRCNA we have achieved a strongly integrated approach that will answer important grower-led research questions that support the specific needs of producers across the three regions of Northern Australia.
"The six linked projects are located across tropical North Queensland, Douglas Daly, in the Northern Territory, and the Ord region, in Western Australia.
"This project also recognises the increasing importance of local cotton and grain production to optimise the northern cattle industry and includes strong consideration of natural resource management and local communities".
CRDC senior innovation broker Susan Maas took a secondment from CRDC to assist CRCNA to develop the research program.
She said the project aimed to unlock the potential of the north's agricultural capabilities while ensuring responsible resource management and environmental stewardship.
"This initiative represents a major step forward in building on past crop-specific northern research to support the establishment of a robust and sustainable farming system," Ms Maas said.
"The project engages with local stakeholders and has ongoing local oversight - both essential components in ensuring the project delivers on the needs of northern growers and producers and contributes to the long-term growth and prosperity of the northern agricultural sector.
"There's a huge interest in northern cropping and increasing demand for cotton seed and grains within the cattle industry.
"The program focuses on collaboration and regional impact and ensures we're moving away from isolated research efforts to a cohesive farming system that benefits the entire region.
"CRDC is committed to the sustainable development of cotton in the north, underpinned by RD&E, the adoption of best practice and the meeting of community expectations: so, we're pleased to be part of this body of work."
Joe Eyre, a research fellow at the Centre for Crop Science, part of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation at the University of Queensland, is leading one of the six projects, Cotton, Grains, Cattle farming systems.
He said the program would aim to answer questions relevant to cotton-grains-cattle farming systems in North Queensland and provide stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions.
"Our research will help stakeholders identify best practices for pest and disease management, canopy management and soil water capture and conservation in the north," Dr Eyre said.
"We will also be exploring opportunities for increasing cropping system value and resilience, as well as the potential for onfarm produced feed sources to improve liveweight gain, intake, rumen function and methane emission in cattle.
"Through whole farm level systems participatory research, we'll examine the impact of extreme climate events on productivity and sustainability, as well as the level of climate information accuracy and timeliness required for economic value."
The launch of the Cotton Grain Cattle Program is a significant milestone for Northern Australia's agricultural industry.
As it unfolds, it will drive economic growth and sustainability across the region, signifying a new era of agricultural innovation and collaboration.
- More information: Go to the CRCNA website.
