Blog Articles

Register for the Future Drought Fund's Science to Practice Forum 6-8 June

By Strategic Partnerships Team posted 24-05-2023
The program for the #FutureDroughtFund 2023 Science to Practice Forum is out now! Join Pip Courtney online 6-8 June to hear from the farmers, communities, researchers and decision makers using innovation to respond to a changing climate. Read the program and register now at S2P-Forum.eventbrite.com #FarmingAgriculture #ScientificInformation #EducationalResources #FirstNationsKnowledge #LandManagement #TrainingPersonalDevelopment #Wellbeing #AustralianGovernment #Climate

WATCH NOW: Landcare Farming Webinar- Ruminati: Streamlining Emissions Estimates for Agricultural Operations

By Rosie R posted 28-04-2023
The agricultural innovators at Ruminati have developed a streamlined digital platform supporting Australian cattle, sheep and grain producers to generate accurate, detailed and personalised emissions estimates for their farm enterprise. The next iteration of the platform will provide the ability to model the impact of methane and CO 2 -e abatement options as well as set and measure against individual emissions reduction targets, and will support producers to create a tailor-made, future-facing emissions reductions plans. In this exclusive webinar, Landcare Farming gives you the opportunity to learn about the pilot platform and how to use it to generate your ...

WATCH NOW: Landcare Farming Webinar- Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to Fit Your Business: Biodiversity

By Rosie R posted 05-04-2023
In an industry increasingly concerned with aligning best practice land and biodiversity management with profitable production, improving biodiversity literacy and understanding environmental accounting methods is critical for producers. In this exclusive webinar, Landcare Farming brings together five industry experts to help: Grow your understanding of biodiversity on-farm and the emerging biodiversity markets Improve your capacity to participate in emerging environmental markets Develop your knowledge of environmental condition and natural capital accounting systems Enhance your skills in natural capital accounting and environmental ...

Living with drought – how your accountant can help

By Strategic Partnerships Team posted 27-03-2023
Check out our video and case study to see how #QLD farmer Joe Lyons and his accountant Leanne work together to help his family business prepare for and manage through #drought. There is no one right way to prepare for drought. But farmers can use their existing networks, such as accountants, agronomists and stock agents, to explore options and make informed decisions to reduce the risk. As Joe says, “when you have the good years like we're experiencing now, it’s probably the time when you should be thinking about what you're going to do to get through the next drought ..”. The video is the latest resource from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries ...

Living with drought - who can help and how

By Strategic Partnerships Team posted 23-03-2023
Watch this one-minute animation to learn about the range of people and organisations who can provide advice and support as conditions dry. It’s one of a series of Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry resources available at bit.ly/3JCjYhl to help farmers prepare for, manage and recover from #drought. Drought is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play. • Banks can assist with things like farm management deposit accounts and lending options. • Agronomists can help boost production, and accountants can advise on ways to diversify income or limit losses. • State and federal governments can also ...

Landcare Farming Webinar- Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to Fit Your Business: Biodiversity

By Angela9001 posted 15-02-2023
Event Overview In an industry increasingly concerned with aligning best practice land and biodiversity management with profitable production, improving biodiversity literacy and understanding environmental accounting methods is critical for producers. In this exclusive webinar, Landcare Farming will bring together five industry experts to help: Grow your understanding of biodiversity on-farm and the emerging biodiversity markets Improve your capacity to participate in emerging environmental markets Develop your knowledge of environmental condition and natural capital accounting systems Enhance your skills in natural capital accounting ...

How can AI help farmers test for carbon on their land?

By Emily Mason posted 20-01-2023
Researchers are hoping that a project that uses artificial intelligence and satellite imagery could make it cheaper and easier for landowners to realise the potential of carbon on their farms. Mohammed Rahman from Federation University is leading the research that includes the development of a machine that can then learn to give accurate soil carbon estimates. "My aim is to develop the algorithm that will measure the soil carbon by analysing the images," the computer scientist told AAP. By using free images from NASA and the European Space Agency Sentinel satellite, Mr Rahman aims to turn the imagery into two dimensional maps so farmers can prioritise ...

