Media Masters vic

15/06/2026

Farm businesses across south west Victoria can learn how to become more sustainable through a new resilient farming course launching in August.
Heytesbury District Landcare Network (HDLN) is offering 10 heavily subsidised places for local farming businesses to take part in the regionally tailored program that will focus strengthening farm resilience, soil health, productivity and ecological function.
The five-day program will run between August and November 2026, combining expert advice with on-farm learning experiences.
Course facilitators and presenters include Jade Killoran of Healthy Farming Systems, soil health consultant Tony Evans, and agricultural educator and project lead Kristy Stewart.
Each participating farm business will receive soil, microbiology and plant tissue testing as part of the program.
Ms Stewart said the course was designed to build practical knowledge and support informed decision-making.
“This program gives farmers the opportunity to step back and take a closer look at how their systems are functioning, while exploring management options that align with their goals and landscape,” she said.
“Participants will be supported through testing and analysis to develop a tailored Farm Action Plan, helping guide future management decisions.”
Designed around local landscapes and farming conditions, the course will explore soil health, biology and carbon, grazing management, pasture systems, nutrient management and fertiliser use. Participants will also investigate ways to monitor change and assess the impact of different management approaches within their own farm systems.
The HDLN course is one of four being offered in southwest Victoria. The Central Otway, Upper Barwon and Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare networks are also delivering the Resilient Farming Course, with 10 course places being offered in each region.
Valued at $5,000, the course is heavily subsidised, with successful applicants contributing only $300 per farm business. This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust.
Participants will also have access to ongoing peer-to-peer learning opportunities following the course, supporting continued knowledge sharing and connections with other local farmers interested in building resilient and sustainable farming systems.
Applications close June 30. Farmers interested in applying or seeking further information can contact HDLN’s Landcare Facilitator Debbie Dalziel on 0439 950 242 or [email protected].

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10/06/2026

The impacts of the most significant tax changes in Australia since the introduction of the GST will be discussed at a forum in Warrnambool later this month.
Former professor of accounting at Deakin University, Dr Graeme Wines, will lead the forum hosted by the Australian Independent Retirees (AIR) Warrnambool branch at the RSL at 10am on Friday June 26.
Dr Wines described the tax changes introduced in the recent federal budget as “the most significant since the introduction of GST at the start of this century”.
Those that will most affect retirees relate to capital gains tax (CGT), discretionary family trusts and the private health insurance rebate.
Dr Wines urged people to find out how the changes will impact. “While the nature of some of the changes is very technical, the presentation aims to explain these in an easily understood manner,” he said.
Dr Wines said the introduction of a minimum 30 per cent tax on capital gains represented a major change from the principle of progressive tax rates. While the usual 30 per cent income tax rate does not apply until a taxable income of $45,000 per annum, the proposed CGT rules will hit taxpayers earning below that amount.
While there is an exemption from the minimum 30 per cent rate for those on government income support, such as the aged pension, others, including self-funded retirees, will be hit with this higher rate. The changes could also affect others on lower incomes, such as students and casual workers, who have been investing in shares in an effort to build up a home deposit.
The new rules for discretionary family trusts specify a 30 per cent tax on distributions. Unlike franking credits on shares, which are refundable in the hands of the taxpayer, trust beneficiaries will receive only a non-refundable tax credit for any distributions received.
“The net effect of the change is that the higher 30 per cent tax rate will apply to those in the nil or 16 per cent tax brackets. While there will be exemptions for primary production income and existing testamentary trusts, there is no exemption for individuals receiving government income support payments as there is under the proposed CGT rules.
Any retiree who has all or part of their assets in a family trust will be subject to the proposed rules. “While Treasurer Jim Chalmers justified the proposed rules as mainly applying to only wealthier people, there are many small businesses, including tradies, who operate via a discretionary trust and who will be hit by the proposed rules,” Dr Wines said.
The other major change for retirees is the reduction in the private health insurance rebate. The proposed change will apply the lower 24 per cent rebate to everyone, including those aged 65 and over, significantly increasing the net cost of private health insurance for retirees.
Further topics to be covered at the AIR meeting will include other major budget announcements and Federal government and Victorian state government finances.
The meeting starts at 10am at the Warrnambool RSL and it's free to attend.

