ACT Resilient Farms Program
Projected end date: 2030
Summary
The ACT Resilient Farms Program is a six-year program running from 2025 to 2030. It helps ACT rural landholders prepare for drought by using farming practices that work with nature.
The program is delivered by government, research, industry and community partners. It supports practical on-farm activities, monitoring and opportunities to share knowledge and learn from others.
These activities help farmers prepare for drought and adapt to changing climate conditions. The program also supports the goals and actions of the ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan.
Background
The ACT Resilient Farms Program is one of 8 projects funded across Australia through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund Resilient Landscapes Program.
Project goals
The ACT Resilient Farms Program aims to:
- help ACT farmers prepare for drought by using farming practices that work with nature
- improve water quality and soil health
- protect native plants and animals and increase carbon stored in the landscape
- support landholders to make practical changes that help them manage drought and changing climate conditions
- show the environmental, economic and community benefits of these changes through monitoring and sharing results
- help farmers and communities build skills and knowledge through field days, workshops and learning from other farmers
- support the goals and actions of the ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan
- help build stronger and more resilient farms and rural communities across the ACT.
Project details
The program supports practical actions that improve the health of farming land and help farms cope with changing climate conditions.
Water quality and healthy landscapes
The program will help landholders improve farm dams and create wetland areas that support native plants and animals. It will also support activities that slow the movement of water across the landscape and help more water soak into the soil. These activities aim to:
- improve water quality
- increase water storage in the landscape
- support native plants and animals
- create healthier and more productive farms.
Grazing and shelter for livestock
The program will support farmers to improve grazing management and plant native trees and shrubs. These activities can help:
- improve ground cover
- provide shade and shelter for livestock
- protect soil
- support native plants and animals
- help farms cope better during dry periods.
Healthy soils
The program will introduce winter-active dung beetles to help improve soil health. Healthy soils can:
- recycle nutrients more effectively
- improve soil condition
- support healthy pastures
- improve livestock health
- help farms stay productive during dry times.
Monitoring and sharing knowledge
The program will collect information about soil, water, plants, animals and carbon stored in the landscape. This information will help measure the results of program activities and improve future work. Results and lessons learned will be shared through:
- workshops
- field days
- demonstration sites
- community information and communication activities.
Community and First Nations partnerships
The program will work closely with landholders, community organisations, researchers and First Nations partners. These partnerships will help:
- share knowledge and experience
- build skills and confidence
- support proven farming practices that help prepare for drought
- create opportunities for on-Country learning
- support conservation and landscape restoration activities.
The program encourages people to work together to build stronger farms, healthier landscapes and more resilient rural communities.
Project partners and funding
The program is delivered by a partnership of government, research, industry and community organisations. Together, these partners provide expertise in:
- sustainable farming
- land and water management
- biodiversity conservation
- community engagement
- research and monitoring.
Partners include:
- ACT NRM Sustainable Agriculture Program – Program coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder engagement.
- Landcare ACT – Community engagement, communications, workshops and field days.
- EcoInsects Pty Ltd – Technical expertise in dung beetle establishment, soil health and regenerative agriculture practices
- Australian National University (Fenner School of Environment and Society) – Research support, monitoring, education and science communication.
- ACT Rural Landholders Association – Landholder engagement and industry representation.
- ACT Government Office of Water and Healthy Waterways Program – Technical advice and support for water quality and landscape rehydration activities.
The program is also being delivered in collaboration with ACT rural landholders, whose participation and local knowledge will be critical to achieving long-term environmental, social and economic outcomes across the region.
More information
- ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan
- Future Drought Fund – Australian Government
- ACT Office of Water
- Other Future Drought Fund projects:
Get involved
ACT rural landholders can register their interest in the ACT Resilient Farms Program and receive information about future opportunities.
The program is open to ACT rural landholders who are interested in:
- preparing for drought
- improving the health of their land
- using farming practices that work with nature.
To register your interest, complete the Future Drought Fund – Resilient Farms Expression of Interest form.
Submitting an Expression of Interest does not mean you have signed up to the program. It helps the project team understand interest from landholders across the ACT and identify where opportunities may exist.
Opportunities to participate will be offered throughout the program, depending on available funding and program priorities.