The Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms (HSSF) Program was an Australian Government initiative funded through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) was a major co-funder, and the HSSF Program was managed by Land & Water Australia.

The Annual Report is prepared by the Land & Water Australia Board of Directors to meet the requirements of Section 9 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 in accordance with the Report of Operations Schedule of that Act for the 2007-2008 year

This document is the updated product of a two week writing sabbatical undertaken in October 2006 by former Land & Water Australia Director Andrew Campbell.

This booklet is part of a series that describes the status of soil information to enable reporting on change in soil condition, a matter for target identified under the National Natural Resource Management Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

Theme: Salt, Nutrient, Sediment and Interactions Salt as a contaminant Nutrient as a contaminant Sediment as a contaminant Interactions between contaminants

Invasive animals cause enormous damage to Australia's economy, environment and society. "Assessing invasive animals in Australia 2008" presents, for the first time, consistent national information on the distribution and abundance of significant invasive animals in Australia. This report is the result of collaboration between the National Land & Water Resources Audit, the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, and all states and territories. It reports on indicators of the extent and impact of 10 invasive animal species, which have been compiled from existing data sets using nationally agreed methods.

This edition of RipRap is on environmental water allocation, a topic that is at the forefront of people's minds as economic, environmental and social demands for water are being made in every region of Australia. The articles features in this

In this issue: Income forecasts turning the table on drought assistance; Dairy project builds on farmer experience: Farming profitably in a changing climate; World spotlight on Australian climate expertise; Southern Australia

Monitoring coastal habitat extent and condition is now easier due to the strategic investment in high resolution images for priority areas around Australia's coastline.

IN THIS ISSUE: New eye on the sky; New Projects - Managing Climate Variability R&D Program; Monthly report helping farmers make 'prophetable' decisions; Value of forecasting proven in NHT projects