In dry land cropping, soil moisture is often the greatest limiting resource for crop production in Australia. While cropping farmers have always had to manage seasonal variability, under a scenario of greater climate variability, rainfall may decrease and its distribution across the year will change. This change will increase the importance of input decisions based on a sound estimate of water limiting yield potential.

The risk management through soil moisture monitoring project is a three year project (2011-2014) that aims to assist dry land grain growers to make informed decisions.

Growers current cropping systems may not be maximizing water use efficiency, if they are using subjective assessments.  Very few in Victoria are able to monitor water available to the crop and hence do not supply the crop with the appropriate amount of inputs yields.

The practice of using soil moisture probes has had limited use in the dry land cropping industry and as such many farmers are not familiar with the way to utilize this technology.

This project is well on track to help dry land cropping industry manage risk by validating the technology and conducting numerous training sessions to interpret the data for crop decision making. These have been followed up with in-crop assessment through the spring periods as well as monthly updates with assessments of current soil moisture status.  A web site that displays live soil moisture and weather data has been established that permits anyone interested to view the information at their own time and allowing it to align up with key decisions.  It is a time efficient way to obtain information when time pressures on the farm and for advisers are increasing.

Farming focus groups have been established around the monitoring sites which generally have a service provider component involvement.  The scoping study has been essential in delivering a service that is targeted to the groups requirements. Recent interim survey responses via an on-line survey from clients where very positive about the project.

All respondents thought the information generated from the project was at least a rough guide with 71% stating it was actually relevant to their farming situation. A great result for a point source measurement for a paddock, farm and potentially a district.

The challenge to the grains sector is to increase productivity growth. Potentially through

- Better farm decisions through improved information - not just more information

- the uptake of new technology.