Southern NSW Drought Resilient Mixed Farming System Long-term Field Trials

The Southern NSW Drought Resilient Mixed Farming System Long-term Field Trials (#MixedFarmingTrials) are identifying the specific activities undertaken as part of a mixed farming system will lead to the most resilient farming businesses.

About the project

Mixed farming systems are the most common type of farm system in southern Australia and make up around 70% of farms in NSW.  They have separate grazing, cropping and livestock systems which require careful integration to optimise productivity, especially during times of drought.

By testing and analysing different mixed farming treatments that balance flexibility with stability, the Southern NSW Drought Resilient Mixed Farming System Trials project will identify which system, when viewed as a whole, results in the highest productivity, economic value and environmental sustainability of each individual component in the system.

The #MixedFarmingTrials project commenced in 2023/24 and will run until 2027/28. Its structure includes seven trial sites managed by Charles Sturt University and Farming Systems Groups across Southern NSW, including Central West Farming Systems, Farmlink Research, Holbrook Landcare Network, Irrigation Farmers Network, Riverine Plains and Southern Growers.

Reports and resources

Project lead

Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University

Project partners

Banner image credit: Mixed Farming System Trial site at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, September 2024 by Dr John Kirkegaard, CSIRO Agriculture.

Project funding

The Southern NSW Drought Resilient Mixed Farming System Long-term Field Trials project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices program. This program supports trials investigating innovative and transformational cropping, grazing and mixed farming practices through the lens of drought resilience and climate change.