What does the research say on conventional fertilisers?

By Melissa Higgins posted 11-01-2023
What the research says on conventional fertilisers By Bob Freebairn, The Land A colleague of mine, who recently attended a so called regenerative agriculture field day, frustratingly reported that advocates promoted against conventional fertilisers and that the answer to soil fertility issues was "biological" products and rotational grazing with many paddocks and long recovery periods. Popular comment, often seen in various media outlets, including city focused ones, would suggest fertilisers like superphosphate, urea, MAP and the like are not good for soil nor pasture or crop. Good science refutes these claims. Not correcting soil deficiencies issues ...

"Nutrialgae" Mexico Case Study: Biostimulants reduce chemical fertilization of the field by 30%

By Emily Mason posted 09-01-2023
The "Nutrialgae" project, the only Spanish project included in the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), achieves its goal of reducing the use of chemical fertilizers while increasing productivity This project is part of the Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) initiative and is managed by the marine biotechnology company Ficosterra. International trials, carried out over a year and a half with natural biostimulants, have even achieved up to 20% higher productivity, depending on soil characteristics, using 30% less conventional fertilization. The use of Ficosterra biostimulants in crop production doubles the investment, which results in a cost reduction ...

Holbrook cattle producers supply carbon-neutral beef - read the lessons they have learned

By Emily Mason posted 05-01-2023
The Mathie family farm at Holbrook in southern NSW supplies Coles carbon-neutral beef, and the backstory behind the producers supplying the cattle and meeting stringent criteria to join this market is an impressive one. Decisions made decades ago have enabled a Holbrook beef property to meet stringent carbon-neutral targets. The synergies between a branded beef product and the ethos of the Mathie family, who farm at Holbrook in southern NSW, couldn’t be a better match. Coles carbon-neutral beef can be found in supermarkets across NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. And cattle from the Mathie family operation, Wybalena, meet the desired ...

Contractor fined for chemical spray drift - it's time to read Silent Spring again.

By Emily Mason posted 13-12-2022
FRIENDS of the Earth has slammed a court decision in which an HVP contractor was found guilty of chemical spray drift where herbicides were found 150 metres into the Holey Plains State Forest. FOE obtained freedom of information documents which showed that the contractor was found guilty in the Sale Magistrates Court in August for 13 charges in breach of chemicals regulations. Agriculture Victoria pressed charges after investigating several incidents in 2020 on receiving reports by FOE land-use researcher Anthony Amis, who discovered the damage while surveying for koalas. The contractor was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and was ordered to obtain ...

Benchmarking sustainability – what have we learned so far | Holbrook Landcare Network

By Angela9001 posted 09-12-2022
Benchmarking sustainability – what have we learned so far Back in 2020, Holbrook Landcare Network recognized that the model that has traditionally underpinned Landcare and environmental work on farm was changing – shifting from a funded grants and programs approach to a range of market-based approaches mostly based on carbon markets. We are now beginning to see the agricultural industry responding to ESG requirements in supply chains, funding institutions and markets and the rise of a myriad of mechanisms, methodologies and service providers. It would be safe to say there has been an explosion in this space in the last 3 years! The Carbon space is well established ...

Webinar Recording - Maximising Ecosystem opportunities to fit your business - Carbon

By Angela9001 posted 05-12-2022
Webinar - Maximising ecosystem opportunities to fit your agricultural business - Carbon In this webinar, join five notable experts in discussing carbon literacy for producers and land managers, the role of carbon sequestration solutions in reaching decarbonisation targets, the cost-benefit analysis of carbon opportunities offered by the Emissions Reduction Fund scheme and the opportunities that will unfold for Australia’s agricultural industry in the coming years. Featuring an introduction by Professor Richard Eckard from the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre and facilitated by Jeanette Long from Ag Consulting, speakers include: 🌱 ...

