What happens when wind turbines meet wheat fields?

Across Western Australia, more and more farmers are being approached by energy companies with big ideas - and big infrastructure. But what does it all mean for your farm?

Farmanco’s limited podcast series, "Diversifying Farm Income: Integrating Renewable Energy into Agriculture", unpacks the opportunities and challenges of the renewables rollout.

The three-part series shares insights from a grower survey funded through the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, and examines what’s driving renewable energy interest in Western Australia’s ag sector - from financial benefits and long-term business resilience to the social, legal, and environmental realities on the ground.

Whether you’re curious, cautious, or already in talks, this series is your independent guide to navigating the future of on-farm energy.

The first episode of the series explores why renewable energy companies are knocking on WA farm gates, featuring Farmanco’s Kelly Ryan (Project Manager) and Williams and Harrismith grower Mark Fowler, hosted by Shannon Beattie.

Pastoralists Alys McKeough (Carey Downs Station) and Debbie Dowden (Challa Station) were sponsored by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) to attend the 2025 International Rangelands Congress in Adelaide.

In this episode, Alys and Debbie share key insights and takeaways from the event, from global perspectives on rangeland management to the importance of international collaboration.

Alys and Debbie also reflect on the important role of women in rangelands leadership and how their contributions are shaping more sustainable, environmentally conscious practices. They discuss the ongoing challenges facing remote communities and highlight the need for strong support systems to build long-term resilience across Australia’s rangelands.

This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Dr Mary-Anne Glanzlowe.

Dr John Duncan from The University of Western Australia and Dr Daniel Kidd from the Grower Group Alliance discuss the recently released Water Evaluation Platform (WEP), which was created as part of the WaterSmart Dams project.

WEP is a web application that allows you to simulate the performance of a dam and its catchment allowing the landholder to understand and analyse the different options available. The WEP was designed with industry experts and growers to support individual farms, private contractors, water planners, and local communities to make drought-resilient investment decisions.

This episode highlights the different types of analysis possible through WEP, as well as the data required, and the process taken to get here.

This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Shannon Beattie.

• WaterSmart Dams: capturing and keeping water in dams - Dry Season Resources Podcast
• Centre for Water and Spatial Science | UWA
• The Ripple Effect
• WaterSmart Farms – water security and resilience in a drying climate. | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
• WaterSmart Dams
• Introducing the Water Evaluation Platform (short video)
• Water Evaluation Platform
• Hub news - Drought Hub