Characteristics of successful farmer-driven Farming Systems Groups in Western Australia a
T.M. Gianatti and R.S. Llewellyn
b
a
Grower Group Alliance: C/-School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009; Ph 08 9380 3410; Email:
[email protected] b
School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009; Ph 08 9380 3419; Email:
[email protected]
Abstract In Western Australia, a number of highly organised and well-resourced farming systems groups with a strong focus on their local district have evolved. These groups have originated and continue to function under the control of farmer members. In this paper, we look at the activities of three wheatbelt-based groups (the Liebe, Mingenew-Irwin, and Facey groups) in the context of farming systems research and extension. The strength of each of the groups clearly lies in the dedication of grower members to the development of knowledge relevant to their local conditions. Through surveys of farmer members and discussion by a range of specialist sub-committees, priority activities for the groups are identified with an emphasis on testing and adapting technology to the local system. The groups have developed strong relationships with key researchers and agribusiness companies in their region and use these contacts to find other specialists when needed. A further feature of the operation of these grower groups is their ability and willingness to extend the results of their local research to a wider audience. This has been enhanced by the recent establishment of a formal alliance of locally-focused grower groups across the state. The alliance provides a critical mass to increase collaborative research and extension opportunities, while maintaining the strengths of the focus on local farming systems.
Introduction Across Australia there has been a rapid rise in the prominence of farmer-led groups engaging in research and extension. The formation of many small grower groups in Western Australia was catalysed by the ‘Decade of Landcare’ initiative which began 1990. The groups were community based and applied local knowledge, together with support from government agencies, to focus on sustainability issues at a farm and catchment level. As these community groups progressed, they increasingly became a focus for government and nongovernment agencies as channels for the provision of information, funding and services to the community, and for gaining feedback from it (Chamala, 1995). This was due to the fact that they: were easy to identify, locate and contact; had the ability to focus on specific problems and deliver information to a larger amount of people; and were accountable to the community while also acting on their behalf (Chamala, 1995). Over time, the most successful groups were those that took responsibility for planning, implementing and monitoring their own activities. Group members worked together with government and industry agencies in an action learning mode to achieve common goals. As described by Petheram and Clark (1998), this participatory approach is at the heart of farming systems research (FSR) It involves defining and solving problems through involvement with farmers, rather than for them as in traditional research. It also departs from a traditional definition of FSR as ‘an approach for improved understanding of farmer conditions by researchers’ (Lynam, 2002). The farming systems approach taken by farmer-driven groups was significantly influenced by external factors such as: the increasing complexity of the farming system; a decrease in the relevance of research conducted on agricultural research stations; reduction and restructuring of government funding for extension; and the increasing number of farmers wanting greater input into future directions of research and development.
Farmer initiated and organised research activities at a local level can contribute to a unique form of farming systems research (McCown, 2001). The activities of these local groups fit within a broader definition of FSR used by Martin et al (1996); “a multi-disciplinary approach to competitive agricultural economic development that sustains the resource base and continuously involves the farmer, agribusiness and advisor in the process of research”. In this paper, we discuss the activities of three groups in the Western Australian wheatbelt that are farmer-driven and focused on their local area. The histories of the three groups are compared and we discuss how, even with varied beginnings, the groups have adopted similar approaches to their research, development and extension programs. Characteristics of the groups that have led them to carry out successful farming systems research and extension are examined. This includes the development of a new alliance of Western Australian grower groups, enabling greater collaboration with other farmers, research organisations and industry groups.
Three Farmer-driven Farming Systems Groups in WA The following case studies outline the origins and structure of three locally-focused groups in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Examples of group activities are discussed, including projects not directly involving farming systems research, but reflecting their increasingly broad role in the farming community.
Liebe Group Liebe group membership consists of 170 farming families (112 businesses) primarily from the Dalwallinu, Coorow and Perenjori Shires in the north-eastern wheatbelt. The group was established by farmers in 1997 to ensure research and development remained local, innovative and with a whole systems approach to agriculture. Objectives The objectives of the Liebe group include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
To educate and encourage local farmers towards a more profitable and sustainable environment; To encourage cooperation and facilitate relevant information transfer between Liebe group members and the agricultural industry; To encourage rural people to reach their potential; For the Liebe group to be autonomous; To support and encourage members to develop opportunities for the Liebe group; To foster an environment of fun and participation in all Liebe group events.
