Frequently Asked Questions

If your questions are not answered on this page, please contact us at admin@farmingpractices.com.au

• What is this for?
• Is my personal information safe?
• Will this service continue?
• Why should I do this?
• My data form won't open
• What year do I put in?
• When does it end?
  

What is this for? 

Currently there is very little complete data on a national level on what farming practices are being carried out. This data is necessary to make accurate judgments on the effectiveness of modern farming practices on a variety of outcomes, such as productivity and sustainable land use. Given the diminishing terms of trade, every advantage is needed.

As well as this, with global warming becoming one of the most talked about issues for urban dwellers, the industry needs accumulated hard evidence that they are using the best practices possible, to offset possible regulating. (TOP)

Is my personal information safe?

Individual data from a farmer will not be used individually other than when it is returned to the farmer in his (or her) environmental impact report. An individual identifying number is issued when the data is received, and then this is how data is identified within the database.  Personal details and data are not stored together.

Information is only used in an amalgamated form. Data is combined into shires and is not used until a 25% of total accumulated data is achieved to guarantee anonymity. (TOP)

Will this service continue?

One of this year's aims is to solidify the ongoing existence of this service so that it does continue. There is considerable interest from many bodies who need this type of amalgamated information.

NRM/CMA bodies need to have factual information to help them meet their targets. With this facility, it streamlines the collection requirements for them.

GRDC needs to have this information in order to assess projects that they have invested in. (TOP)

Why should I do this?

Because you get something back that may be very valuable to you. The report not only lets you see how you are doing against the area totals, but it also gives you a specific report on how your farming practices are impacting on your farm. It does this in terms of water use efficiency, nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency, erosion and other types of similar impacts.  These calculations are based on scientific research and have been verified by other scientists and agronomists.
With more data, the reports become more relevant.

With more people using this system, the reports will continue to improve because we use your feedback to improve it.
AND its a free service provided for you, to help you avoid possible regulation. (TOP)

My data form wont open in the browser?

This may occur if internet explorers security setting or your virus software has blocked it. Right click on your mouse and select 'Save target as" to save it to your computer. Open on your computer and continue as normal (TOP)

When does it end?

The data collection doesn't end. The system is designed to be open ended for both previous and future years of data collection. You can submit data from as many previous years as you like. Data will continue to be collected into the future.  Many surveys are snapshots of a small area and within a short time frame. 

The database has been designed to continuously accumulate data, returning reports as the data is received.  When a major change is made to the report, a new one will be sent to you.  In this way, we can build a clear picture of agricultural farming practices in Australia. (TOP)

What year data do I put in?

You can put whichever year in that you wish, the more years of data that are submitted, the better the trend report. The year is taken from the 1st of January to the 31st of December which covers in general the sowing and harvesting of the wheat crop in Australia.  (TOP)