FAOSTAT: New data tool to measure cropland nutrient budgets worldwide

By Emily Mason posted 17-11-2022
How much fertilizer is the right amount to ensure that crop production can achieve local and global food security needs while limiting harm to the environment? Answering that question remains a huge challenge, but one that can be better explored through new, robust data available in FAOSTAT. This new information tool is a joint effort by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fertilizer Association ( IFA ) , in collaboration with top scientists and experts at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, CEIGRAM-Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, ...

[Recording] Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to fit your business: Carbon | Landcare Farming Webinar

By Emily Mason posted 08-11-2022
Carbon farming and sequestration: the most talked about technologies in the battle against climate change. But what is it, and how can you use it to work towards agricultural industry emission targets? Landcare Farming, together with the webinar’s five notable speakers, brings you the next episode of the Landcare Webinar Series, ‘Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to fit your business: Carbon’ at 2pm on Thursday Dec 1 st . After a synopsis of Australia’s current carbon landscape by Richard Eckard, Professor and Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre, hear diverse perspectives on key questions informing farm carbon accounting, ...

What is the value of nutrients in growing pastures? Ross Kuchel of Braidwood LLS answers

By Emily Mason posted 04-11-2022
The value of nutrients in growing pasture Written by: Ross Kuchel For plants to grow (i.e. photosynthesize) they need the three essential elements of light, carbon dioxide and water. As long as light, CO2 and water are not limited, the rate of plant growth is governed by soil nutrients, and this is something that we as managers have control over, i.e., if a soil is deficient in one or more essential nutrients, we can address this by applying a fertiliser that contains those particular nutrients. To monitor the impact of nutrients on pasture growth, soil acidity and carbon, a Nutrient Subtractive Trial was established by LLS on several sites In the ...

Participate in the nationwide survey of AM fungi across Australia's agroecosystems!

By Emily Mason posted 03-11-2022
Farmers and land managers - it's time to help out our friends at @Dig_Up_Dirt by participating in their nationwide survey of AM fungi across Australia's agroecosystems! Participate in the Dig Up Dirt project's nationwide survey of AM fungi across acrosystems of Australia. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance plant access to nutrients and help plants resist pests. This project will map AM fungi to understand how different management practices affect their diversity and composition. Find out more here: https:// digupdirt.net #FarmingAgricultureLandManagement

Ag Tools for Livestock Producers | Pt.2 - Animal Health & Nutrition

By James432 posted 26-10-2022
There are a great range of tools and calculators to assist red meat producers in making decisions in their businesses. Over the following weeks, in the series 'Ag Tools for Livestock Producers', I will highlight a few tools available for free to Australian farmers. This is the second round of tools! Check out these Animal Health & Nutrition Calculator tools below: Breeder Mortality Calculator The Breeder Mortality Calculator assists cattle producers in using their own property records to determine levels of breeder mortality in their herds. Two versions of the calculator have been developed to support producers based on available records: ...

How to slow the flow on Australia's farmland with record-breaking rainfall and floods

By Angela9001 posted 24-10-2022
From ‘concrete’ to ‘sponge’: how to slow the flow on Australia’s farmland There’s a lot of farmland in Australia: about 427m hectares , making up 55% of the nation’s land use. Its condition affects our lives in the most primal ways, from the water we drink, to our ability to cope with flood, fire and drought. Professor Stephen Dovers, chair of the science advisory committee at the Mulloon Institute , an organisation that develops and shares regenerative farming techniques, believes the state of farmland depends heavily on one issue: how well the land holds onto water. “Rain is an income,” Dovers says. And too often, rather than banking that ...

Accounting for Nature: Review, Feedback + Success! (& download the presentation)

By Angela9001 posted 24-10-2022
On Wednesday 19th of October, an awesome selection of local landcarers came along to Blueberry Hills on Comleroy, Kurrajong NSW, to learn more about natural asset management, as well as opportunities to participate and gain accreditation in natural capital accounting! Funded substantially by Landcare Farming, the field day was a huge success! With expert tuition delivered by Amanda Hansson and Chrissy Elmer - experienced ecologists, natural resource managers and environmental researchers from the Accounting for Nature team of experts - our landcarers were in good hands. With practical exercises on native vegetation (how to measure ...