mallee catchment
Technical
Bulletin
Technical Bulletin # 1
Social Research on Dryland
Cropping Practices
www.malleecma.vic.gov.au
NEW research has given an insight into
the complex reasons influencing choice
of farming systems across the Mallee.
The recently released Social Research
on Dryland Cropping Practices in the
Victorian Mallee report provides detailed,
region-specific information on the factors
influencing dryland farmers’ choice of
farming systems in the Victorian Mallee.
The Mallee Catchment Management
Authority (CMA) engaged RM Consulting
Group (RMCG) to undertake the
investigations. The project was aimed at
understanding why Mallee farmers chose
various tillage methods, and pin-pointing
what factors led to practice change.
Above: Direct drilling is becoming more popular among
The report is the result of a three phase
Victorian Mallee farmers. Photo: DPI.
project that included interviews with
agronomist advisers across the Mallee
interviewed felt this change was mostly
CMA region; a review of literature on
due to farmers’ desire to both protect and
dryland cropping practice change; and a
make the most productive use of their soil
final social research approach that involved
resource.
in-depth farmer interviews.
The second stage of the project included
Interviews with agronomists in the
a review of existing literature on the
initial phase of the project revealed a
social and economic reasons impacting
general consensus that there has been
on a farmer’s decision to alter land
a substantial change in farming practices
management practices. Literature on
in the past two to five years, which
practice change among Mallee farmers
has resulted in a significant increase
from Victoria, New South Wales, South
in cropping intensity. Agronomists
At a glance
• 85 percent of dryland farmers
surveyed have significantly
reduced their tillage levels in the
past five years
• Farmers are choosing to use
no-till methods to protect soil and
increase productivity.
Above: This map shows the geographical range of farmers surveyed for this research in the Victorian Mallee. Map: Mallee CMA.
Australia and Western Australia was
interviews with a selection of Mallee
2007 crop using one or more cultivations
reviewed as part of this phase. The
dryland farmers. These interviews
in the lead up to sowing. Those classified
conclusion drawn was that a diverse range
were conducted in March and April,
as “transition” farmers had experimented
of factors influence farmers’ decision
2008. As the interviewers were from
with no-till for part of their crop, but were
making and their likelihood to adopt new
local agriculture-related fields, they had
still cultivating some paddocks prior to
technology and, to be most effective,
credibility among farmers and an in-depth
sowing.
research and extension programs need
understanding of issues in the Mallee.
to focus on the factors that are able to be
influenced.
The map (above) shows a geographical
The agronomists conducting the
spread of interviewee-farms, covering
interviews selected the 90 farmers -- 30
broad rainfall zones and soil types.
This literature review, together with the
no-till farmers; 30 farmers using multiple
agronomist interviews highlighted to the
till methods; and 30 farmers using a
Although farmers were selected across
Mallee CMA the need to collect local
combination of both. These farmers
different farming systems (no-till, multi-till
information about the extent of cropping
represented a broad demographic in
and mixed) there was a resounding finding
practice changes and the reasons for this
terms of age, enterprise size, business
that 85 percent of farmers had reduced
change in the Victorian Mallee region.
stage (expansion, consolidation, wind
their tillage levels over the past five
down) and level of practice change.
years. A further breakdown of the results
To gather this information, local
shows 64 percent of farmers interviewed
agronomists from both agricultural
Farmers classified as “no-till” had sown
had increased their cropping intensity,
consulting businesses and farm input
their 2007 crop with no soil disturbance
compared to five years ago.
resellers and a project officer from a
prior to sowing, while “multiple-till”
local producer group conducted in-depth
farmers prepared the vast majority of their
Table 1: This graph of farmer responses shows those surveyed agreed direct drill better protects soil from wind erosion.
Almost all farmers interviewed agreed
The report also found that farmers
multi-till farmers (as outlined above). The
that no-till practices better protect soil
adopting no-till practices (or those using a
report concluded these concerns were
from wind erosion.
mixed system where part of their farm
valid as they were shared at some level by
was prepared through no-till) can be any
farmers across the total sample. Despite
Farmers chose to adopt no-till practices
age and operate a range of farm sizes in
this, around 60 percent of multi-till farmers
for various reasons, including (in order
various business growth stages.
expressed a desire to change their farming
of importance) an increase in sowing
system toward more no-till practices at
flexibility, less hours on the tractor,
All farmers interviewed nominated a
efficiency gains, lifestyle factors and
range of concerns about adopting no-
the chance to improve soil health, soil
till practices and topping the list was
In terms of how farmers adopted a new
structure and water use efficiency.
the cost of herbicide, concerns about
system, the most frequent response was
herbicide resistance and the cost of
on-farm experiments – several began
Indications of a recent trend toward
modifying or purchasing new machinery.
with no-till preparation for legumes and
no-till practices was illustrated by the
These concerns were shared across
then moved to cereals. Other responses
finding that only 11 percent of farmers
all groups of farmers, however, this
included talking to and observing other
interviewed were using no-till as a ground
process also highlighted multi-till farmers’
farmers, conducting their own research,
preparation method five years ago, which
preference for a less complicated
and employing advisors to assist with the
increased to over 75 percent of farmers
cropping system.
transition.
The report found there are some deeply
Farmers surveyed nominated a change in
held beliefs and concerns about shifting
mindset as one of the biggest hurdles to
to no-till methods, particularly among the
overcome in adopting no-till methods. The
some point in the future.
(using it for at least part of their crop) in
the 2007 season.
Table 2: This research showed financial factors are considered key barriers to the adoption of no-till practices.
challenge was accepting a new system
wanted to know specific information
would work and having the confidence to
about the financial benefits; yield and
go through with the change.
performance within their region and
soil type; herbicide resistance; labour
Once set up, agronomic concerns were
requirements throughout the year; and
said to be the biggest issue – timing
how to incorporate livestock into an
is critical for spraying and sowing, row
intensive cropping system.
spacing needs to be suited to the farm,
and adequate nutrition for the crop is
This report can be used by regional
essential. Other concerns included the
agencies, such as the Mallee CMA, to
increased level of monitoring required,
help in the design of future research and
financing the changeover and concerns
extension projects in the dryland Mallee
about herbicide resistance risks.
region of Victoria.
Many farmers would like more research
A full report of the findings is
or evidence that no-till farming would
available on the Mallee CMA website
work on their farm. For example, they
http://www.malleecma.vic.gov.au
Project Partners
Published September 2008
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