This comprehensive project will combine extension, trials, and technical and economic analysis to support growers to access the benefits of legumes in crop rotations moving forward.
Established as a project with investment by the GRDC, GGA will collaborate with government, agribusiness, researchers, grower groups and growers to address the low adoption of grain legumes in WA farming systems.
Origins of the project stem from GRDC analysis indicating farmers are aware of the benefits of legumes in crop rotations. However, concerns around pulse reliability, profitability and lack of confidence in their consistent production are causing barriers to integration. Consequently, Western Australian farmers have been slow to exploit the recent advances in grain legume genetics, acid-tolerant rhizobia, management strategies, and weed and disease protection products.
Combatting this situation requires an extensive technical and extension program to change grower sentiment, driving new capabilities into profitable cropping systems. The project will see collaboration between government, agribusiness, researchers and end-users to address the current poor rate of adoption of grain legumes in WA farming systems.
Aims
- Demonstrate recent advances in the production of grain legumes, across a range of environments and soil types, through 25 user-defined farm-scale trials and, where appropriate small plot trials.
- Apply trial results to refine best-fit grain legume recommendations
- Produce a statistically rigorous economic analysis of grain legumes as a cash crop in the year they are grown and calculate the financial contribution of grain legumes to the longer-term cropping sequence
- Develop and deploy key messages from credible entities to market the improved performance of grain legumes.
Project Map
Trial locations – 2025 sites (blue), 2024 sites (green), 2023 sites (yellow) and 2022 legume trials for (red).
Centres of Excellence – Green stars show the trial host grower groups locations which are establishing their local knowledge and developing into 13 Centres of Excellence in legumes production around WA.
Legume Leaders – Numbers show local Legumes Leaders, experienced legume growers sharing insights about how and why legumes have been a long-term part of their farm system model.
Grower Group Trials
Legume Leaders Podcast Series
Project Updates
2025 Grain Legume Crop-etition
Western Australian growers are being challenged to showcase the power of pulses in the states newest Grower Group Alliance (GGA) on-farm Crop-etition, with a chance to win a $2000 gift card to spend at Crown Towers. Perth.
Legume Survey Results
In 2023, GGA surveyed 105 WA growers on grain legume use and adoption. While legumes provide benefits like nitrogen fixation and soil health, challenges—including fluctuating prices, market access, and yield variability—limit uptake. Over half of respondents find legumes unprofitable, but many seek greater investment in market access, genetics, and nitrogen research to enhance profitability. This survey highlights the need for continued research and collaboration to integrate legumes into sustainable WA farming systems.
Resources
Case Study: Harvestability of lupins
Reuben and Yasmine Smith farm alongside Rueben’s parents Terry and Colleen farm a total of 5,100ha, in the Lake Grace region of WA. In 2025, the farm transitioned to total cropping, with one-fifth of the area allocated to a legume or a chemical fallow. Read the full Case Study to learn more about their machinery costs, grain storage, nitrogen decision following legumes, harvest and more.
This case study is supported by LIFT.
Case Study: Harvestability of grain legumes
Situated in Lake Grace, the Clarke farm is 8,000ha and their paddocks span a complex mosaic of soil types, lake bank morel sodic soils, heavy salmon gum clays, gravels, and sand-over-clay profiles. Read the full Case Study about how Leon and Sarah Clarke, Lake Grace, WA manage their rotations, the benefits, legume harvest insights and more.
This case study is supported by LIFT.
GRDC Podcast: Legume agronomy: How to grow them in the west
In this episode, we tackle the first part of that equation: how to grow them. Joined by agVivo agronomist, and Moora grower, Erin Cahill, listen to how he grows lentils and lupins, plus some agronomic advice for growing other key legumes.
GRDC Podcast: Behind the scenes of fungicide resistance testing
In this episode at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) at Curtin University, Dr Nola D’Souza explains how her team detects and tracks fungicide resistance in the lab, the role of AFREN, and the practical steps growers can take to slow its spread.
CFIG boost Legume yields with better inoculants
Explore this quick and easy guide designed to help you assess the risks and rewards of adding more legumes into your crop rotation. Developed by CFIG, this resource supports growers in making informed decisions to improve soil health and productivity.
Farm Weekly coverage: 1 May 2025
Farm Weekly features Greenough Speciality Ag agronomist Nick Eyres and the Yuna Farm Improvement Group, as part of GRDC’s Closing the Economic Yield Gap of Grain Legumes project.
To read the full feature article visit the website. (Subscription required).
GRDC Groundcover
GRDC’s Ground covers recent article: Legumes may push a system closer to yield potential shares how integrating grain legumes into cropping systems could unlock untapped yield potential for Western Australian growers.
GRDC Groundcover
GRDC’s Ground covers recent article: Herbicide and acid tolerance key to WA lentil growth explores how Overcoming agronomic constraints will accelerate the development of a WA lentils industry. Read the full online article.
GRDC GrowNotes
The GRDC GrowNotes series provides comprehensive resources for growers and advisors. These downloadable PDFs cover topics specific to grain legumes in the Western region, such as planning, pest management, planting, and harvesting.
Closing the Economic Yield Gap of Grain Legumes in WA
Recording of the project overview given at the GRDC Grains Research Updates in February 2024, presented by Project Manager Daniel Kidd, Jason Batten from Yuna Farm Improvement Group and Ed Naisbitt from Lakes Information Farming Technology (LIFT).
Ground Cover – Issue 169
Read GRDC’s GroundCover magazine article to learn more about ‘Legume leaders’ – set to share 40 years of Lupin experience.
Legume Leaders Podcast
Hear all the insights from experienced long-term Western Australian legume growers that advocate for legumes in a farming system in a new podcast.
The Business Case for Legumes
- Reduced inputs to the farming systems
- Commercial trends in plant-based protein
- Business resilience through diversified crop options
GIWA Pulse Forum 2022
A day filled with great presenters, thought-provoking content and all things pulses. All the presentations and videos from the day can now be viewed here.
Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council – Resource Library
GLNC’s mission is to promote grains and legumes as part of a balanced diet through evidence-based information while supporting the industry to benefit all Australians.
GRDC – Faba Bean Crop Improvement Plan 2025
Faba beans have played a foundational role in Australia’s pulse production system; delivering both productivity and sustainability benefits for Australian growers and important protein supplies for international markets.
Annual Reports
News
Follow the grower group project partners on Twitter.
Project Team
CFIG
West Midlands Group
CFIG
West Midlands Group
GGA
Project Shortcuts
Get Involved
Add your details here to follow the project and join our legume knowledge community. You’ll hear about the trial field days and trial results and receive updates when Legume Leaders are added showcasing how and why legumes have been a long-term part of their farm system model.
Contact
Enquiries to Daniel Kidd at GGA
Collaborators
