Landcare Funding Welcomed – New solutions to old problems

The National Landcare Facilitator, Brett de Hayr has welcomed the announcement of over $31 million in funding for Landcare related projects by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Joe Ludwig, which will help to find new solutions to old problems.

Mr de Hayr said “The funding will go to 116 Landcare related projects across the country covering sustainable agriculture and pest and weed management. Importantly a range of projects have been funded that are delivered by community and industry groups which are a vital part of the Landcare movement”.

“While there is a great diversity in the projects that have been funded, which reflects local needs, there has been a significant level of interest from the community and industry for projects which relate to the management of soil and soil health through a range of techniques such as grazing management, cropping systems and bio char. This demonstrates that the level of innovation within the Landcare movement is alive and well and reflects recent research by the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Science (ABARES) which found that improving soil quality was one of the major motivators for management practices amongst land managers.”

For example $257,319 has been approved for Richmond Landcare Incorporated to work with landholders to develop the use of bio char for increasing soil carbon and reducing soil acidification. Also over $772,000 will go to extending controlled traffic farming systems to horticulture in Queensland. Controlled traffic farming has revolutionised broad-acre farming and lead to significant improvements in soil condition and adaptation to climate change, but as yet has not been broadly applied to horticulture.

In addition to the bread and butter Landcare issues of pest and weed control and soils which make up the bulk of projects funded, Landcare related are also adopting social media to help communicate. The Ag Excellence Alliance in South Australia has been funded $435,000 for a social media project to help deliver agricultural extension around soil condition and landscape conservation in South Australia. This is a great example of applying new solutions to old problems.

The funding announced relates to Landcare, sustainable agriculture and pest and weed projects funded under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio from the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country Program. For a full list of the 116 projects funded across the country go to nrm.gov.au.

For more information contact Brett de Hayr (National Landcare Facilitator) on 0457 750 815 or email brettdehayr@landcarefacilitator.com.au.