Getting a good thing off the ground

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Sustainable farming in the Northern Agricultural Region is on the front foot, following the fifth round of NACC’s Innovative Farming Demonstration grants.

Through this grant, four innovative farming demonstration site projects have been launched in the region, to support innovative and sustainable farming practices in the NAR, and will share in a total of $66, 770.

Dung beetles at work as part of a NACC's Innovation Farming Demonstration grants from Round 3 which is being delivered by the Mingenew Irwin Group on Helen Newton's property.
Dung beetles at work as part of a NACC’s Innovation Farming Demonstration grants from Round 3 which is being delivered by the Mingenew Irwin Group on Helen Newton’s property.

These grants are open to landholders and groups in the region, to establish farming demonstrations on their farms and properties.

NACC’s Carbon Farming Coordinator Sarah Jeffery said: “There were some really good project ideas being submitted in this round and it was particularly great to see some applications from individual land holders.”

The projects funded under this fifth round of NACC’s Innovative Farming Demonstration grants are:

  • Batten Farms demonstration: This project site looks at the naturally occurring native grass Paspalidium warrego and comparing it with the costly establishment of sub-tropical perennial grasses. Both grasses will be analysed for quality, amount of grazing sustained and visual impact of controlling wind erosion.  An economic analysis will be done to compare both grasses at the end.
  • Cripps one hectare Lebeckia demonstration: This project will see if the new perennial legume species, Lebeckia, is suited to the poor deep sands of Binnu.  There are a number of other trial sites in WA but this is the Northern-most site.  If it is successful it will give farmers another option for these soils whilst increasing soil health, reducing wind erosion and increasing food on offer.
  • Equii consultancy‘s project: This looks at a number of factors to better determine the amount of nitrogen to be applied (in this case to a wheat crop) during the season to reduce nitrogen leaching and soil acidification. Some of the factors that will be used include historical data (rainfall, yields), pre-season soil tests and in season soil tests.
  • The Liebe Group has slightly different approach as it is a mentoring project. It will engage farmers with a wealth of knowledge who are willing to offer support and advice to other growers who are looking for this knowledge, advice and support. Based on a one to one relationship these partnerships will look at a broad range of on farm topics including natural resource management.

Round six of NACC’s Sustainable Agriculture Innovative Farming Demonstration Sites grants will open on 21 November, so start thinking of new project ideas.

To date, 30 projects have been funded through this project.  For more information on these projects visit the NACC Farming Demonstration web page.

This project is supported by NACC through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.