04/06/2026

Gippsland farmer to lead Jersey Australia
Jersey Australia’s new president Rob Anderson wants to continue a trend that has seen the breed growing in numbers across the country over the past decade.
Elected to replace Geoff Akers as president, Mr Anderson says Jerseys are well placed to play a bigger role in the national herd.
“We’ve seen the Jersey breed grow in the national herd over recent years,” he said. “We’re heading in the right direction and I’d like to see that trend continue.”
“We’ve got a Jersey cow today that is very economical and can produce extremely well compared to her bodyweight. She’s very efficient and adaptable for the many different dairy systems we have in Australia, whether it’s grazing, robots or in barns.”
Mr Anderson joined the Jersey Australia board in 2020. This is his first stint as president.
A fourth-generation farmer, Mr Anderson farms with his wife Kerrie and daughter Holly, milking 280 cows and running his Kings Ville stud at Drouin West in Gippsland.
The Kings Ville herd has grown from 220 over the past five years, a vote of confidence in the breed and the industry. “We have a fifth generation now on the farm, so it has grown with that and we’re looking towards the future,” Mr Anderson said.
“Our family has been associated with Jerseys for more than 140 years so I bring to the role a vast knowledge of past and current breeders, pedigrees and cow families along with the experience from my 40 years of involvement with the breed.”
Mr Anderson is upbeat about the future of Jerseys and of the Australian dairy industry. “I think the breed is in a great space at the moment with a positive outlook and, hopefully, we can ride through the industry challenges. What is happening around the world does impact on Australia, especially with fertiliser and fuel costs, and we have to negotiate our way through that the best we can and see how milk prices settle for the new season.”
While he has no specific priorities for the presidency, Mr Anderson says he wants to continue the legacy left by Mr Akers and his predecessor Lisa Broad. “I’m still as passionate as ever about the Jersey cow and I want to continue to offer the same level of leadership and guidance as Geoff and Lisa.”
Mr Anderson has been a member of Jersey Australia since 1987 and has a Master Breeder herd.

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03/06/2026

A new partnership with Trans Ova genetics is transforming pregnancy rates for Cherrylock Cattle Co.

Becoming a Trans Ova satellite herd last July has had a huge impact in its first year with a Cherrylock home trial showing pregnancy rates increasing to 62 per cent with Trans Ova IVF compared to 48 per cent with their previous company.

Based at Tallygaroopna in northern Victoria, Cherrylock Cattle Co might be best known for showing and marketing cattle but in reality, the main business is based around managing cattle and reproduction.

Brad and Jessica Gavenlock formed Cherrylock in 2016, building on their life-long interest in genetics, pedigrees and cattle.

The bulk of their business centres on managing cattle and reproduction through a pregnancy recipient program.
“Showing and marketing cattle and having sales have been a big part of our business and we enjoy it and most people think that’s 90 per cent of what we do, but it’s actually the other way around,” Brad said.

They have been making embryos as a business venture for themselves and other people for 10 years, initially with
conventional MOET embryo work but more recently with two other IVF companies.

“The switch to Trans Ova was something we always wanted to do,” Brad said. “We already had a lot of confidence in what they were doing in the US and when they moved to Australia, it was a no-brainer for us to make the switch.

“We had a lot of experience with cattle in the US being flushed by Trans Ova and a lot of friends and family had used Trans Ova in America. All our best pregnancy rate results were with imported Trans Ova embryos.”

The biggest difference between Trans Ova and the other companies used by Cherrylock is the consistency in pregnancy rates. “It’s like chalk and cheese,” Brad said.

During the past year, Cherrylock ran a trial to compare embryos made by another company with Trans Ova, using the same donors and same recipients and the same program on the same day. The Cherrylock home trial showed a huge difference in the pregnancy rates between the two – 48 per cent for the other company while Trans Ova-made eggs ran at 62 per cent.

The first local Trans Ova calves have just been born at Cherrylock and Brad says they are going well and matching previous import results. “It’s working well and all our clients are happy,” he said. “We run an IVF-day every month and it’s pretty much booked out. We’re starting to stimulate a lot of donors and that’s really helping with embryo quality and pregnancy rates. We’re not only making good quality embryos; we’re making a stronger embryo that gives us a much higher chance of turning that into a pregnancy. That’s the biggest difference.”

