On-farm demonstrations program

Agriculture Victoria coordinates a producer demonstration program aimed at building productivity and competitiveness in Victoria's sheep and beef industries.

The program supports groups of livestock producers to conduct local, on-farm demonstrations, addressing specific issues relevant to their group and region.

The demonstrations are conducted with BestWool/BestLamb (BWBL), BetterBeef (BBN) or other producer groups.

Application process

Interested applicants can express their interest by submitting the attached EOI form (WORD - 1.6 MB) . It is important to read and follow the Information for Applicants guide (WORD - 1.6 MB) . The EOI form is designed to identify the group and test its thinking about the demonstration.

Funding is limited; therefore, EOI’s will be assessed by Agriculture Victoria and Meat & Livestock Australia representatives, with the 5 best proposals selected. Producer groups who are successful at the EOI stage will be asked to develop a more detailed demonstration plan with the assistance of an Agriculture Victoria staff member. Feedback will be provided to all applicants.

Our preference is for 3-year projects commencing in Winter 2024, however this may be dependent on the issue being demonstrated and the annual farming cycle. Final project reporting for demonstrations must be completed by September 2027.

If your group is successful in securing funding to conduct a demonstration, Agriculture Victoria will request that demonstration site hosts provide their biosecurity protocols (as per Livestock Production Assurance scheme) and sign a farmer collaboration agreement. This agreement will outline the responsibilities of both Agriculture Victoria and site hosts in conducting the demonstration.

Why conduct on-farm demonstrations?

Agriculture Victoria and MLA offer this program in response to strong interest from producers in hosting or supporting on-farm demonstrations within their group. Local demonstration sites can provide a focus for groups that will explore solutions to common on-farm challenges. The learning arising from these demonstrations will help group members to improve the profitability and resilience of their farming businesses.

Previous experience shows that the process of identifying the key on-farm challenges, developing solutions and trialling them in a local group environment gives producers ownership over the outcomes and increased confidence to make the changes that will enhance their livestock businesses.

What type of demonstrations will be supported?

The demonstrations will focus on one or more of the following areas that align with the priorities of Agriculture Victoria and the Southern Australian Livestock Research Council (SALRC). Priority will be given to ensure at least one of the five a demonstration that addresses on-farm emissions. We aim to have a spread of demonstrations across the state, with consideration to existing demonstration locations.

Demonstrating farming practices or systems to:

• manage and adapt to a changing climate or specific regional conditions - including feed gaps, forage quality, rotational grazing, fertiliser efficiency, enterprise mix, optimising calving/ lambing time
• reduce emissions or emissions intensity, which may include;
  • improving livestock fertility and reproductive efficiency
  • improving lamb and weaner survival
  • improving lamb and weaner growth rates
  • use of proven methane reduction strategies* (including anti-methanogenic species, high productivity pastures, supplementary feed or commercially available feed additives)
  • soil and fertility management to reduce of nitrous oxide emissions
  • strategies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions
• manage animal health and welfare risks resulting from increasing/emerging biosecurity threats in a changing climate – e.g. management of barber’s pole worm
• implement on-farm innovations that improve production and management efficiencies – e.g. recent research findings, genetics, ag tech.

*Focusing on strategies to incorporate into diet and/or measuring production efficiencies – rather than measuring methane emissions.

Agriculture Victoria’s role

Agriculture Victoria will:

• provide technical advice
• assist the group with demonstration design, development of a delivery plan, and with conducting, monitoring, and evaluating the demonstration
• where possible, assist with the provision of the equipment required to monitor the demonstration (e.g. livestock scales, and data recording equipment such as RFID tag readers and Walk Over Weighing panels)
• facilitate and provide speakers for group activities associated with the demonstration
• provide linkages with other groups to ensure that our producer networks are getting the most out of the full range of demonstration sites
• share the results of your demonstration with other producers and groups during and beyond the life of the demonstration (e.g. field days, news media, case studies)
• manage payment of expenses associated with the demonstration
• assist with reporting milestones, quarterly and final reports.

In situations where specific expertise is not available within Agriculture Victoria, an external consultant may need to be appointed to the project.

Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) role

MLA is co-funding the 5 demonstrations with Agriculture Victoria and assisting in the selection of projects, and communication and promotion of results.

The group’s role

Each group is expected to take ownership of its demonstration. This includes identifying the issue or topic, design, set-up, data collection and activities around the demonstration. Evidence of strong group participation and a track record of undertaking projects is required for the demonstration to receive funding.

The group should be willing to open up some extension events associated with the demonstration to producers outside the group.

The group will need to nominate a key contact person to work with Agriculture Victoria.

It is preferred that a minimum of 3 farms host a demonstration site (or implement some aspect of the demonstration) each year of the demonstration project. A steering committee of key producer contacts is advised to assist with decision that affect the demonstration.

The host farmers must be willing to hold extension events on the property and have case study material developed around the demonstration.

Selection criteria

Expressions of interest must align to at least one of the listed priorities and will be assessed against the 7 criteria listed on the EOI form. These include:

• the level of support from the group, including its commitment to developing the skills and productivity of its members (i.e. Is the group well established? How many regularly attend events? What level of support is there for the project? How will group members participate and contribute? Is there a track record for training activities undertaking projects?)
• the challenge or problem to be investigated (its importance and relevance to the industry)
• the overall aim of the project and its specific objectives
• brief project methodology (i.e. what will the demonstration undertake and how this will provide a solution to the problem? What will you measure and how will you evaluate results?)
• communication and extension strategy (i.e. intentions to encourage wider awareness of the demonstration and engage producers outside of the group in understanding the outcomes)
• monitoring and evaluation (How will you measure success at the demonstration sites? How will you measure changes made by producers?)
• budget breakdown (estimate of operating/ salary/ travel costs).

Successful applicants

If your group is successful, Agriculture Victoria will support your group to develop a more detailed plan for the 3 year project. Once the plan is approved, the aim is to begin projects from July 2024, according to required timing of tasks.

Timeline

• Monday 13 May – EOI closes
• Monday 9 June – Candidates notified
• Monday 1 July – Full project plans due
• Monday 15 July – Final approval

EOI form

New producer demonstration sites expression of interest (WORD - 1.6 MB)

Additional information for applicants (WORD - 1.6 MB)

For more information

Email us to find out more: EOI-on-farm-demos@agriculture.vic.gov.au or contact:

Bindi Hunter
Project Leader Farming Systems Demonstration 
Phone: 0428 589 016

Current demonstrations

These demonstrations are underway.

Completed demonstrations

Final reports and factsheets are included below for these recent demonstrations and are also available on the MLA website.

Feedbase

Sheep

Beef

Other innovations

How do I get involved?

Expressions of interest for new demonstrations are promoted through:

• Agriculture Victoria
• BestWool/BestLamb
• BetterBeef
• MLA.