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 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 Southern NSW Drought Resilient Mixed Farming System Trials 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 - Central West Farming Systems, Farmlink Research, Holbrook Landcare Network, Irrigation Farmers Network, Riverine Plains and Southern Growers.

Read the impact case study

Project lead

Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University

Project partners

• Central West Farming Systems
• FarmLink Research
• Holbrook Landcare Network
• Irrigation Farmers Network
• Riverine Plains
• Southern Growers Inc

Project funding

Southern NSW Drought Resilient Mixed Farming System Trials receive 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.