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01/06/2026

Sydney doctor named a Jersey Australia life member
Dr John Quin has enjoyed a distinguished career as an immunologist but he could have been just as happy milking cows.
While his medical profession has been his main calling, Dr Quin has also indulged his love of farming and Jersey cows and his contribution has been rewarded with a Jersey Australia life membership.
As only the 30th life member of Jersey Australia, Dr Quin is the first medical doctor to achieve the status. The honour particularly recognises his support for young people entering the dairy industry.
Becoming a full-time farmer might not have been practical, but Dr Quin has always dabbled in dairy.
“I always wanted to be a farmer but there’s no money in it,” he said. “The problem was that you needed a lot of money to buy a farm. My father was a labourer and he died when I was still at school. I got a scholarship which was how I managed to get through medical school.”
He grew up in Galston in the hills district of Sydney and came to love Jersey cows at his aunt’s farm. “It was largely a poultry farm but she also used to rear calves for a local dairy, and milked Jersey cows and feed the milk to the calves. I used to help my aunt, virtually from the moment I could walk, and that’s started my love of Jersey cows.”
When he was 15, Dr Quin purchased his first Jersey cow, Ellerdale Gamboge Janet.
“There was a group of cows due to be sent to Thailand but this cow failed one of the blood tests so she was kept at Bruce Fagan’s farm and I was able to buy her at a cheap price.
“She was a terrific cow. Today, she would have been classified Excellent. Ellerdale was a very good stud from Alstonville in northern NSW that belonged to R. Watson-Hewitt and he was president of the Jersey Society and I got involved from there.
While she wasn’t sold as a pedigree Jersey cow, Dr Quin noticed she had a tattoo in her ear so he investigated through the Jersey books and had her papers transferred to him. She was the first cow in his Orana stud in 1965.
He continued buying cows, adding families from Cayuga, Erlwin, Wollingurry, Ingalala, Shirlinn, Francliff, Claydon Park, Invergelly, Cedar Vale. Orana achieved great success, winning Most Successful Exhibitor at Sydney Royal Show in 2016 and 2017, Supreme Champion All Breeds Pen of 3 and the Supreme All Breeds Junior Champion.
While he was studying, Dr Quin initially kept them on agistment but later bought a 40-hectare farm at Bungonia near Goulburn before settling on a smaller property in the Camden area.
A specialist immunologist, Dr Quin worked at a number of hospitals across Sydney, including Westmead, Prince Alfred, and as the Director of Clinical Immunology at Liverpool for the past 30 years. He has had more than 75 publications and been involved in clinical research and establishing training programs.
His medical work meant he had to employ people to run the farm and that’s where he made his mark on the industry.
“I used to milk the cows in the morning and then go to work but I wouldn’t get home till late so I always employed people,” he said. “We put a lot of dairy apprentices through Tocal College and a lot went on to important positions. We used to employ school kids on the weekends and a lot of them became interested in the dairy industry. We’ve had more than 100 go through the dairy.” He still employs one apprentice.
At 75, Dr Quin is working part-time but he has cut back on the farm with a first stage dispersal last year, selling the milking cows and in-calf heifers. However, he kept a couple of cows and had a few heifers calve so he’s back supplying a small volume of milk.
“Maybe it’s a disease,” he joked. “I’ve always loved Jersey cows. My aunt was a major figure in my life and I associated the Jersey cows with happiness and with my aunt and that continued.”
The life membership means a lot to Dr Quin. “When you get to my age, you can’t achieve much more but a life membership is nice recognition of what you have done in the past,” he said.
While still a strong supporter of the dairy industry and the Jersey cow, Dr Quin worries about its future.
“The local Jersey club when I started was very active but it has folded now because there are virtually no farms left,” he said. The industry was largely ruined by the $1 a litre milk which was below cost.”
He remains committed to Jersey cows. “They’re the most efficient dairy cow,” he said. “They’re a small cow, quiet and easy to handle. Although we compete at shows, as a group, Jersey Australia members are very supportive of each other. If you’re in trouble, anyone will help you.”
Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said Dr Quin’s biggest contribution had been the development and support of young people in the dairy industry.
“He’s had a lifetime of passion for the Jersey cow combined with his medical career,” Mr Barrett said. “He has helped many young people develop careers in the industry and he remains passionate about the breed and supporting young people.”
Dr Quin was President and Vice President Cumberland/South Coast club between 2005-2015, Jersey Breed Captain at Sydney Royal Easter Show 2005-2015, and a founding member of the Cumberland and Couth Coast Cattle club.
Photo: Fiona Hanks