Activities Some of the general activities that the Liebe group members conduct to achieve their objectives include:
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design and management of a Main Trial site and eight satellite trial sites throughout the region addressing high priority research issues identified by members support for small sub-groups of members focusing on marketing and value adding; and production of monthly newsletters and an annual local R&D results book which is distributed to grower and agribusiness members, sponsors and other interested members of the community.
The Liebe group strives to regularly identify and respond to the needs of their members through evaluation of workshops and field days, an annual member satisfaction survey, and the inclusion of members in the annual strategic planning process. The group hosts three large field days per year with over 100 farmers attending each event. An example of one of these events is the Women’s field day that aims to build the management capacity of women to make a difference to their family, farm business and agricultural industry.
Liebe members also work in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture WA (DAWA) and the Grains Research and Development Commission (GRDC) to host and organise the Autumn Crop Updates seminar for the district, providing local farmer input into the program. The Liebe group have recently commenced a GRDC funded farming systems project to define appropriate benchmarks for soil health (chemical, physical and biological). In collaboration with the University of Western Australia, the Department of Agriculture WA, and CSIRO, they will attempt to determine appropriate management solutions to alleviate key constraints and maintain the soil resource. This information will be extended to the wider farming community through the Liebe group and researcher networks. In conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and three other local grower groups (including the Mingenew-Irwin Group), the Liebe group is working on a GRDC funded weed management project focused on herbicide resistant weeds. The key aims of the project are: to increase grower understanding of weed management principles and the mechanisms which control herbicide resistance; and to encourage growers to adopt a systems approach to weed management. The growers involved are monitoring focus paddocks and conducting on-farm research trials. Structure The Liebe group is an example of a farmer-driven group with a highly organised structure. The structure encourages a high level of participation from members at all levels of the group’s operation, not just at the executive level. The Management Committee consists of 20 local growers and 3 industry representatives that meet every month. There are 6 sub-committees who investigate and make recommendations to this Management Committee. The sub-committees are
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Finance & Budget Sponsorship Ethics Women in Agriculture Research and Development; and New Enterprises.
The large number of sub-committees ensures that the work load is spread across the membership. They are one of only a few groups with a succession plan for their executive committee and who continually plan with the future of the group in mind.
Staff and Funding The Liebe group currently employs two full time research and development coordinators and three part time staff which includes the executive officer, administration officer/treasurer and sponsorship coordinator. The five staff members are equivalent to 3.5 full time staff. The Liebe group is a non-profit organisation and maintains financial sustainability through federal grants (69%), corporate sponsorship (14%), member contributions (10%), state government (6%), and local government (1%).
Facey Group The Facey group began in 2001 to provide a forum for people in the Wickepin district to discuss and question current farming systems, and to explore and trial new systems and methods. The group formed out of existing Landcare groups who were frustrated with the grant application process, and a culture of applying for money just to plant trees, rather than focussing on bigger issues. The community decided to focus their efforts on making members more profitable, customising research to their region and highlighting the loss of biodiversity to increase environmental awareness.
The Facey group currently has 47 farming entities as members and 11 associate members which equates to approximately 190 people. Objectives The Facey group aims to improve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of its members. To achieve this, the Facey group:
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Sources, evaluates and distributes knowledge on business improvement and professional development to its members; Develops beneficial relationships with their suppliers, service providers and customers; Ensures that all group activities have a social, family focused component; and Places a priority on engaging staff that are committed, creative and professional.
