Sustainable Solutions for Sandy Soils

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Start Date: 15/12/2025

End Date: 15/09/2030

Funding Provider: Future Drought Fund (FDF)

Project Lead: Department of Primary Industries and Rural Development (DPIRD)

Aim: To improve the resilience and productivity of West Midlands farming systems by supporting growers to adopt integrated, proven and novel practices that increase groundcover, soil health, and profitability.

Project Background: Across the West Midlands region of Western Australia, many farming landscapes—particularly sandy soils—are increasingly vulnerable to erosion, low groundcover, declining soil health, and reduced productivity. These challenges are being intensified by climate variability and ongoing pressure on farm profitability, making it harder for systems to recover from poor seasons and maintain consistent performance.

This project brings together a range of proven and novel farming practices into more resilient, whole-of-system approaches. While many of these practices—such as soil amelioration, strategic amendments, improved pasture species, fodder shrubs, and better grazing and enterprise management—are already available, the challenge lies in how to successfully combine and implement them within farming systems.

Through a grower-led, peer learning approach, the project supports farmers to monitor their own landscapes, trial new practices, and build confidence in adopting more resilient systems. This includes integrating tools such as remote sensing and groundcover monitoring to better inform decision-making.

The project aims to increase groundcover, improve soil health, and strengthen farm profitability, while also building stronger connections between growers. Over time, this will support farming systems that are better equipped to manage seasonal variability and long-term climate pressures.

Project Contact: Stephanie Rose - trials@mig.org.au or 0409 751 586

Investment Code: 4-KNH1D3K