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Sustainable Agriculture is about managing and protecting natural resources in order to provide future generations with equal opportunities. Landcare farming aims to prevent adverse on-site and off-site impacts on the environment and any other aspect of the community. It involves adoption of sustainable farming practices for the good of the land and land managers. Landcare Farming can improve profitability, maintain the productive capacity of a farm's natural resource base, and improve a farm's capacity to cope with adversity all while maintaining or enhancing the natural resource base. Richmond Landcare Inc has received National Landcare Program (NLP) funding administered by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) to implement sustainable agriculture projects in the Tweed, Brunswick and Richmond catchments. These projects are aligned with the Catchment Action Plan (CAP) devised by the NRCMA. Achieving sustainable agriculture is a major environmental goal for Australia.

Local landcare farming projects:

The Northern Rivers Soil Health Card was developed through a series of workshops held at Wollongbar TAFE by local primary producers representing a range of industries. The aim was to develop a practical tool that all landholders in the Northern Rivers Region can use to monitor the health of their soils.

Alstonville Plateau Soil and Land Management - This NRCMA project follows on from the "Alstonville Plateau Landscape Land Managment Scoping Project" and will assist landholders to develop awareness, knowledge and skills in relation to sustainable land management practices to improve soil health on the Alstonville Plateau Landscape. It is expected this will be achieved through the development of Best Soil Management Practice guidelines, on-ground demonstrations of soil health improving products, soil monitoring and capacity building activities such as field days, training workshops and information. The Macadamia Soil Health Card has been completed by local Macadamia farmers as part of this project. The Macadamia Soil Health Card is a new technique for farmers to use in assessing the biological and physical properties of soil on their farms.

Cudgen Plateau Erosion Control Measures - more information

On the Cudgen Plateau, three adjoining landholders implemented soil conservation measures and strategies. During fallow periods and the first few weeks after crop planting, groundcover is often minimal, leaving the soil bare and vulnerable to erosion. Heavy rain events are common to the Tweed region and ersoion is accelerated when stormwater run-off is left unchecked. Therefore, it was important, in terms of soil health and minimising soil loss, to implement an erosion management strategy which looked at controlling the water flow from the top to the bottom of the sub-catchment. This brochure shows the types of works that were implemented.

Best Practice Erosion Control on Macadamia Plantations - This NLP project will undertake on-ground works to demonstrate best management practice in managing soils, to minimise erosion in macadamia plantations.

Composting Cow Manure on Dairy Farms - thermophilic vs vermicomposting
For results of plot trials conducted in 2006 click here. For full report ring Jackie on 6626 1329.

Dairy Small Grants for On-ground works - more information

Prograze Workshops - more information

Floodplain Grazing On-ground Works - Graziers who participated in the recent NLP funded Richmond Floodplain Grazing project received assistance to implement on-ground works that were identified during their participation in the Floodplain Grazing project workshops.

Sustainable Agriculture - Horticulture and Grazing - This project contributes to the achievement of the Draft NRCMA Catchment Action Plan Soil Health resource target by increasing awareness of sustainable agricultural, horticultural and grazing practices in the Tweed, Richmond and Brunswick catchments.

 

For details and information on any of these projects or sustainable agriculture please contact our Community Support Officer.

Richmond Landcare Incorporated, PO Box 525, Alstonville, NSW 2477, mobile: 0427 485 910
email: info@richmondlandcare.org