31/05/2026

Jersey farmer jumps hurdles to achieve Master Breeder title
Simon Reid has had to jump a few hurdles on his path to becoming a Jersey Australia Master Breeder.
Although he owned a farm for a few years, most of his dairy career has been as a share farmer, moving across several farms around Victoria.
While the moves have set things back, Simon has never taken his eye of the goal of having a good quality herd.
“Because we move around a bit with share farming, you get the cows to a certain point and then you move to the next farm and you have to build it back up,” he said.
Therefore, the Master Breeder title he received at last week’s Jersey Australia AGM for his Jackiah Jerseys came as a bit of a surprise.
When Jersey Australia started doing Master Breeders, Simon set a goal of achieving the title by the time he retires, but he’s qualified at just 52 with many years left to continue improving the herd.
“I was a bit shocked when they rung and told me about it,” he said. “I thought I might be 5-10 years away from achieving it but I’m pretty proud…that’s one thing ticked off the bucket list.”
Simon’s main goal is to own a farm with a good herd of cows – and he’s pleased to be half-way there.
Now farming near Warragul in Victoria’s Gippsland region, Simon was born in Melbourne but moved to Colac with his school teacher father John when he was five where they lived on a house on a dairy farm. “All I‘ve wanted to be since we moved was a farmer,” he said.
When Simon was about 8, his father bought some land and ran beef cattle while still teaching. In 1979, he sold the beef farm and bought a small dairy farm. “He used to milk 30 cows before he went to work in the morning and come home and milk again,” Simon recalled.
After school, Simon was encouraged to get a trade or go to university so he moved back to Melbourne and became a qualified pastry chef and nurse, but his heart was in the country. “Even when I was in Melbourne, farming was always the dream,” he said. “I used to say if I won Tattslotto, I’d buy a farm.”
A move back to Colac to play footy with mates led to the start of his dairying career. “One of my mates was off a farm and they were looking for a farm hand so I went and worked on his family farm for about 15 months and loved it. I then applied for a share farming job and got it.”
He started his first stud, Balintore Park, at age 10, following in his father’s footsteps, and created Jackiah, named after his children Jack and Kiah, when he got his first share farming job in 1999.
“Dad’s farm was sold, which was a real kick in the guts, but when he sold, I kept half a dozen of my cows and kept it going. When I started share farming I had 23 cows, but the numbers increased.”
Simon now farms with his partner Belinda Egan, who has her own Jersey stud.
Since 2002, Simon has worked closely with Amy Wright from World Wide Sires on his mating program. “We use the right bulls to progress the stud; a lot of credit needs to go to Amy,” he said.
“When getting back into dairy farming, I received some great help and advice from Ted Codling of Glenara Jerseys and Stewart Jackson from Colac Herd Improvement was also of great help and introduced me to Amy Wright.”
When he returned to farming, Simon started studying at University of Melbourne Uni, mainly by correspondence, and completed his Degree in Applied Science - Agriculture in 2004. Simon is also a Jersey classifier.
Early on he looked for production traits but is now more focused on type, still with production in mind. The use of genomics in recent years has helped the herd to advance. “I’m not driven by high numbers; I just want a good all-round cow.” The herd is travelling well, with the cows averaging around 6200-6500 litres.
Simon’s favourite cow has been Jackiah Valentino Mimosa 2797 EX92, who won the On Farm Challenge in her class 3-4 years in a row and went on to win Champion Four-Year-Old in the Great Southern Challenge in 2018.
He was given a calf by the late Basil Boardman of Avonleigh jerseys in 1985 - Avonleigh Primrose 75.
She gave him three daughters which have gone on to create his best cow family. The best bulls that have contributed to the success of the herd are Tbone, Vanahlem and Valentino.
Jackiah has had one bull in AI, Jackiah Peak, known as Primrose.
Simon remains a fan of Jerseys and will stick with the breed. “If it wasn’t for my dad, I probably wouldn’t have the love for Jersey cows,” he said. “I like their inquisitive nature and they’re not a big cow like the Holsteins so they’re easier to handle.”
He has been a member of Jersey Australia since 1995 and registered 1421 cows, including 115 rated as Excellent.

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22/05/2026

East Warrnambool Football Netball Club may have disbanded but its legacy will live on thanks to a series of local donations, including to WRAD Health.

As part of its official winding up, the club has distributed $22,000 to local not-for-profit organisations. This includes $2500 to WRAD Health.
To read the full story, visit https://wrad.org.au/news/

WRAD Health welcomes East Warrnambool donation East Warrnambool Football Netball Club may have disbanded but its legacy will live on thanks to a series of local donations, including to WRAD Health. As part of its official winding up, the club has distributed $22,000 to local not-for-profit organisat...

