Grain & Graze assisted producers in the sheep-wheat zone identify what combination of livestock, pastures and crops will increase profitability and improve the natural resource base on which they farm. The project concluded in December 2008.

The findings from the project are available in the June 2008 report Managing Complex Systems (PDF 6.5Mb).

The profitability of mixed farming systems varies across the sheep wheat belt, and the resource base is threatened by a number of degradation processes. Yet nearly 40,000 producers rely upon maintaining and improving both the profitability and resource condition of these enterprises.

Grain and Graze was a research and extension program working in collaboration with farmers and catchment groups to increase whole farm profitability and productivity while enhancing natural resource condition across the sheep wheat zone.

Grain and Graze provided mixed farming enterprises with new, ‘whole farm’ knowledge, tools and capacity to make changes that will increase production of crops, pastures and animals while maintaining or enhancing biodiversity and the catchment resources which sustain them.

Grain and Graze operated in 9 regions across Australia and projects were developed through consultation with regional producer groups, catchment management authorities and state agencies.

Regional projects were:

The 9 regional projects were supported by National projects looking across the regions at the following areas;

• social dimensions of mixed farming (i.e. understanding the trade-offs which influence decisions) (social)
• what is the relationship between resilience of farming businesses and enterprise mix (economics)
• whole farm feed distribution and utilisation  to reduce risk and maximise the sustainability of mixed farming systems (feedbase)

Grain and Graze was a collaborative project between Australian Wool innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia, Land and Water Australia and Grains Research and Development Corporation.

More information: www.grainandgraze.com.au