Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia announces Corangamite landholder’s 50,000 tree and shrub eco plan wins Bob Hawke Landcare Award

AUGUST 6 2021: A Corangamite landholder living on the fringes of the Otway Ranges has landed the Australian Government sponsored Bob Hawke Landcare Award for his ambitious regeneration activities on his family farm.

The Hon. David Littleproud announced the winner at last night’s 2021 National Landcare Awards. Andrew Stewart scooped the title for environmental and sustainable agricultural advancements on Yan Yan Gurt West Farm. His work on this 230-hectare grazing and agroforestry property, includes the establishment of 50,000 trees and shrubs, increasing woody vegetation across the farm from 3 per cent to 18 per cent.

The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient is awarded a prize package, sponsored by the Australian Government of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to Landcare.

Celebrating the win, Minister Littleproud commended Andrew Stewart’s sustainable agricultural approach and innovative on-farm techniques which have resulted in a significant increase in biodiversity and habitat restoration without impacting on output. The Minister hailed Andrew Stewart as an example of exemplary, adaptable practices and an extremely worthy recipient of the coveted title.

Thirty years ago, the family developed a whole farm plan and mission statement for Yan Yan Gurt West Farm to address environmental issues such as gully erosion, salinity, waterlogging, ecological decline and livestock and pasture exposure.

The property has been fenced to land classes and trees and shrubs have been planted along land class boundaries. Other areas fenced and revegetated with multi-purpose plantations include, creeks, drainage lines, remnant vegetation, salt affected areas and waterlogged sites.

These plantings have been connected to form a web of trees meandering across the farming landscape providing, soil, pasture and livestock protection, nutrient cycling, waterway protection, wild life corridors, improved aesthetics and wellbeing for people who live, work and visit the farm. There is now a 23km interface of trees and shrubs to pasture and 113 bird species recorded.

Modelling suggests carbon neutrality will be achieved when revegetation increases from the current 18 per cent to 20 per cent of the property. While multi-purpose trees and shrubs have formed a robust biological infrastructure, which underpins the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the farm.

Andrew and his family have been key drivers of the Yan Yan Gurt Creek Catchment community revegetation program with 98 per cent of the 18km creek completed and forming a wildlife corridor connecting many farms.

The Bob Hawke Landcare Award is supported by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. The campaign received 120 nominations for the award demonstrating the strong interest from farmers, landowners and landcare groups.

See more information about the Bob Hawke Landcare Award and Andrew Stewart, and watch video.

6 August 2021: Leading academic and science communicator in the field of soil science and soil biology, Emeritus Professor Lynette Abbott, was today named as the first recipient of the General Jeffery Soil Health Award.

The well-known academic from the University of Western Australia celebrated at one of several COVID-safe functions, streamed as part of the 2021 National Landcare Awards held online last night.

Named in honour of Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, the late Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery, AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd), the Award recognises an individual’s work to champion, improve and or educate others in soil health.

Professor Abbott is a pioneering researcher on soil fungi in agriculture and disturbed natural environments, and is acknowledged as a world leader in this field. Her research has addressed fungal interactions with plants and implications for fertilizer management and soil amendments.

She has shared her extensive knowledge with students, and by establishing the innovative ‘Know your Soil Biology’ workshops for farmers, she is providing hands-on activities demonstrating the benefits of soil biota for soil health.

Professor Abbott is also currently consolidating soil health knowledge through a project in the Australian Government Smart Farms program.

Watch video

Announcing the award from the ACT COVID-safe function, Australia’s National Soils Advocate since August 2020, the Honourable Penny Wensley AC, said “Emeritus Professor Abbott has long been a champion and leading voice in the field of soil health.  She is a most deserving recipient of this new award.”

“Many have benefited from her research and knowledge over her 40 year career. It is a great pleasure for me, as Australia’s National Soils Advocate, to be able to acknowledge her contribution and to support her continued work through this $20,000 Award.

“Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, General Jeffery was a tireless champion of soil health. I am sure all who knew and worked with him will be delighted to see his legacy honoured and maintained in this way.”

The General Jeffery Soil Health Award was established and is supported by the Office of the National Soils Advocate within the Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and is administered by Landcare Australia.

 

 

MEDIA RELEASE:

26/07/2021: A trio of leading experts in the field of soil health will compete for a prestigious new award dedicated to Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery, AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd). Presented at the upcoming National Landcare Awards, the General Jeffery Soil Health Award recognises an individual’s work to champion, improve and/or educate others in soil health and is named in his honour. The finalists of this inaugural award are:

Lynette Abbott from Western Australia: Emeritus Professor at The University of Western Australia who established the innovative ‘Know your Soil Biology’ workshops for farmers, providing hands-on activities on the benefits of soil biota for soil health/quality. For her pioneering research on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in agriculture and disturbed natural environments, she is acknowledged as a world leader in this field. Her research has addressed AM fungi as complex soil communities, and has focused on AM fungal interactions with plants, fertilizer management and soil amendments. Professor Abbott is also currently consolidating soil health knowledge via a project in the Australian Government Smart Farms program titled ‘Engaging digital media to more effectively build confidence in use of sustainable land management practices’.

