Improved decision making for climate-smart flock management

Written By Cristy Houghton

Project Funder: This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust.
Project Lead Organisation/Researcher: Central West Farming Systems (CWFS)
Project Durations: October 2025 – March 2028
Project Location: NSW and Victoria

Project overview

A multi‑region initiative led by CWFS with six regional partners to engage more than 500 sheep producers across NSW and Victoria through demonstration sites, workshops/field days, case studies and extension. Producers will trial precision livestock technologies (e.g. OptiWeigh, CiboLabs) and adaptive grazing/nutrition strategies to reduce methane emissions, improve soil health and water retention, boost productivity and resilience, and build confidence in decision‑making for low‑emissions flock management.

Objectives

  • Build capability to implement climate‑smart flock management (precision monitoring, strategic grazing, improved nutrition).

  • Increase adoption of proven, low‑emissions and soil‑positive practices across target regions.

  • Generate regionally relevant demonstrations, datasets and case studies linking practice to productivity, emissions and soil/water outcomes.

  • Strengthen networks between producers, extension providers, researchers, and government to enable scaling and policy alignment.

Expected benefits

  • Improved soil condition, water infiltration/retention, and carbon sequestration.

  • Reductions in methane intensity via stocking optimisation, feeding strategies and genetics where feasible.

  • Higher productivity and risk management under climate variability.

  • Consistent, credible knowledge products and peer learning.

Partnership

The project is led by Central West Farming Systems (CWFS). Partners include: Birchip Cropping Group (BCG), Holbrook Landcare Network (HLN), Monaro Farming Systems CMC Inc. (MFS), Riverine Plains Inc. (RP), Tablelands Farming Systems Inc. (TFS).

Other project partners: Local Land Services NSW (LLS), Agriculture Victoria (AgVic)

Cristy Houghton

Cristy's unique career has taken her from country NSW to the city lights of Clarendon Street South Melbourne and back again. With an early career in radio as a copywriter and creative strategist, she is now a Jill of all trades as a graphic designer, website builder, blog writer, video editor, social media manager, marketing strategist and more. 

In fact, give her any task and this chick will figure out how to do it! Go on, we dare you!

No, really, we DARE you!!

Cristy has won two Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) for Best Ad and Best Sales Promotion, and even has an 'Employee of the Year' certificate with her name on it.

Cristy and her husband James have traveled extensively through Russia, China and South East Asia, and have two fur-babies, Sooty (cat) and Panda (puppy). Cristy loves drinking coffee, meeting people to drink coffee, coffee tasting and coffee flavoured cocktails. She also enjoys road trips, TED Talks and watching cat videos on youtube.

http://www.embarketing.com.au
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