In this issue: Focus on the Condamine-Balonne; Feature on soilwater monitoring; Reducing erosion and increasing infiltration with PAM

These are the stories of the Community Fellows, people chosen and supported by Land & Water Australia with the generous support of the Poola and Dara Foundations in recognition of their personal achievements and the potential of their unsung stories to inform and inspire others.

Projects featured in this booklet highlight the diversity of the research commissioned by the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation and the practical outcomes they offer for irrigation sustainability and productivity.

Here, we feature the five collaborative industry based programs that Land & Water Australia manages under its Industries Arena. These programs bring together investment from the rural RDCs, the Australian and state governments, and private companies. They create a direct connection between research and on-farm application, with many of the programs working directly with farmers to tap into their wealth of experience.

The Future Woolscapes Sub-program examined a range of key issues that may impact on the world and thus the wool industry over the next 25 years. Some of the issues considered by the project included climate change, environmental and animal welfare press

Outcomes of an expert workshop scoping social and institutional research questions in support of the implementation of the National Water Initiative

A snapshot of Land & Water Australia's plans for 2005-2010

The findings of this evaluation are encouraging in terms of national benefit. Analysis of 25 separate innovations - which make up about one quarter of Land & Water Australia's total portfolio - shows a return of $1.5 billion against a research cost (present value) of $392 million, or almost 4 to1. If just the Land & Water Australia component of the research investment is considered, there is a return of almost $300 million (present value) from a research cost (present value) of $77 million. Among these projects, returns varied from as low as 1.1 to 1, to as high as 28 to 1. These estimates are conservative as some environmental and social returns are difficult to quantify and were therefore not counted.

Motivation and awareness presented through five grower case studies of the benefits of more sustainable approaches to rangeland management.