Legume Based Cropping Systems
Support dryland farmers in the Victorian Mallee to enhance the productive capacity of their farming systems, while reducing emissions and protecting natural capital and biodiversity.
Key objectives
Establish a long-term trial site to promote improved legume-based rotations and practices for profitable and sustainable gains in low rainfall sandy soil landscapes across the Victorian Mallee.
Moisture and soil health monitoring to compare and inform crop choices and inputs.
A Victorian Mallee farmer group will be supported to implement improved management practices.
Extension activities including workshops, field days, digital products and media articles will be developed and promoted more broadly to the farming community.
About the project
Mallee Sustainable Farming is proud to be a key delivery partner in a broader Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) initiative aimed at improving soil health, reducing wind erosion, and enhancing the long-term resilience of farming systems in the Victorian Mallee.
As part of this collaboration, MSF is leading work on legume-based cropping systems, focusing on the development of a long-term trial site. This work is designed to test, validate, and promote rotations that deliver both productivity and sustainability gains, particularly on sandy soils where risk is high and organic carbon levels are low.
Key Activities:
Establishing and monitoring legume rotations that improve soil function and organic carbon
Measuring moisture and soil health to guide input and crop decisions
Identifying effective strategies for maintaining groundcover and reducing erosion risk
Supporting grower adoption through local extension and communication
This work is part of a four-part program led by Mallee CMA, in collaboration with Birchip Cropping Group (BCG), Agriculture Victoria, and MSF, building on previous Regional Land Partnerships (RLP) investment.
This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
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Working together with farmers






























