Agriculture in the Northern Wheatbelt: Rural Landholder Social Benchmarking Report 2021

The Soil CRC national survey project, Surveying On-Farm Practices, was initiated in 2019 to implement surveys in all six states, in partnership with local farming organisations. The regions were selected to represent a range of different farming systems and bioregions, with a major factor being the willingness of local groups to partner with the survey team to develop the survey and support its implementation. The purpose of the survey was to gain a broad understanding of the drivers of on-farm decision making across, and in-depth understanding within, Australian farming systems.

The 2020 Northern Wheatbelt social benchmarking survey is part of this national Soil CRC project led by Dr Hanabeth Luke of Southern Cross University (SCU), jointly funded by the Soil CRC, and the West Midlands Group. Data gathered will contribute to wider Soil CRC research efforts. For example, Soil CRC researchers will be able to explore farmer knowledge of soil heath and management; the impact of farmer participation in soil health groups; and the implementation of best practice soil management by farmers.