Mingenew-Irwin Group – Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices

Project Profile

Issues

Formed in the mid 1990’s by local LCDC’s, Mingenew-Irwin Group (MIG) is a not-for-profit, farmer owned and driven organisation committed to promoting and developing economic and environmentally sustainable agriculture through research, planning and demonstrating best practice.

Project Detail

Mingenew-Irwin Group has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for driving the development of sustainable agriculture across the Mingenew region.

Formed in the mid 1990’s by local Land Conservation District Committee’s (LCDC), Mingenew-Irwin Group (MIG) is a not-for-profit, farmer owned and driven organisation committed to promoting and developing economic and environmentally sustainable agriculture through research, planning and demonstrating best practice.

MIG encompasses approximately 320,000 hectares of the central Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) and maintains an exceptional membership level including almost 95% of farmers in the Mingenew Shire. In 2002, MIG formed a sub-committee dedicated to enhancing member’s environmental stewardship. A group of nine local farmers were elected to form a group that has been guiding the environmental efforts of MIG and its members as well as supporting a dedicated NRM Officer employed by the group since 2003.

The group’s NRM Officer is also supported by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC), with the symbiotic relationship between NACC and MIG stimulating the best possible NRM outcomes for both land managers and NACC. The NRM officer has successfully been acting as a conduit between farmers and NACC to achieve project delivery and support for on ground works.

One of MIGs landmark NRM projects has been the development of the “Healthy Farms” program, incorporating an Environmental Management System (EMS) which MIG has been developing with farmers since 2000. MIG has developed a series of templates to help farmers identify their problem areas and to document procedures and management with farmers commonly ranking wind erosion, salinity, water erosion, biodiversity decline, chemical contamination of soil and water, and herbicide resistance, as their highest priorities for management.

The MIG EMS is recognised as one of Australia’s most farmer-friendly systems available and since its development farmers have been able to attract over $1.4 million to aid their on-farm environmental works to target their priority areas. Today, almost 50 per cent of members have adopted an EMS, with the group continuing to expand this amongst members and beyond to other grower groups.

Healthy Farms includes five key programs including the MIG EMS, Co-operative Bulk Handling’s grain quality assurance program; chemical accreditation; farm occupational health and safety and most recently, farm biosecurity.

MIG also engages the wider community in NRM activities including NACC’s catchment target identification process; vermin control though baiting and community fox shoots; education and information; and demonstrating best practice via the group’s research and development program.

Mingenew-Irwin Group 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

Mingenew Irwin Group