RiskWi$e (the National Risk Management Initiative), is a 5-year national program seeking to understand and improve the risk-reward outcomes for Australian grain growers.

This program is different from many of GRDC’s other research activities as it aims to apply participatory action research methods. This involves grain growers and other key stakeholders in the identification of on-farm decisions that have unknown components of risk-reward. Research and other activities in the project will be designed to actively involve farmers and advisors in interpreting and learning alongside the researchers.

Through partnerships between growers, advisors, grower groups and research providers we are aiming to better understand the risk and reward relationships for key on-farm management decisions. Ultimately the project aims to support growers and their advisors quantifying the probabilities of uncertainty of outcomes and assessing the probability of upside returns against associated downside risks for important management decisions in the context of their own farming operations.

The RiskWise team involves over 30 different partners spanning the grain growing regions. There are 6 regional action research groups covering Western Australia (led by GGA), central and southern Queensland (led by DAFQ), New South Wales (led by CSU), Victoria (led by BCG), SE South Australia (led by Hart Group) and the Eyre Peninsula (led by AIR EP). The national project team, led by CSIRO in partnership with the University of Western Australia, University of Melbourne, University of Queensland and SARDI have the role of coordinating and supporting the regional groups in their research, providing analytical and modelling support and undertaking behavioural science research.

While RiskWise will aim to address several important risky decisions for grain growers, initially the program has focused on improving decision making related to nitrogen management in the farming system. Nitrogen fertilisers are the largest variable input costs for most grain growers, and uncertainty in response and return on investment from their use is often challenging to many producers when deciding on their N management approach.  

Trials underway

The first year of the project had a strong Nitrogen focus, while subsequent themes from ARGs were under development.

There are currently 53 items on the  ARG Field and Trial Activities list.xlsx, representing 58 experiments or activities. Bear in mind we are still in the process of updating and tidying this list and I am assuming there are no missing experiments!

There are 37 experiments that fit the ‘N decisions’ theme, of which 21 include an N-bank treatment and are classified as N-banking trials. The 13+ remaining trials do not include an N-bank treatment per se, but they do include N strategy decisions that are season-responsive or rate-based and they do warrant inclusion in the larger database. All these trials are running for 1-5 years, with most for 3-4 years.

N decision trials:

  • 21 that include an N-bank treatment
    • NSW: Walgett, Gurley, Premer, Temora, Harden, Condobolin, Griffith, Narromine, Wongarbon
    • VIC: Longerengong, Gnarwarre, Walpeup Constrained, Walpeup Unconstrained, Carwarp, Curyo, Marlbed (Birchip), Dookie
    • SA: Bute, Cootra, Cockaleechie, Kybunga
  • 11 that do not include an N-bank treatment, but do include season-responsive N strategies
    • WA: Pithara, Kendenup, Esperance, Elabbin, Merredin
    • QLD:  Roma x3, St George x3
  • 2 that do not include an N-bank treatment, but do include rate * method * timing strategies
    • QLD: Capella, Brigalow
  • 3 to be confirmed

Typical ‘N decisions’ trial design:

 NSWVICSAWAQLD
 Walgett, Gurley, Premer, Temora, Harden, Condobolin, Griffith, Narromine, WongarbonLongerengong, Gnarwarre, Walpeup Constrained, Walpeup Unconstrained, Carwarp, Curyo, Marlbed (Birchip), DookieBute, Cootra, Cockaleechie, KybungaPithara, Kendenup, Esperance, Elabbin, MerredinCapella, Brigalow, Roma x3, St George x3
ControlsNilNilNilNil Nil
 National averageNational averageNational average  
Season-responsiveDecile 1Decile 1Decile 1 Decile 1
 decile -basedDecile 2-3Decile 2-3Decile 2-3Decile 3Decile 2-3
 Decile 5Decile 4-7Decile 4-7Decile 5Decile 4-7
 Decile 7-8Decile 8-9Decile 8-9Decile 7-8 
Season-responsiveForecast Responsive (BOM)Forecast Responsive (BOM)Forecast Responsive (BOM)  
 Financially Responsive    
Replacement-basedReplacement RateReplacement Rate   
 Replacement +30%    
 Replacement +30% (to fallow)    
 Replacement -30%    
N-bank yield basedN Bank ConservativeN Bank ConservativeN Bank Conservative  
 N Bank Optimal ProfitN Bank Optimal ProfitN Bank Optimal Profit  
 N Bank Optimal YieldN Bank Optimal YieldN Bank Optimal Yield  
N-bank profit basedN bank profit optimalN bank profit optimal   
 High N upfront + replacement N    
Rate-based    Standard rate
     High rate
Non-N treatmentsCrop rotation  Crop sequenceTiming
     Application method
     P, K
     Deep rip
‘N decisions’ trial design

RiskWi$e Field and Trial Activity