SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTING FARMER-BASED DECISIONS FOR
PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT
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Serve-Ag’s Sustainable Ag Services Group delivered this ground-breaking project from 2005 to June 2008 for the National Landcare Program to assist farmers integrate the many facets of sustainable agriculture to prevent degradation of soil and water resources, optimise the efficient use of on-farm inputs, reduce the impacts of intensive agriculture on soil health and waterways and increasing the knowledge and capacity of farmers to react to environmental changes.
The project engaged six groups of farmers in the following areas:
- Boat Harbour
- Circular Head
- Epping – Nile
- Lake MacQuarie
- North Motton
- Upper Brumby’s Creek
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The ‘Plan – Do – Check – Review’ Cycle
Using the Plan – Do – Check – Review cycle, these groups of farmers participated in a wide range of training workshops, trials, field days, environmental monitoring and other activities to help them understand and take action to address problems facing their long term productivity, profitability and sustainability. Each group met at the start of the season to identify the land management and productivity issues they most need to address, then plan a range of activities in conjunction with the project officers to take action on each issue, and regularly catch up for meetings to discuss progress and share outcomes, and decide what future actions are needed.
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Over the project's three years our staff helped these groups of farmers participate in a wide array of interesting and practical activities, including:
- Learning how to comprehensively assess their own soil’s health, including structure, biology, compaction and fertility
- Improving their pasture nutrition programmes
- Examining the influence of crop fungicides on soil biology
- Monitoring water quality for any impacts from farming activities
- Training in the safe storage, handling and use of pesticides
- Surveying for salinity
- Monitoring crop root zones for practices which cause excess irrigation and leaching of fertiliser
- Assessing the benefits of incorporating crop stubbles
- Examining the benefits and practicalities of applying feedlot effluent to build soil health and fertility
- On-farm trials to examine a range of new concentrated soil conditioning products
- Examining nutrient uptake and bulking rates of potatoes
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The project also had a strong communications component, as we recognise the importance of extending new information to other landholders so everyone can benefit. Regular newsletters kept project participants and other industry members aware of our activities and outcomes, as well as printed information sheets and annual field days in the north and northwest regions.
Project Outcomes and Outputs
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Landholders are now able to maintain or improve soil condition by managing soil structure, maintaining soil organic matter levels, retaining nutrients and preventing erosion and waterlogging.
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Landholders have an increased understanding of how to improve water quality through reducing the peak concentrations and total load of nutrients in local waterways, as determined by results from key stream monitoring sites.
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Development of best practice guidelines for managing land and water quality and minimising the off-site impacts of farming activities.
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Provision of nutrient budgeting tools to improve the efficiency of fertiliser use.
Further information about the project's many activities and achievements can be gained by contacting Stephen Welsh, Sustainable Agricultural Services Manager, ph. 6391 4650.
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