Category: Sustainable Farming

Simple Changes and Lasting Benefits

NACC NRM is continuing to support landholders to increase biodiversity and improve soil health through revegetation and improving pastures through our Future Farm Foundations Project.

Battling Salinity in WA Woodlands

Salinity is one of the most significant land degradation issues affecting the Northern Agricultural Region, with major ecological and agricultural consequences particularly to the Eucalypt Woodlands of WA’s Wheatbelt TEC (Threatened Ecological Community).

NRM Community Comes Together in Cairns

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending the National NRM Knowledge Conference in Cairns, along with NACC NRM’s Biodiversity Program Coordinator, Jarna Kendle.

Leaving the Land Better

Rod and Katrina Butler’s decades-long journey at Gimlet Ridge, north-east of Perenjori, is a story of care, innovation, and deep respect for the land. Facing drying seasons, erosion, and declining soils, they turned away from conventional farming toward regenerative practices and holistic grazing, guided by principles that consider the whole ecosystem. Their story is a powerful example of what’s possible when farming focuses on leaving the land better than it was found.

All Things Ag

There’s a lot going on in the agriculture and sustainability space right now, and NACC NRM’s Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (SAF) has rounded up key events, grants, and resources from around the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR). From funding opportunities to hands-on field days and major conferences, here’s your guide to what’s coming up.

Let’s Dig into Carbon Farming

Carbon farming can be a confusing concept, with little clarity yet on exactly what is viable in different locations and soil types. However, as interest in the topic grows, more research is being undertaken and an increasing amount of new information is becoming available to the public.

Regenerating the Rangelands From Mexico to the Mid West

Bridget Watkins, the Regional Soil Coordinator for the South West WA Drought Resilience and Innovation Hub, recently headed to Gabyon station to hear from Alejandro Carrillo, a cattle rancher from Mexico, who shared his tips and tricks for regenerative grazing.

Cultural Burning & Learning on Country

During June, NACC NRM’s Aboriginal Custodianship Team supported Badimia Bandi Barna Aboriginal Corporation and Firesticks Alliance in conducting a Cultural Burning and Learning on Country Event at Ninghan Station.

Regional Drought Resilience Planning

Over the past year, NACC NRM has worked with Mid West Development Commission (MWDC) to develop project activities that will help drive forward local drought resilience priorities. Identified in the Regional Drought Resilience Plan (RDRP) for the Mid West’s pilot region, comprising the shires of Chapman Valley and Northampton and the City of Greater Geraldton, the four chosen priority actions that are now being carried forward by MWDC are diverse in their focus and anticipated outcomes.

Connecting Producers, People, and Possibilities in the Mid West

Food producers, researchers, industry reps, students and consumers came together in Dongara in early April to talk local food production and what it means to be resilient. The event, organised by the Mid West Food Industries Alliance, was designed to kickstart a broader conversation about the Mid West region’s food production industry, which continues to grow larger, stronger and more resilient. NACC NRM’s Sustainable Agriculture Project Officer, Yvette Hollings, got in amongst the action and came away with some key messages.

CEO’s Report

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.