Advances in agronomy and the performance of individual crops have helped growers to maintain their profitability. However, recent research suggests that only 30% of the crop sequences being used across the northern region are achieving at least 75% of their water limited yield potential.

The Northern Farming Systems initiative will work with the new network of regional agronomists to:

1. conduct research with local growers and agronomists to assess the performance of promising farming systems and crop sequences;
2. identify the key limitations, consequences and economic drivers of these systems; and
3. develop the systems with the most potential for use across the northern region.

A complex experiment on the Darling Downs will investigate up to 12 farming systems and measure the impact of these systems and alternative practices on weed and disease populations, systems water-use and nutrient-use efficiency. Agricultural systems models will further investigate the economics, climate and price-risk, and the long-term sustainability of these systems.