Feeling for our farmers: 2017 Drought

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Times like these – one of the worst-ever starts to winter, and latest season breaks ever recorded for our region – are when our farming and rural communities pull together like never before.

A lot of the farmers across the NACC NRM (natural resource management) region are doing it tough this year, with the northern part of the WA Wheatbelt showing-up nationally as a “red zone hotspot” in terms of low levels of rainfall, soil moisture, seed germination and crop development. It’s been tough to see local farmers frequently in the news highlighting the scale of the problem.

Of course, Australian farmers are used to drought, and with increasing drought frequency and intensity, are having to prepare for them more and more in their long-term farm planning. However, for all of this increased awareness and preparation, nothing can really prepare us for the impact of a drought when it hits us as harsh as it has this year.

After the encouraging, late summer rains, the more recent months of autumn and winter have failed to reach double-digit rainfall records.

The field extension staff at NACC – many of whom are farmers, or come from (or have strong connections with) farming families – are acutely aware of the problem. Many experience the drought impact first-hand on their properties, or hear about it from neighbours and other farmers with whom they’re working with across the region.

On the bright side, they’re also hearing about the amazing resilience and strength that is characteristic of our farming community. I’ve also seen this among the posts on Twitter by farmers from our region (and other drought-affected parts of the country) who demonstrate, that among other things, they certainly haven’t lost their sense of humour.

Another positive is some encouraging feedback that we received from one of our field staff last week – after talking to Cadoux farmer Mike Kalajzic. Mike said that while driving around the drought-affected property, he was buoyed by the fact that whilst the crops weren’t looking too flash, the trees he’d planted three years ago with NACC’s assistance were thriving.

Mike pointed out that in years like this, he is pleased that he’d previously undertaken NRM works – like tree-planting – and was reminded to do more such work whenever he can.

“Driving around the paddocks can make me feel a bit negative,” Mike said. “But when I see all of those trees growing so healthily, it certainly picks me up. Despite the drought, the place still looks more beautiful than it would have – thanks to the trees.”

Here’s hoping the “winter” of 2017 picks itself up pretty soon and gets on with the job it’s meant to be doing.

In the meantime, I’d like to assure all farmers in the region that NACC is here to help if we can, and encourage them to reach out to one of our staff.

I hope the rain that fell towards the end of this week has kept things going … and that much more is on its way. Good luck.

Richard McLellan

CEO, NACC

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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.