SERVE-AG NRM GROUP
ACHIEVING NRM TARGETS THROUGH ENGAGING REGIONAL
PRODUCTIVITY GROUPS IN ON-GROUND ACTIVITIES
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Serve-Ag’s NRM Group is delivering a project for the National Landcare Program to maintain on-farm economic and environmental sustainability in three regions of Southern Tasmania:
- Coal Valley
- Upper Little Swanport Catchment
- Huon Valley
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We are working with farmer groups in each of these areas to assist them improve their productivity through addressing sustainable production issues. The groups span a diverse range of enterprises including cropping, grazing and fruit production, and participants are engaged through information delivery, monitoring and implementing trials.
The ‘Plan – Do – Check – Review’ Cycle
Each group identified their key sustainable production issues through facilitated workshops and then worked with the project officer to develop action plans to address these issues.
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A range of practical on-ground activities are now underway, including :
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Reducing the degradation of soil and water resources by improving a broad range of land management practices.
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Optimising the efficient use of on-farm inputs by improving fertiliser programs and pesticide application.
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Increasing the knowledge and capacity of growers to react to environmental changes. |
Training workshops and monitoring programs will complement the on-ground activities to enhance learning and foster long-term commitment to improved land management practices. A quarterly newsletter is produced and highlights activities and information on sustainable production topics amongst the groups. Project outcomes are communicated amongst the groups and to the wider agricultural sector through quarterly newsletters and field days.
What Will Be The Project Outcomes?
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Soil Health - Growers are able to protect or improve soil condition by managing soil structure, maintaining soil organic matter levels, managing soil pH, retaining nutrients and preventing erosion and waterlogging.
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Water Quality – Increased understanding of how to improve water quality through adopting practices that avoid losses of nutrients into local waterways.
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Salinity – Improved understanding of salinity management and provision of site-specific guidelines for salt affected land or land at risk of salinity.
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Biodiversity - Demonstrated management options that show the benefits of biodiversity to agriculture and identification of the risks to biodiversity on farms.
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Productivity– Growers will have evidence of the win-win interaction between NRM and productivity and profitability.
Further Information
Sophie Wadley is facilitating this project, and can be contacted at
ph. 6233 5522 or email swadley@serve-ag.com.au
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