WA Women Represent Southern Rangelands at International Congress
Two leading women from Western Australia’s Southern Rangelands, Debbie Dowden and Alys McKeough, recently attended the XII International Rangeland Congress in Adelaide (2–6 June 2025), supported by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub. Held every four years, the Congress brings together global leaders in rangeland science, policy and practice.
Lessons from New Zealand’s AgriFood Tech Landscape
The Grower Group Alliance (GGA) recently joined a week-long WA delegation to New Zealand, exploring agtech, innovation and agrifood value chains. Organised by DPIRD and supported by Rebbeck Consulting, the tour brought together growers, startups and government to build trade, investment, innovation and R&D links across the Tasman.
Watch the presentations from the Drought Resilience Showcase
The SW WA Hub’s Drought Resilience Showcase 2024 brought together farmers, grower groups, researchers, agribusinesses, and government agencies who are committed to enhancing the resilience of Western Australia’s agricultural sector. Watch the video recordings from the day’s presentation.
Regional Soil Coordinators visit the Snowy Mountains region with the Smart Soils Community of Practice
Twice a year, the Regional Soil Coordinators (RSCs) from around Australia come together in a different part of the country to connect, collaborate, and learn. These gatherings provide valuable exposure to the diverse soil types, management practices, and challenges faced across our landscapes, while also strengthening national networks and knowledge exchange.
Low dam levels intensify water quality challenges
The 2024-25 summer saw lower dam levels across many parts of the region compared to the previous year, highlighting the growing importance of farm water
Exploring the potential of native legumes as future grain crops and pastures
Diversifying farming systems is key to building long-term sustainability and profitability on Western Australian farms, especially in response to a drying, warming climate. With natural adaptations to local soils and climatic conditions, native legumes offer a promising path for diversification.
Tell us what you need to know about soil and plant nutrition
To support continued learning for the grains industry in soil and plant nutrition, and guide the development of new ‘free to access’ learning modules, SoilsWest are asking farmers, on-farm employees and industry representatives to complete a simple 2-minute multiple choice survey to help ensure the content meets your needs.
Shaping sustainable landscapes through Aboriginal perspectives
The Natural Capital Production Landscapes project team hosted a cultural workshop on 20 March 2025, with a special focus on Ballardong Country. The event centred Aboriginal perspectives in natural capital conversations, highlighting the important role of culture in shaping sustainable land management practices.
Pastoral Business Toolbox heads to the Nullarbor
The Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association (GNRBA) hosted its second Pastoral Business Toolbox workshop in April at Kanandah Station, deep in WA’s Nullarbor region. The workshop aims to give pastoralists the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions – both in good seasons and in times of drought.
A hidden advantage beneath the surface
PhD candidate Huyen Pham, from The University of Western Australia, is studying a natural root trait known as rhizosheath – the soil layer that sticks to plant roots, helping wheat access water and nutrients more efficiently, especially under dry conditions.
The future value of agricultural waste: opportunities for WA farmers
The 2025 evokeAG conference, themed “Common Ground,” brought together agrifood tech innovators, researchers, and industry leaders to explore transformative opportunities in agriculture. One key trend was the upcycling of agricultural waste streams into valuable products such as biofuels, biopolymers, and biochar.
SMART SPRAYS project teams up with UK scientists
Professor Daniel Murphy, from Murdoch University, travelled to the United Kingdom last month to collaborate with Dr Emily Cooledge and fellow soil scientists within Professor Davey Jones’ laboratory at Bangor University, Wales, as part of the SW WA Hub’s Transformational SMART SPRAYS project.