Activities General activities conducted by the Facey group are similar to other farmer-driven groups in WA. For example they conduct grain, livestock and pasture research trials; field days showcasing trial results; seminars and training courses on priority areas identified by members; and produce a regular newsletter and an annual trial results booklet. In Autumn of each year, the group works closely with the Department of Agriculture to provide local farmer input into the regional Crop Update seminar held in the district. More specific projects include a three year trial to exploit the selective grazing behaviour of sheep to assist in the control of crop weeds. ‘Casbah’ biserrula is being studied to see if it is more effective than Dalkeith sub clover to reduce annual ryegrass seed set in a grazed pasture. This trial is funded by Meat and Livestock Australia through a Producer Initiated Research and Development (PIRD) grant. The Facey group also conducts a number of agronomic trials involving new crop varieties and crop nutrition with agribusiness companies Elders, CSBP, Summit and Wesfarmers. This allows them to provide recommendations specific to their local environment to members and other interested people. In keeping with their strong environmental focus, the Facey group is investigating the potential of Distichlis, a new species of salt tolerant grass. Through the Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands (SGSL) program the group is undertaking an experiment to assess the yield potential of irrigated Distichlis with saline groundwater. The Department of Agriculture WA is collaborating by providing expertise in trial design and measurement. If the experiment is successful, it could lead to a more profitable and sustainable grazing system on saltland. Structure The structure of the Facey group is focused around a central executive committee with eight farmer representatives and one representative each from the local shire and Department of Agriculture office. Four specialist sub-groups which discuss issues related to cropping, sheep and pastures, natural resource management and women in agriculture report to the executive committee. The sub-groups have between two and five members each who are not part of the executive committee and aim to organise one event each per year. The executive committee meets once a month while the sub-groups meet only as required. Staff and Funding The Facey group currently employs one full time executive officer. The group is a not-for-profit organisation and is supported financially by local government (35%), corporate sponsorship (20%), federal grants (20%), membership subscriptions (10%), state government (10%) and industry funding (5%).
Mingenew-Irwin Group The Mingenew-Irwin group (MIG) formed in 1997 when the Mingenew Land Conservation District Committee (LCDC) and the Irwin LCDC together employed an executive officer to coordinate their
activities. Immediately their core focus shifted from purely environmental issues to a more holistic farming systems approach. The Mingenew-Irwin group covers approximately 300,000 hectares within the two shires and full membership is only open to landholders within this area. In 2002, the group had 90 full members (130 farming families) which equates to 95% of the farmers in the two shires. Objectives The focus of the Mingenew-Irwin group is to promote and develop economic and environmentally sustainable agriculture through research, planning, monitoring and demonstrating best practice. To achieve this aim, the group has two divisions – Research and Development, and Environment. Activities The research and development division conducts an extensive trials program each year ranging from small plot trials to farm scale demonstrations. Many of the trials are done in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture WA and agribusiness companies in the region. Each year, MIG surveys its members and conducts brainstorming sessions to gain an understanding of the key issues for the coming season. The research and development committee is responsible for prioritising the issues and then developing trials or collaborative demonstrations to address the key concerns. The group conducts many of their trials on a main research site donated by a local farmer. The Mingenew-Irwin Group also has several satellite sites to investigate specific issues. For example, the group has set up a long term rotation trial to evaluate integrated weed management techniques for weed control. This is a collaborative trial involving pasture and weed researchers from the Department of Agriculture, Elders and Syngenta. To extend their research to members and to farmers outside the region, the group organises and hosts the Autumn Crop Updates seminar for their district in collaboration with DAWA and the GRDC. This is in addition to at least four other major collaborative field days each season. The group is very conscious of looking beyond just local issues. Each year they conduct an interstate tour to investigate farming systems in other regions. This allows members to broaden their point of view and to learn about how farmers in other regions deal with their own complex issues. Another activity which involves both the MIG and Liebe groups is an interstate collaborative project with the CSIRO/APSRU unit in Queensland. The growers in WA are working with researchers in Toowoomba to explore ways to better manage the impacts of climate variability on crop production. Funding for the two year project is provided through AAA-FarmBis Australia. Use of the internet as a core communication tool is enabling farmers and researchers from opposite sides of the continent to explore issues of interest through on-line real-time Net Meeting sessions. The meetings combine the skills of researchers in soil monitoring, systems simulation and seasonal climate forecasting with the farmers’ expert knowledge of their own systems and environment. In 2002, MIG members travelled to Queensland to speak to local farmers who were using and applying similar knowledge in partnership with CSIRO. Researchers from CSIRO have visited WA several times to speak at MIG and Liebe field days. With over 150 farmers attending each