There has never been greater public investment in natural resource management (NRM) in Australia, or in research that provides the information and knowledge to improve it. A challenge exists to ensure that this ever increasing knowledge base is used to make on-ground decisions.

Background, Key findings of Research project number SYN1 of the Social and Institutional Research Program of Land & Water Australia.

The biodiversity research in Grain & Graze focuses on the relationships between biodiversity (plants, animals, insects and microorganisms) and on-farm production. Over many years, monitoring four paddocks with different land uses on 47 mixed farms, the project will contribute to answering the following questions: * Does enterprise diversity on-farm lead to increased biodiversityΓ * Is there a relationship between site conditions, land use, landscape, terrain and biodiversityΓ Results of the long term research should inform farmers about what can be done to maintain and enhance

Watershed Torbay was established in 2001 as a national demonstration project to undertake whole of catchment waterways restoration. Funded by Land & Water Australia through the former National Rivers Consortium, the aim was to further develop and test approaches to waterways management at a whole catchment, rather than river reach scale, and to share the learnings and successes throughout Australia.

Brochure on the use of a salinity unit converter disk for vegetables

The following is a synthesis of insights attained through Grain & Graze research investments. In most cases the insights arise from analyses across several projects. These specific insights are discussed in detail in this report.

The project will establish saltbush and clover on saltland. Investigate potential for producing barley between saltbush alleys to feed with saltbush when grazed in autumn.

Establishment of a mix of perennial grasses, annual legumes and shrubs to lift productivity from 1 to 7DSE. From 2007 will investigate best grazing management strategies to maximise ongoing productivity.

After major rains and flooding in 1999 left some of their best-producing paddocks susceptible to dryland salinity, Bonnie Rock farmers Phil and Caroline Smith began thinking about how to get the affected land back to production.

This publication serves as a key document to reference current Australian cotton production practices, and as such, is a most important resource for all cotton producers, especially those entering the industry for the first time, or returning to it