21/05/2026

Trans Ova team expands in Australia
Trans Ova Genetics is expanding in Australia with the appointment of a new commercial operations manager, one of five new recruits joining the team.
Helen Thoday, who has extensive leadership and commercial operations experience across agribusiness sectors, has taken up the lead role and will oversee Trans Ova’s growth across the country.
Trans Ova, a global leader in bovine reproductive technologies, was introduced to the Australian market in 2025 part of Genetics Australia’s joint venture with the URUS Group.
In her new role, Ms Thoday will be responsible for strengthening Trans Ova’s commercial operations, supporting sustainable growth, and working closely with teams in a partnership model to deliver new IVF services across Australia.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Ms Thoday has a broad background in livestock health, welfare, production and genetics, including working in pig production profitability and welfare in the UK, managing beef and sheep genetics programs in the Falkland Islands, livestock contract research in Canada and more recently in dairy welfare, health and production in New Zealand.
“Agriculture in Britain has unfortunately a low percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) so it doesn’t get traction from the government, so I have worked in New Zealand and now Australia for the draw of their strong agricultural sectors.”
The move to Australia follows her husband Warren Landles’ appointment as sustainability manager for Burra Foods and will continue her close connection with agricultural industries.
“It’s a great opportunity to help grow the Trans Ova brand across Australia in partnership with satellite units and practitioners, to deliver IVF services to farmers,” Ms Thoday said.
“Trans Ova is huge in America and continuing to grow. Australian beef and dairy herds can benefit significantly from IVF, a technology that can advance farmers’ genetic gain exponentially.”
Ms Thoday said the five new recruits would join the existing Trans Ova team in Australia, reflecting the rapid growth of the business. “It’s a big investment,” she said. “We have developed a strong process in Victoria under the Genetics Australia brand and will now build more partnerships with people who have extensive networks and are trusted by the farmers in the region, have the right facilities and align with our values to expand this valuable technology in farming stronghold areas across Australia.”

21/05/2026

The URUS Group has announced it will acquire AgriWebb, significantly expanding its digital and data capabilities across global beef production and supply chains.
URUS, a global leader in bovine genetics, reproductive technologies, and data driven herd management solutions, today confirmed it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AgriWebb Pty Ltd, a global livestock management and supply chain data platform for beef producers.
Following completion of the acquisition, URUS and AgriWebb will together support 25 million animals on the VAS and AgriWebb data platforms, serving dairy farmers, beef producers, and ranchers globally. This growing scale of connected animals and producers creates stronger feedback loops between genetics, management, and real-world performance, and increasing opportunities to optimize breeding decisions, productivity, and sustainability – while creating stronger value and solutions for clients across the leading URUS portfolio.
URUS operates in Australia through Alta, Genetics Australia, GENEX, Jetstream and Trans Ova brands.
URUS CEO Paul Hunt said bringing AgriWebb into the URUS family would further strengthen its data and genetics flywheel, creating even better connectivity with producers and retailers and enabling more informed, outcome driven genetic and management decisions across the entire breadth of dairy and beef production.
AgriWebb was co-founded in 2014 by Justin Webb, Kevin Baum, and John Fargher with a mission to empower livestock producers with the digital tools and data systems needed to improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability. AgriWebb’s mobile-first platform helps beef and sheep producers manage livestock, grazing, land, teams, and compliance in one integrated system, while creating connected on-farm data infrastructure that powers supply chain transparency, sustainability programs, and better production decisions.
The acquisition strengthens URUS’ digital capabilities in beef cattle management and extends the integrated data strategy URUS has successfully deployed in dairy, creating greater alignment across dairy and beef and further advancing its strategy to connect genetics, on-farm performance, and data-driven decision making across the global cattle supply chain.
Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of AgriWebb, Justin Webb, said the company was built on the conviction that data-driven decision making would be the future of livestock production. “Over the past decade, we evolved from the leading ranch management software into data infrastructure, helping producers make better decisions while connecting on-farm animal performance to the world’s most advanced sustainability and supply chain programs. As supply chain systems become increasingly interconnected, the quality and connectivity of data will enable companies to materialise their potential. URUS stood out as the right partner, combining world-leading genetics, producer scale, and long-term commitment to build valuable support of the bovine industry.”
Co-Founder and CEO of AgriWebb, Karen Baum, added, “This partnership allows us to stay deeply focused on the success of the producers we serve today, while accelerating product innovation and delivering practical tools faster across global beef production.”

