WMG Shares Risk Reward Tool Project Learnings at National Soil CRC Conference
By Simon Kruger, WMG Project Communications Officer
West Midlands Group (WMG) Project Communications Officer Simon Kruger recently presented on one of the group’s recently completed capacity-building projects, the Risk Reward Tool Project, at the Soil CRC Conference in Perth on 27 August. The Soil CRC funded project was led by WMG with collaborators Corrigin Farm Improvement Group (WA), Central West Farming Systems (NSW) and Charles Sturt University (NSW). The project was the first Soil CRC project to be led by a grower group.
The project set out to improve how research is communicated to farmers. It recognised the role of grower groups as the conduit between research and farm businesses, and focused on practical ways to help farmers weigh up risk and reward. Rather than building a new website or app, the team concentrated on strengthening the capability inside grower groups so that information is clearer, more consistent and easier to use.
Three farmer-facing formats were created and tested. An infographic provided a quick check of relevance. A four-page synthesis outlined fit, effort, likely benefits and any red flags. A full technical report remained available for those who wanted detailed methods and analysis. This tiered approach matched the way many farmers work through decisions, moving from awareness to evaluation and then, if appropriate, to trialling or adoption.
A concise Writing Guide (available from the Soil CRC Knowledge Hub) was developed alongside the formats. This proved to be the most important outcome. The guide explains which format to use when, sets out what to include, and offers plain language prompts so reports are easier to compare and apply. It standardises scope, method, context and limitations, and includes a simple partial-budget style summary so assumptions are visible and numbers can be checked against local conditions. The guide now serves as an onboarding tool for new staff and a quality reference for experienced communicators, helping groups maintain consistency when teams change.
The work drew on farmer input gathered through WMG, Corrigin Farm Improvement Group and Central West Farming Systems during 2023. Feedback pointed to the need for shorter, more visual summaries, local context and clarity around economics, as well as openness about what did not work. These points were built into the guide and the examples.
Testing with real projects showed several clear results. The tiered model saved time because many readers found the infographic or four-pager sufficient for next steps. Context was crucial, especially local agronomy cues and a straightforward economic summary in the synthesis layer. The project also confirmed that habits can be hard to shift, which is why a practical guide and worked examples were necessary to sustain change across multiple projects and partners.
WMG reported that the package has already helped with internal consistency and staff development. The Writing Guide gives new project officers a clear starting point and supports collaboration between groups and researchers. The formats were used across field days, discussion groups and newsletters, and were found to reduce document hunting and make follow-up conversations more focused.
Although the work was designed for grower groups, the approach has broader value. Research teams can use the synthesis document as a stable middle layer between a paper and a paddock, which helps with comparison across sites and seasons. Advisers and other organisations can use the same structure to present updates with assumptions in view, supporting due diligence on farm.
With the project now complete, WMG and partners noted that the main achievement was not a new platform, but a practical method that strengthens the path from research to application. The Writing Guide and templates are being embedded into WMG project planning and delivery so that clarity and consistency start from day one.
