The sun was shining and spirits were high on Friday 6 October when The UWA Institute of Agriculture welcomed more than 150 researchers, working farmers, members of the local community and beyond to its UWA Farm Ridgefield 2023 Open Day. 

The Open Day featured in-field visits and project demonstrations that showcased key UWA research related to the Best Practice Farming Systems Project. 

Institute Director Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique delivered the introductory speech at the Old Farmhouse, during which he provided a background on how the 1600 ha mixed-enterprise farm has supposed agricultural research at UWA since 2009. 

Image: Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique, UWA VC Professor Amit Chakma, Farm Manager Tim Watts, E/Professor Lynette Abbott and the Institute Business Manager Diana Boykett.

“You may be interested to hear the following statistics about the farm as we stand here today,” Professor Siddique shared. 

“There are currently 8115 sheep, 620 hectares sown with barley, canola, lupins and vetch, 190 hectares of remnant vegetation, and no less than 17 active research projects underway at Ridgefield right now.”

My sister Yvonne and I enjoyed reminiscing our childhood years whilst at the Avery (now Ridgefield) Farm. It was good to see the shearing shed has stood the test of time. The research into the ovine clover disease was of particular interest as in the 1960s this was a major challenge.

Attendee Ted Avery

In his speech, Pingelly Shire President Bill Mulroney shared his personal recollections of UWA Farm Ridgefield and emphasised the important relationship between UWA and the Pingelly community. 

UWA Vice Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma then introduced The Nationals WA Member for Central Wheatbelt The Hon Mia Davies MLA to formally open to event. 

Image: The Hon Mia Davies MLA and Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique chat at the start of the Open Day.

Following lunch catered by the Pingelly Tourism Group, attendees boarded buses to visit the seven research demonstration sites across the farm.

First on many enthusiastic visitors’ agenda was UWA Emerita Professor Lynette Abbott’s recently established trial FutureCarbon13 Project 2023-2028, titled ‘Grazing into the future for soil carbon sequestration and building soil health’. 

A few minutes’ drive away, Murdoch University Associate Professor Rachel Standish presented on the long-term Multiple Ecosystems Services Experiment. 

Participating in the farm open day is a great way to share my research with the local farming community and get their perspective on how it will benefit agriculture production.

Associate Professor Louise Barton

Image: A group of Open Day attendees pose for a photo in the field near Associate Professor Louise Barton’s research site.

UWA Associate Professor Louise Barton and Paul Damon led people around one of four WA field trials as part of the national ‘Predicting nitrogen cycling and losses in Australian cropping systems’ project.

Twelve field trials commenced in 2023 across Australia (four in WA conducted by UWA) in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. 

The Open Day was an excellent opportunity for the general public, staff and students to be exposed to on-farm research. It was a great way to increase the transparency around agricultural science at UWA, and to show what we ag researchers do on a day-today basis. It was fantastic to see producers, students and academic colleagues all interested in the agriculture space!

Dr Kelsey Pool

At Avery’s Shearing Shed, UWA Lefroy Fellow Dr Kelsey Pool and Associate Professor Dominique took turns presenting on their projects; ‘Redefining ovine clover disease: A role for rams?’ and ‘Research into heat stress in livestock’, respectively. 

Crowds formed around UWA Associate Professor Sally Thompson and her research team to learn more about The Avon Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) – Western Node of the Australian CZO Network. 

Image: Associate Professor Sally Thompson presenting on The Avon Critical Zone Observatory.

Rounding out the site visits was Associate Professor Phillip Nichols and Brad Wintle, who demonstrated the latest findings from their Annual Legume Breeding Australia (ALBA) field trials. 

Many passionate and hardworking people helped make the UWA Farm Ridgefield 2023 Open Day such a success – Farm Manager Tim Watts, research leaders and their teams, the Institute staff, student volunteers, members of the Pingelly community, and more.   

It was exciting to share our new capabilities in below-ground monitoring at the Avon Critical Zone Observatory with the field day participants.

Associate Professor Sally Thompson