Connect with your local Drought Adoption Officer

About the project

The Australian Government, through the Future Drought Fund, recognised that having people on-ground available to support adoption and extension was a critical part of building drought resilience across Australia - in NSW these are the Drought Adoption Officers.

When setting up the program, Southern NSW Innovation Hub decided to tap into the existing resources, knowledge and network of NSW LLS to ensure it would effectively reach farmers and landholders across NSW.

Now, there are Drought Adoption Officers across NSW who are embedded in their local rural communities. They provide ongoing advice and guidance to landholders and communities to boost their drought resilience and preparedness.

Drought Adoption Officers help farmers and landholders to prepare effectively for dry times and make use Future Drought Fund innovations through face-to-face meetings, visiting farms, hosting workshops, presenting webinars, attending events, demonstrating tools and strategies, and partnering with local organisations to respond to the unique needs of their region’s landholders.

Some of the key areas where Drought Adoption Officers are improving drought preparedness for farmers include:

• Livestock feeding and containment advice
• Farm water management and quality
• Pasture health and resilience

Case studies and reports

• Read the Hub's impact case study about Drought Adoption Officers
• Read confinement feeding case studies from across NSW
• Read the Hub's Adoption Officer Review - January 2025

Project partner

NSW Local Land Services (LLS)

Project funding

The Drought Adoption Officer program is supported by Southern NSW Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.