L.PDS.1803 - Enhanced Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) Program (Phase 2)

Summary

This project was undertaken to increase producer adoption of research outcomes and technologies through Enhanced Producer Demonstration Sites (EPDS). EPDS are 2–3 year on-farm demonstrations delivered in partnership between Meat & Livestock Australia and Agriculture Victoria with producer groups.

Demonstrations provide producers with an opportunity to test a practice and observe, monitor and evaluate it in a group learning environment. Results are extended amongst the group and to the wider livestock industry through presentations and media.

Objectives

The aim of the project was to improve business profitability and productivity by optimising adoption rates and decreasing the time between technological innovation and producer adoption.

The objectives were to:

1. Manage existing Phase 1 demonstration projects until their progressive conclusion over the period up until December 2018.

2. Extend key learnings and messages from the existing eight EPDS projects through industry development activities to maximise broader industry adoption and benefits (including webinars, presentations to groups and key industry conferences, communication products, fact sheets and case studies).

3. Directly engage 100 beef and sheep producers through seven new EPDS projects that are aligned with key profit drivers, MLA and SALRC priorities, through a new EOI process, supported by regional SALRC committees.

4. Evaluate each concluded demonstration at enterprise and broader industry level to demonstrate productivity and financial impact at farm business and industry levels.

5. Monitor and evaluate adoption rates and impacts of the total EPDS investment, over both phases (re-evaluating participants from Phase 1 sites and closely monitoring Phase 2 sites throughout their life).

The objectives were achieved, except for Objective 4, which was partially achieved. Completed demonstrations were evaluated for knowledge, attitude, skills, aspirations and adoption (KASAA) outcomes and impact on enterprises, however financial impacts were measured only where results allowed, and were not scaled to an industry level.

Key findings

Phase 1 demonstrations: In-depth interviews with 25 producers and seven group coordinators found that 84% of producers had made or were in the process of making practice changes to their farm business, many of them large changes such as setting up a stock containment area for autumn saving (Appendix II). Producers rated the demonstrations 8.7/10 for helping them to understand the practice or technology demonstrated.

Phase 2 demonstrations were conducted across 41 host producer sites and involved 254 group members. Sixty-two group activities and presentations were conducted with 1,042 producer and 163 service provider attendances. Demonstration outcomes were promoted through seventy-nine media articles and activities.

Producer knowledge and skills increased across all demonstrations. High levels of adoption or intention to adopt practices were measured for all demonstrations except adopting accelerated beef finishing systems using grazed fodder beet and drones for monitoring sheep welfare. These projects identified risks that deterred adoption.

Benefits to industry

The EPDS model provides an effective and complimentary partnership between group coordinators and Agriculture Victoria staff to deliver demonstrations. Additional expertise is also available from supporting teams (including the communications team, farm economists and technical specialists).

The 15 demonstrations conducted throughout Phase 1 and Phase 2 provided producer groups with an opportunity to investigate practices, technologies and research outcomes that addressed priorities for the group and wider industry.

Some projects accelerated adoption of practices proven to increase farm productivity or improve farm management (e.g., Increasing lamb survival, To wean, Yard Feeding Systems for Growing Lambs).

Some demonstrations allowed producers to assess new practices (e.g., Autumn Saving, Pasture Cropping, Dung Beetles) and increased adoption.
Some demonstrations allowed producers to assess new practices and technologies and actively decide not to adopt (e.g., Drones, Pedigree MatchMaker for cattle, Fodder Beet).
Project outcomes were disseminated to the wider industry increasing knowledge and awareness.

MLA action

SALRC and Agriculture Victoria’s priorities. Further opportunities for fine-tuning the program are outlined in this report.

Future research

It is recommended that EPDS continues to engage producers in on-farm demonstrations addressing SALRC and Agriculture Victoria’s priorities. Further opportunities for fine-tuning the program are outlined in this report.