event, the groups are providing an effective means for extension of the research. The environmental division is involved in a three year GRDC funded pilot project to establish management systems for tackling day to day environmental hazards on farm. MIG has invested in these systems to: add value to locally produced food and fibre in an increasingly competitive market; to drive environmental efforts among members while gaining recognition for what has been achieved; and to keep ahead of potential regulation by proving members are adequately managing the environment. The Department of Agriculture is working in partnership with MIG on this project to develop environmental management systems for other growers across WA. The Mingenew-Irwin group has also established a commercial arm to identify and evaluate a wide range of agribusiness opportunities, and then facilitate the implementation of those ventures that meet the group’s selection criteria. The commercial arm is run as a separate company (Irwin Valley Pty Ltd) with shareholders and initial capital drawn from 47 full members. Members recognise that to be self sufficient, they must be able to generate funding from sources other than the government or corporate
sectors. This is the first farmer-driven group in WA to focus on generating income from commercial activities. Another commercial activity is a grain marketing alliance with a local grain handling company. Their aim is to better position members in the market place and to better understand marketing issues so that grower members are able to deal with an increasingly competitive market place. The alliance will eventually see MIG attempt to brand specialty niche products with a green, quality assured label. Structure The strategic direction of the Mingenew-Irwin group is set by a management committee comprising of twelve members from throughout the district. The committee members serve for two years and four members are re-elected each year. This helps with succession of the group and development of experience in members. The research and development division is directed by a sub-committee with farmer, government and agribusiness representation. In a new move, the two staff agronomists are also on the fifteen member committee and have equal say in the activities of the group. The environmental division has a nine member sub-committee. Full members have access to specialised workshops, trials, landcare funding, more personalised field walks, co-ordination and information throughout the season. At the beginning of 2000, associate membership was made available to anyone outside of the two shires. This was done due to increased demand for information the group was generating. Currently, the 70 associate members have access to information only, for example trial results booklet, entry to major field days and regular newsletters. Corporate associate membership is available to agribusiness entities wishing to join the group but not be sponsors. Staff and Funding The Mingenew-Irwin group currently employs three full time staff – a manager, environmental officer and research agronomist. They have also recently contracted a part-time research co-ordinator to oversee their trials program and also a part-time financial officer. The group is financially supported from a variety of sources including federal grants eg. NHT2 (28%), industry funding eg. GRDC (39%), corporate sponsorship (19%), membership subscriptions (10%), local government (1.5%) and in-kind state government support (2.5%).
Some Common Characteristics Formal Management Structure The three groups discussed in the case studies have well-established management structures, are business-like and financially secure. Like many businesses, the groups have produced clear visions, mission statements and strategic plans which help them to maintain focus. Members have an active input into the strategic and operational direction of their group. Having clearly defined problems that are understood by the membership contributes to the success of farmer-driven groups (Campbell, 1992). Executive Officers An increase in the size and scope of local farmer groups repeatedly led to the problem of executive committee members becoming unable to cope with demands of the group as well as having to run their own farm businesses. A common solution to this was to employ an executive officer dedicated to the operation and smooth functioning of the group. Although presenting a funding and management challenge, the appointment of an executive officer is seen to be very important for the long term success of the groups. The role of the executive officer in the leading farmer groups has now evolved beyond just administration and organisation. The executive officers are regularly being called upon to provide feedback and input into new government or commercially-based projects on behalf of the grower group. A close working relationship between the executive officer and the farmer committee is paramount. This importance is being reflected by an increasing number of grower group employees who are drawn from
the local community. Executive officers with a shared vision for the group, coupled with their own drive and determination make a significant contribution to the success of locally focused farmer groups. Funding and partnerships A feature of the three groups is that they have developed a diverse and relatively stable financial base. An initial Landcare focus meant that many groups received a high percentage of their funding from government sources. As the groups became more production focused, the level of funding from government declined and the groups had to find alternative funding sources. The groups have since built strong partnerships with commercial agribusiness companies, local and state government agencies, and are experienced in applying for successful federal grants. In many cases, they have had the most success from corporate sponsorship and industry funding bodies. In the future, it is expected that income from the commercial activities of the groups will increase. Partnerships for research and extension A key characteristic of successful farmer-driven groups is their ability to build constructive partnerships (Campbell, 1992). Each of the three groups described here have successfully drawn in public and private-sector researchers, economists and extension agents to create their own multi-disciplinary teams. The development of locally driven research and development programs has been motivated by the increasing complexity of farming systems in WA and the recognition that farmers have very different needs for research and information. Farmer-driven groups recognise that their members have detailed knowledge about their own environments so are in the best position to develop new technology to suit their local area. While maintaining value for fee-paying members, the farmer groups are also taking responsibility for the extension of their research results to a broader audience. Examples of these include partnerships with the Department of Agriculture in programming regional extension events, and the use of national information networks (eg. National Farm Groups’ Manual) to deliver information well beyond their local region. The ability of individual groups to develop new and larger collaborative projects for research and extension has recently been enhanced by the formation of a formal grower and researcher network.
The Grower Group Alliance In 2002, six locally focused farmer-driven groups came together to develop an alliance. The idea for an alliance came from grower group members wanting to improve the communication between the grower groups, major research bodies and the grains industry. They felt that new innovations could be better communicated to growers and that important research, in many instances, was not applied to its full potential. With funding from the GRDC, six grower groups and five research institutions (Table 1) formed the Grower Group Alliance and appointed a full-time coordinator. Table 1: Original grower groups and research institutions in the Grower Group Alliance. Grower Groups
Research Institutions
Corrigin Farm Improvement Group
Department of Agriculture, Western Australia
Facey Group
CSIRO
Liebe Group
CRC for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity
Mingenew-Irwin Group
University of Western Australia:
Pulse Association of the South East (PASE) South-East Premium Wheat Growers' Association (SEPWA)
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Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) Western Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (WAHRI)
The aim of the Alliance is to enhance the value of agricultural research, development & extension through stronger links between grower groups, researchers and industry. It provides the opportunity for collaborative projects between grower groups across the state. By working together, it allows the groups to maintain their local-focus, yet also operate with a ‘critical mass’ to take action on a range of issues which they would not have been able to do individually. For this reason, large established groups with a statewide membership were not initially included in the project. Objectives The Grower Group Alliance project has three key objectives. These are to:
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Create opportunities for the regular exchange of information between growers, grower groups and researchers; Drive research, development & extension and encourage innovation in Western Australian agriculture; and Build the capacity of grower groups to achieve their goals.
Activities The Grower Group Alliance has begun to achieve its objectives by establishing formal communication pathways between growers, researchers and the grains industry. To date, communication has been in the form of grower groups formalising contact via written and electronic communication; researchers passing on ‘research updates’ and notices of upcoming events; a grower representative invited to sit on industry advisory panels to give grower feedback; and the creation of a specific annual forum for feedback between growers, researchers and industry. The Grower Group Alliance also has a bimonthly email newsletter and a site on the GRDC website. Increased communication and publicity by the Grower Group Alliance about the activities of member groups has prompted farmers in other regions to conduct tours to view these activities first hand. A new activity coordinated by the Alliance was a statewide series of grower workshops. These workshops were initiated and organised by grower members at 5 locations around the state. It was seen as a useful way to address one of the key problems of the season. The Alliance was able to source an appropriate presenter and provide feedback on the workshop design. This meant the content was developed to be flexible to meet the needs of each region and included a segment for a local agronomist to present locally relevant data. Other ways the Grower Group Alliance is adding value to the activities of grower groups include: coordination of major spring field days with sourcing of presenters and promotional opportunities; organisation of an interstate tour for grower members from each group; and development of specific training workshops to improve the skills of grower group staff and executive committee members. In October of each year, the Grower Group Alliance also holds a two day Grower/Researcher forum to discuss the critical issues from the current season and how to address them in the following year. Each grower group presents their priorities and any synergies between groups are identified. Collaborative projects with researchers who have similar priorities are then established and joint applications for funding submitted to research and development corporations. A benefit of this approach is that trials of a standard nature can be set up across the state to assess performance under a range of environmental conditions. Collaborative works may also include projects between grower groups, between grower groups and researchers, and with students linked to an educational institution. Structure The strategic direction of the Grower Group Alliance project is set by a reference group consisting of one representative from each of the research institutions, the executive officers of the grower groups and one farmer representative from each grower group.
