Stirlings to Coast Farmers (SCF) is a farmer group based in the lower Great Southern region of Western Australia, covering predominately high rainfall areas across the shires of Cranbrook, Plantagenet, and Denmark, and the City of Albany.

About the Group

Stirlings to Coast Farmers is a vibrant not-for-profit group driven by members’ priorities for research and knowledge to improve farming systems. SCF delivers relevant and credible research, development, and extension to facilitate adoption for our members to be resilient and prosperous in a sustainable agricultural community. 

Our actions and activities ultimately support and assist our farming members in developing resilient, profitable, and sustainable high-rainfall farming systems in a variable climate. Research and knowledge sharing (extension) is based on 4 key pillars:

• Improving Yield – Productivity focuses on varieties, agronomy, managing soil constraints etc.
• Increasing Value – Change farming systems to target high-value markets e.g. noodle wheat.
• Improving Efficiency – Make better use of existing technology and improve agronomy practices.
• Reducing Losses – New technology focus, pests and disease management and new agronomic practices.

As a group, we lead and partner with a range of organisations, including universities, state and federal government agencies and research organisations, including CSIRO, on a wide range of projects to drive productivity and sustainability within the region.

Farmer Adaptation & Research

Stirlings to Coast Farmers’ key research activities ultimately support and assist our farming members in developing resilient, profitable, and sustainable high-rainfall farming systems in a variable climate. Current research includes growing summer legumes to reduce potential fertiliser usage, long-term crop rotation strategies, utilisation of sub-surface drainage and building green ground cover year-round (Feed365).

South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub

Stirlings to Coast Farmers is home to one of the eight SW-WA drought hub nodes (Albany Regional Node Lead). The Regional Node Leads provide guidance on priority issues impacting the drought and climate resilience of farming systems, their industries and communities. Through nominated managers, the Regional Node Leads help link the Hub to end users by gathering and sharing knowledge, coordinating local activities, and supporting Hub activities.

Climate Great Southern

Developed by Stirlings to Coast Farmers, with funding support through the Australian Government Future Drought Fund, Climate Great Southern acts as your one-stop location for current weather conditions, soil moisture levels, pasture forecasting and climate resources in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

Smart Farms Initiative & Weather Station Network

The Stirlings to Coast Farmers (SCF) Smart Farm Initiative road-tests and implements a range of digital tools and technology, to show how farmers can improve yield and productivity through technology adoption, learning and awareness. Key technologies utilised within the initiative include specialised multispectral drone, livestock measuring units, soil moisture monitoring technologies, weather stations and hyperlocal weather forecasting to predict climatic conditions to the paddock level. SCF now manages 80-odd weather monitoring points throughout the lower Great-Southern region.