The Australian government’s Future Drought Fund is supporting the NSW government, in partnership with program lead Charles Sturt University, to begin a new research initiative aimed at improving drought resilience for winegrape, apple and cherry producers.
“Drought is always a case of when, not if. This is why we’re working with the NSW Government, Charles Sturt University, and other partners to understand the risks, priorities and actions needed to boost resilience to future drought,” said minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry Julie Collins.
The five year project will develop and test agronomic management practices to strengthen resilience in orchards and vineyards under changing climate conditions. It will include long term trial sites at a commercial apple orchard in Batlow and a cherry orchard in Gulgong, along with demonstration sites across the Central West, southern NSW and Tasmania.
The trials will assess both researcher designed and grower suggested treatments to understand how different practices affect drought tolerance and productivity over time. Growers will be involved in trial design, treatment selection and on ground implementation. Six NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development research staff will work with Charles Sturt University and University of Tasmania researchers.
“We are seeing increased frequencies of drought, and we need to develop solutions which enable farmers and industry to do more with less water,” said Charles Sturt University vice chancellor Professor Renée Leon.
“This project is about improving the ability of horticulturalists to make better use of limited rainfall, developing smarter agricultural technologies and building cross-industry collaborations.
“It is important work which is a national priority to secure the future of our food supply. Charles Sturt University’s research is born in the regions, but its impact reaches across the nation.
“With support from valued partners like the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Charles Sturt University will continue converting regional challenges into world-class breakthroughs that strengthen our economy, our communities and our environment.”
The project will capture full seasonal cycles of perennial crops, providing insights into how management approaches perform under real conditions. It will also support the development of a toolkit of strategies, including soil amendments, deficit irrigation and technologies such as soil moisture probes.
Findings will be shared with farmers through workshops, factsheets, orchard walks and a ‘Best Practice Drought Management’ training manual.
The project has received $7.94 million from the Future Drought Fund through the Long term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Program, round 2.
“This investment, made through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, will support the development of drought-resilient practices that can be applied directly on farm, ensuring growers are better prepared for the challenges ahead,” said NSW minister for agriculture Tara Moriarty.
“I encourage farmers to get involved where possible in this project and see if they can take advantage of this valuable opportunity,” said Collins.