Included in the 16 member team is the Topcrop West coordinator who provides a link between the Topcrop network of small grower groups and the larger groups involved in the Grower Group Alliance. The reference group meets only 2 to 3 times per year. A small four member management committee assists the Alliance coordinator with operational details and meets as required. As the Grower Group Alliance is a pilot project, for the next two years the number of grower groups represented on the reference group will not increase. However, there are no restrictions on the number of groups who want to become involved in the activities coordinated by the Alliance. There are currently a total of 12 locally focused grower groups in the network. In addition, three large grower groups with a statewide membership base, such as the WA No-Tillage Farmers Association (WANTFA), are involved. The Alliance is also developing links with interstate grower groups such as the Birchip Group and Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc. There are no membership fees and information is freely distributed to all growers who are members of the component grower groups. Staff The Grower Group Alliance project employs one full time coordinator to liaise between the grower groups, research bodies and industry groups. For proximity to the major WA research providers, the position is hosted in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Western Australia. The main points of contact for the coordinator are the executive officers of the grower groups, and the communication officers of the research institutions. This ensures that the flow of information is directed to a person who can pass it on to the people in their organisation who will gain the most benefit. When a specific opportunity occurs, the coordinator facilitates the involvement of interested parties and provides the means for them to negotiate directly.
Summary The development of local farmer groups that initiate and manage research activities is contributing to a unique and evolving form of farming systems research. From case studies of three successful farmer-driven groups engaged in farming systems research in Western Australia, we found that the groups have:
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A strong local area focus, with the aim of increasing the amount of research and development conducted in their local area;
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A formal management structure facilitating the involvement of a large number of growers in setting group direction;
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A paid executive officer or manager;
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A stable funding base through sponsorship, grants and commercial partnerships;
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Strong links to researchers both intra and interstate;
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The ability and willingness to deliver information and benefits beyond their membership;
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The ability and resources to collaborate with other groups with mutual interests to deliver benefits to the wider agricultural community.
The evolution of groups like those discussed in this paper has greatly enhanced capacity for FSR, particularly in terms of farmer involvement and outcomes for farmers at a local level. An organized alliance of grower groups can allow groups to expand their activities, influence and opportunities without detracting from their core strength, which is their commitment to growers in their local area.
Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the executive officers and members of the three grower groups used as case studies for their contribution to this paper. The Grower Group Alliance project is funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation. References Campbell, A. 1992. Group Extension Workshop. In “Proceedings of the 5th Australian Soil Conservation Conference 1990, Perth, WA”. Vol 1, pp 78 – 83. Chamala S, 1995. Group Effectiveness: From Group Extension Methods to Participative Community Landcare Groups. In: “Participative Approaches for Landcare: Perspectives, Policies, Programs” Ed. S Chamala and K Keith (Australian Academic Press: Brisbane). Lynam, J. 2002. A History of Farming Systems Research [Book Review]. Agricultural Systems 73, 227 – 232. Martin, R. J., Cornish, P. S., Verrell, A. G. 1996. An Integrated Approach to Link Farming Systems Research, Extension Co-Learning and Simulation Modelling. In “Proceedings of the 8th Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba, Qld”. McCown, R. L. 2001. Farming Systems Research and Farming Practice. In “Proceedings of the 10th Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart, Tasmania”. Petheram, R. J. and Clark, R. A. 1998. Farming systems research: relevance to Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 38, 101 – 115.
Tracey Gianatti
