Matthew Pitt – Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices

Project Profile

Issues

“Cluny” has been in the Pitt family since 1850 with Matthew Pitt taking over the management of the 245 hectare mixed farming property in 1985. Since this time, Matthew has led from the front by developing a sustainable farming enterprise that promotes best practice natural resource management in the Southern Region of Tasmania. Matthew has been a driving force behind Landcare in the Derwent Valley since its inception in 1991 and most recently, has been the president of the Derwent Catchment NRM Committee since 2004.

Project Detail

Ouse farmer Matthew Pitt has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for his innovation in sustainable farming and leadership of natural resource management initiatives in the Derwent Valley.

‘Cluny’ has been in the Pitt family since 1850 with Matthew taking over the management of the 245 hectare mixed farming property in 1985. Since this time, Matthew has led from the front by developing a sustainable farming enterprise that promotes best practice natural resource management in the Southern Region of Tasmania. Matthew has been a driving force behind Landcare in the Derwent Valley since its inception in 1991 and since 2004 has been the president of the Derwent Catchment NRM Committee.

Matthew, his wife Sandra, and children Emily and Angus have undertaken a number of activities at ‘Cluny’, including riparian fencing, shelter belts, managed grazing, perennial grass species trials and under pivot plantings for integrated pest management (IPM). This has improved the water quality and biodiversity of the property.

After undertaking a Pro-graze course in 2007, Matthew modified the grazing systems on ‘Cluny’ to a perennial system that will be more sustainable, both economically and environmentally. As a result there has been a dramatic and significant improvement in the groundcover, increased stocking rates and improvements in biodiversity. Since completing the course, Matthew has been an active member of the Hamilton Ocean Racing Club, a Landcare farming farmer discussion group based in the Derwent Catchment.

Matthew has a strong interest in alternative farming systems such as Keyline, Permaculture and compost teas and is always experimenting and incorporating techniques and principles from these into his commercial farming system. ‘Cluny’ has become home to a range of trials including perennial grass species trials and planting shelterbelts under centre pivot irrigators. Matthew has recently expanded his business to contracting and has taken the Landcare ethos into this part of his operation by specialising in direct drilling, that maintains ground cover and preserve soil carbon.

Matthew was a key driver behind the development of a catchment management plan as chairman of the Upper Derwent Valley Landcare Group. In 1999, funding for the plan was obtained through the Natural Heritage Trust with the group gaining the support of the Central Highlands Council, Derwent Valley Council and engaging the broader community in the process.

As president of the Derwent Catchment NRM Committee, Matthew has played a pivotal role in obtaining funding and developing partnerships with two of the local councils, NRM South, Greening Australia, and a range of other organisations including Inland Fisheries and Hydro Tasmania. All of these partnerships have helped to further the NRM outcomes for the Derwent Valley.

Matthew Pitt is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010. Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Matthew Pitt