Legume Cropping Challenge: Grower-Led Improvements of Strategy, Performance & Profitability in Lupin & Faba Bean Crops

Legume Cropping Challenge & Benchmarking Project:

The rotational benefit of legumes has been widely publicised and as a result legumes contribute significantly to cropping rotations in the Kojonup region. However, discussions with growers and advisers highlight there is room to improve legume management to get the most out of the cropping enterprise. The Southern Dirt Legume Cropping Challenge will encourage growers to trial strategies to boost legume productivity and profitability. Growers will be challenged to grow the most profitable legume crop in each year of the project. Benchmarking data (such as input costs, yields, soil data) will be collected from each grower and collated to assess the success of each grower legume strategy. Through agronomist-led workshops, peer discussions, and evaluation of benchmarking data, growers will refine decisions around sowing, nutrition, disease management, and in-season tactics.

Outcome Statement:

​​By June 2028, 80% of participating lupin and faba bean growers and advisers will have increased confidence and knowledge in legume crop management, supported by shared strategy discussions, agronomist insights, and benchmarking reflections. 
This will be demonstrated through:

  • ​Improved in-season management strategies, with growers adopting at least one new tactic that enhances legume performance.
  • ​Measured improvement in crop outcomes, including yield, profitability, or risk reduction (commodity-specific).
  • ​Clear evidence of grower learning, captured through workshop feedback, case studies, and strategy reviews.​

Planning on growing lupins or faba beans this season?
We’re looking for growers who want to be involved in a practical, hands-on project focused on getting more out of legumes.
What’s this project about?
Legumes play an important role in our farming systems, but we know they can be difficult to get right. Questions around sowing timing, nutrition, inoculation, disease management and input decisions can all have a big impact on performance and profitability. This project is designed to help answer those questions using real on-farm results, not trials, by working together as a group and learning from what’s happening across the region.
This will be a collaborative, fun and interactive cropping challenge designed to bring growers together, build excitement, and create positive outcomes on farm.
What’s involved?
It’s designed to be simple, low effort and a bit of fun!
  • Grow your lupins or faba beans as you normally would (Year 1 is your current approach), Year two is applying any changes and learnings from the workshops to your legume practices.
  • Share some basic paddock information (sowing, inputs, yield, etc.)
  • Have your results independently benchmarked against other participating growers
  • Take part in a small number of workshops and discussions with agronomists and other growers
In Year 2, you can apply any changes or ideas you think are worthwhile and compare how your results improve, must be willing to grow the same legume each year, e.g. year one lupins, year two lupins (different paddocks obviously).
What will you get out of it?
  • A clear understanding of how your crop is performing
  • Insight into what’s driving higher yields and better margins
  • Practical ideas you can apply on your own farm
  • Confidence in making key legume decisions
  • The chance to learn alongside other growers facing the same challenges
It’s a friendly challenge, with a focus on improvement!
Who should get involved?
Any grower planning to grow lupins or faba beans in 2026 and 2027 who is interested in:
  • Improving performance and profitability
  • Learning from others
  • Being part of a practical, collaborative project
What’s the commitment?
  • Be involved across both seasons
  • Provide basic crop and paddock data
  • Attend a few key workshops
  • Be open to discussion and learning
  • Beers involved after each workshop session 😊
👉 Interested in being involved?
 Click the button below:

Express your interest here

Funders

This project is funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)

Project Lead:

Sheridan Kowald, Executive Officer

Email:eo@southerndirt.com.au

Phone: 0455581729