AgriWebb Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer John Fargher added: “By combining URUS’ leadership in bovine genetics with AgriWebb’s digital solutions, we’re creating a new layer of insight across genetics, on-farm performance, and supply chain outcomes, driving greater profitability, resilience, and sustainability for producers.”

As a new member of the URUS family, AgriWebb will continue to be led by its current management team and operate under its existing brand. Going forward, AgriWebb and URUS will benefit from each other’s respective complementary strengths, combining digital pasture and livestock intelligence with world leading genetics, animal health, and reproductive capabilities to create shared value across the markets they serve through a unique set of technologies.

Transaction terms were not disclosed. Completion of the transaction remains subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and fulfillment of other conditions precedent and is expected in Q3 2026. URUS was supported on this transaction by Rabobank (M&A) and Freshfields LLP (Legal), while AgriWebb was supported by HSF Kramer (Legal).

20/05/2026

LandLife Southwest launches ambitious south-west Victorian land restoration program
South-west Victoria’s most ambitious landscape restoration program has been launched with plans to plant one million trees and protect and restore 400 hectares of land by 2040.
LandLife SouthWest was officially launched at the Warrnambool Golf Club on Wednesday May 20 with a push to get the community, farmers and local organisations involved in restoring landscapes, supporting regenerative agriculture and enhancing coastal and hinterland environments.
An initiative of Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network (WCLN) , Landlife SouthWest is a community-led program dedicated to restoring biodiversity, protecting vital landscapes and supporting sustainable agriculture as a major component of the regional economy.
Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network Senior Landcare Facilitator Geoff Rollinson said the LandLife SouthWest project was an opportunity to create a healthier, more resilient future.
It aims to plan one million trees and protect and restore 400 hectares of land in Warrnambool and Moyne by 2040, enhance biodiversity through a revegetation and sustainable agriculture program, improve farm productivity through regenerative agricultural practices and increase volunteer participation through planting days and workshops.
“South west Victoria is facing a rapidly changing environment marked by hotter, drier conditions and more frequent climate extremes,” Mr Rollinson said. “These shifts are placing increasing pressure on townships, communities and agricultural landscapes that have already been heavily modified by decades of intensive farming.
“While highly productive, these systems have contributed to rising carbon and methane emissions, declining soil health, reduced water retention and a significant loss of native biodiversity. LandLife SouthWest builds resilience in response to these changing conditions.
“It will open opportunities to connect fragmented native vegetation areas and create wildlife corridors, increase biodiversity and native vegetation, improve soil and water quality and animal health and “bring life back to the land”.
The official launch follows 19 successful pilot programs over the past two years, along with several complimentary projects. Mr Rollinson said they had been oversubscribed by 400 per cent, reflecting the level of interest in restoring remnant vegetation and developing more resilient farming land.
At the project launch, WCLN chairman Bruce Campbell said LandLife SouthWest was not a three-year plan but “a 30-year plan to build a truly sustainable agriculture industry in our region”.
“It’s a plan to build farm productivity while also building our region’s biodiversity,” Mr Campbell said. “It’s a plan that will help farmers develop more productive soils and crops, and become more drought resilient. We can increase our flora and fauna while also building the financial capacity of our farmers.”
Launching the plan, Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said it was critically important that Landcare work continue. “We can care for the country in a way that makes sure our farmers and communities stay resilient and strong,” Mr Tehan said. “It is critically important for us and for future generations to appreciate the natural environment.”
Panmure beef farmer Stephen Warth and Nirranda dairy farmer Jordy Vallance shared their experiences in the pilot programs, detailing how the environmental projects had improved their farm production and profitability.
“The science is coming along quickly and it’s about how can we adapt that to real-life farms,” Ms Vallance said. “That’s where funding from places like Landcare helps with setting up.”
Mr Warth said biting the bullet and investing in soil and plant health was good for everyone. “Resilient farms mean a resilient community and region. We have to insulate ourselves from whatever the climate is going to do.”
LandLife SouthWest has received seed funding from the Fletcher Jones Family, Gall Family, Brodie and Gwen and Edna Jones foundations.
Mr Rollinson said there were opportunities for organisations and landholders to become involved in LandLife Southwest by contacting [email protected].