Research & Extension
Future Drought Fund
A User driven Australia wide initiative
The Irrigation Farmers Network (IFN) is a proud partner in the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF). The aim of the fund is to ‘enhance the public good by building drought resilience in the agricultural sector, the agricultural landscape and communities’.
At the commencement of the program IFN collaborated with the 7 other farming organisations; representing over 3500 farmers and farm community members, to identify their key issues and priorities in the context of drought resilience.
This engagement determined the programs that we would focus on when applying for grants, to increase the drought and climate change resilience capability of our agriculture industries and farming communities.
Our Programs
Updated with March 2024 Trial results.
Systems responsive to drought and seasonal climate volatility.
Proven practices in managing production of faba beans, wheat, barley and canola.
Includes setting yield targets, matching nitrogen nutrition to yields, irrigation strategies to maximise water use efficiency and switching from grain to fodder crops when needed.
The final report for the Save our Soils program is coming out soon.
A Stock Management Area is a tool for maintaining groundcover across the farm, improving soil health and pasture recovery, and reducing the energy requirements of stock.
Progress will be reported here. The focus of this project is economic, social and environmental resilience for mixed farming systems in Southern NSW. Working with both Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) we will be trialling farming practices that will test and demonstrate a range of strategies.
Updated with March 2024 Trial results
Adoption of key management practices for the success of dry and early sown crops.
The IFN is a partner in the Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub.
Find out more about the projects and resources
