ARIDGRAZE is a five year $5M research and adoption support program jointly funded by the Northern Territory Government and Meat and Livestock Australia.

Pastoral enterprises in Central Australia operate in a highly variable climate where rainfall and pasture growth fluctuate widely between years. This variability makes it challenging to confidently match stocking rates to available feed, as existing information is often too broad or not specific to local land types and land condition. While many producers use their knowledge and experience to navigate this complexity, there is currently no consolidated, region-specific resource that brings together the best available evidence to guide grazing decisions.

ARIDGRAZE will address this gap by delivering the first comprehensive Carrying Capacity and Grazing Guide for Central Australia. The project is focused on adoption by producing practical, evidence-based recommendations tailored to land type, land condition and rainfall percentiles for different rainfall zones. By equipping producers with regionally relevant tools, ARIDGRAZE will support improved production outcomes, better land condition and greater resilience to climate variability.

Adoption is central to the design. Producer involvement in the project steering committee will ensure outputs remain practical and relevant, while a producer-group managed research station paddock, commercial station demonstration sites, case studies, field days, and group learning will demonstrate outcomes in real-world conditions. The result will be adoption-ready resources, co-developed with producers, that give pastoralists the confidence and tools to make informed grazing decisions in a highly variable environment.

NT DAF are bringing together a team of experienced rangeland scientists and extension officers to deliver better outcomes for the central Australian beef industry. Understanding the economic implications of sustainable development options and pathways to improved profitability is a key component of the project, with an economist employed as a key member of the project team.