From research paper to paddock

A new $2 million initiative aims to help producers meet that challenge head-on.

The Climate‑Smart Flock Management project, funded by the Federal Government, is bringing together a network of farming groups to support sheep producers to make more confident, informed decisions in increasingly variable conditions.

Led by Central West Farming Systems and coordinated by Riverine Plains, the project connects farming groups across NSW and Victoria, working directly with producers to test what climate‑smart farming looks like in practice, not just in theory.

For project manager Sayra Samudio, the focus is simple: give producers the tools to make better decisions on farm.

“This is about practical outcomes,” Ms Samudio said.

“The focus is not about sustainability in isolation ... It is about understanding how climate smart practices can help producers manage risk, improve feed-base decisions, maintain animal performance, and build more resilient grazing systems.”

Over the next three years, more than 500 producers will be involved in the program through a network of demonstration sites.

These sites are designed to bring new ideas out of research papers and into the paddock, testing how they perform under real commercial conditions.

Producers will trial tools such as in‑paddock automated weighing systems and satellite‑based pasture monitoring.

Rather than waiting weeks or months to detect a problem, producers can see in almost real-time how animals are tracking and how pasture availability is shifting across their farm.

“For example, if lambs are not gaining weight as expected, producers can identify the issue earlier,” Ms Samudio said.

“This can support more timely decisions.”

Satellite pasture monitoring adds another layer, offering a whole‑farm view of feed availability and groundcover.

Combined with livestock data, it allows producers to better match feed supply with animal demand, a critical factor in managing risk during highly variable seasons.

But technology alone is not the answer.

Ms Samudio said one of the biggest challenges was ensuring the project remained relevant across vastly different regions, farming systems and seasonal conditions.

“There’s no one‑size‑fits‑all approach,” Ms Samudio said.

That’s where the project’s collaborative model becomes essential.

Local farming groups bring their deep regional knowledge and established relationships with producers, helping tailor to the realities on the ground and allowing producers to learn from each other.

Demonstration sites will give producers the chance to see how climate‑smart practices work in systems similar to their own.

It will also allow them to ask the questions that determine whether something will be adopted.

What does it cost? How much labour is involved? What are the risks? And, importantly, will it actually improve the bottom line?

“Producers need to see it working before they’ll make changes,” Ms Samudio said.

“They want to understand the trade‑offs, not just the benefits.”

The project also involves workshops, field days and case studies.

Central West Farming Systems, or CWFS, is one of the farming groups involved with the project,

The group’s executive officer Diana Fear said that practical, local demonstration was key.

“Producers are really interested in what’s possible, but they want to see how it translates into real benefits on farm,” Ms Fear said.

“That’s what builds confidence and reduces the risk of trying something new.”

Running from October 2025 through to June 2028, the project forms part of a broader push toward climate‑smart agriculture, with its success ultimately measured at the farm gate.