Frost remains one of the most unpredictable and damaging risks for grain growers in the WA Wheatbelt. Even with careful management, it slices into profits year after year. Sowing Strategies…

Nitrogen (N) is one of the biggest drivers of grain yield and farm profit — but it’s also one of the hardest to get right. Apply too little and yield…

While mature ewe nutrition targets are well established, producers have had less guidance for maidens. A new analysis using the Australian Farm Optimiser (AFO) has shed light on this challenge,…

Confinement feeding — hand-feeding livestock in a small, contained area — is becoming a valuable tool for mixed farmers in the WA Wheatbelt. By resting pastures while stock are held…

After the tough 2023–24 seasons, we used whole-farm optimisation models to test responses to feed shortages and low livestock prices. The findings show flexibility is key, with tactics like sales timing, feeding strategies and selective destocking helping protect profits.

The potential phase-out of Australia’s live sheep export market has raised big questions for Merino producers, especially those who have relied on wethers sold into the trade. Our analysis used…

This study shows how tactical livestock management, like crop grazing and adjusted sheep sales, can lift farm profits by up to 16% in variable weather years. The findings highlight the value of flexible decision-making to improve resilience.

In mixed farming systems, one of the biggest challenges is the winter feed gap. One tool that offers this flexibility is dual-purpose cropping. Crops can be grazed in winter to…

Analysis of grain data shows that in many years, 50–90% of wheat in the Facey catchment is downgraded from APW1 due to low protein. Protein is mostly driven by nitrogen…

Western Australian agriculture has always been shaped by climate. In recent decades, however, rainfall has declined, droughts are more frequent. If the trend continues farmers across the Great Southern and…