Benchmarking

The Benchmarking sub-program aimed to create awareness of Land, Water & Wool and inform woolgrowers, government, agencies and industry about woolgrowers' attitudes, actions and perceptions about natural resource management and their current practices. As part of the Benchmarking sub-program, Land, Water & Wool commissioned the Best Practice Survey in 2002, which was the first comprehensive look at natural resource management by Australian woolgrowers.

The Best Practice Survey established benchmarks for woolgrower attitudes and awareness levels and looked at their current practices and needs for additional information and support. The survey was conducted by independent market research analysts and involved telephone interviews with 1500 woolgrowers, discussions with six different wool grower groups and 30 in-depth interviews with industry opinion leaders.

Key findings included:

• Woolgrowers believe that they are custodians of the land, with 90 per cent considering that NRM is a key component of their whole farm enterprise.
• Qualitative research found that stakeholders in the wool industry strongly believe natural resource management results in productivity, profitability and sustainability gains – good natural resource management can significantly improve their business’ bottom line and doesn't necessarily come at a cost.
• Ninety-one per cent of woolgrowers were either doing something about natural resource management now or had taken some action already.
• Woolgrowers who have already undertaken natural resource management changes in the past are more likely to adopt changes in the future.
• Ninety-three per cent of woolgrowers are confident about their knowledge of natural resource management but almost half would like more information or support to help them manage it on their farm.
• Information needs vary between States but in particular there is demand for assistance to develop whole farm plans, native vegetation and salinity management information and financial support.
• Woolgrowers’ desire to know more about NRM is a strong endorsement of the Land, Water & Wool initiative and its aims to provide growers with viable, practical and beneficial natural resource management solutions.
• Woolgrowers, who have embraced natural resource management, believe there are benefits which range from improvements in water quality and increased shelter and stock feed, to biodiversity gains such as the provision wildlife corridors and control of erosion and salinity.

Publications

• Best practice survey: natural resource management & Australian wool growers (PDF 769Kb)