This project aims to demonstrate flexible farming systems management including agronomic techniques that allow us to react to seasonal forecasting and variability. The goal is to create a flexible irrigated farming system that can react to an un-forecasted poor season by adjusting inputs or targets to deliver the greatest profitability; plan for a forecasted poor season by adopting practices to reduce the risk of failed crops; and when seasons are good, maximise production to allow for the building of cash and fodder reserves.

Faba beans was one of the four crops to be sown as part of this project. The trial was sown as if it were for grain and samples taken for dry matter and quality assessments from late October onwards when the beans had begun to firm up.

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

This project is a result of a successful application to the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund's - Extensions and Adoption of Drought Resilient Practices Grants Program