Brian Hughes from South Australia: Primary Industries and Regions SA-Rural Solutions SA Principal Consultant, Brian has been Involved in determining the extent of soil acidification, the rate at which it is developing in areas that were inherently non-acidic, and promoting the adoption of treatment options. Brian has worked as a soil conservation officer, soils officer, soils and land management consultant since 1982. He has an extensive knowledge of South Australian soils, their distribution, properties and management in agriculture.

Robert Quirk from New South Wales: A sustainable agriculture educator, researcher and advocate, Robert’s farm is located on the coastal flood plain of the Tweed River in northern NSW, a very low lying with a surface elevation of 5 m AHD. Through years of observation, study, experimentation and collaboration, he has developed management practices resulting in quantifiable improvements in soil characteristics. Armed with this knowledge, he was able to develop practices to reduce the impacts and constraints to improve soil health. Robert has collaborated with three universities of the last twenty years, developed world’s best practice for growing sugar cane in acid sulphate soils and increased soil organic carbon levels from two to six per cent.

Forming part of the suite of distinguished awards within the biennial National Landcare Awards administered by Landcare Australia, the General Jeffery Soil Health Award will be presented at this year’s virtual National Landcare Awards on Thursday 5 August, 2021 held during the National Landcare Conference. Registration for the National Landcare Conference and Awards is free, for more information and to register please go to https://nationallandcareconference.org.au/

The General Jeffery Soil Health Award is supported by the Office of the National Soils Advocate within the Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

MEDIA RELEASE

26/07/2021

Moree landholder’s property revegetation up for Bob Hawke Landcare Award

A Moree landholder significant property revegetation drives will represent NSW at the 2021 National Landcare Awards next month.

Sixteen years after buying their Gravesend property on the North West Slopes, 50kms outside Moree, Justin and Lorroi Kirkby have revitalised their land which once boasted rundown cropping blocks with scarce groundcover and poor nutritional grasses.

Now, thanks to measures taken, the Kirkby’s have decreased their farms carbon footprint with the revegetation of up to twenty per cent of the property, with native tree species specific to the region.

Planting trees and fodder shrubs has added to wildlife corridors and bio-link habitats for insects and birds to work as one in the ecosystem with their Kirkby’s innovative farming practices.

Staged establishment over three years of browsing fodder shrubs (Saltbush cultivars and Tagasaste) over 300ha and experimenting with the density needed to reduce establishment costs has also increased overall productivity.

While converting degraded farming paddocks to 100 per cent biodiverse grasslands, without the use of synthetic fertilisers or chemicals, and decreasing paddock size to improve rotational grazing management has been hugely successful.

Announced at the upcoming National Landcare Awards, the Bob Hawke Landcare Award publicly recognises an individual involved in championing Landcare and inspiring others to take action on their own property or through a Landcare group. It also acknowledges a person’s leadership and commitment to Landcare, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture.

Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish says an overwhelming number of people were nominated for the award.

Dr Norrish said: “We received very strong nominations from across the country demonstrating there is a strong interest to be recognised for this distinguished national accolade. The award will be presented to an individual who actively pursues, introduces and shapes innovative farming systems to improve productivity, profitability, sustainability, and the quality of our natural resources.”

The winner of the Bob Hawke Landcare Award will be announced at the virtual 2021 National Landcare Awards gala dinner on Thursday 5 August, 2021.    

The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded a prize package of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to Landcare.

For more information about the Bob Hawke Landcare Award please visit: https://bobhawkelandcareaward.com.au/

MEDIA RELEASE

26/07/2021

Longreach farmer sustainable approach secures nomination for Bob Hawke Landcare Award

A Longreach producer forging sustainable agriculture practices will represent QLD for the Bob Hawke Landcare Award.

Operating Camden Park Station, a 20,000 acre organic, global animal partnership (GAP) accredited cattle station, James Walker and family have focused on tackling land degradation, carbon emissions and climate change through unique industry approaches.

Actively researching executing ways of improving the environmental, financial and production performance of his property, James has;

*created the Agrihive Farmecco digital platform to help other farmers understand and implement sustainable Landcare goals

*developed an innovative ‘Floating Lease’ to reflect seasonal conditions that is being prototyped commercially.

*addressed emissions through an off-grid solution for the power supply on his property

Camden Park has also completed extensive water developments and utilised ag technologies for water monitoring to save their fuel and pumping costs whilst doing a comprehensive QFF energy audit whereby they have a trial solar / battery array fueling the farms energy requirements.

James has also initiated and executed a large-scale solar farm (17.5 megawatts) to assist the viability during drought – creating a counter cyclical farm investment as well as developing an agritourism venture where they can have up to 3000 people at Camden Park station.

Announced at the upcoming National Landcare Awards, the Bob Hawke Landcare Award publicly recognises an individual involved in championing Landcare and inspiring others to take action on their own property or through a Landcare group. It also acknowledges a person’s leadership and commitment to Landcare, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture.

Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish says an overwhelming number of people were nominated for the award.

Dr Norrish said: “We received very strong nominations from across the country demonstrating there is a strong interest to be recognised for this distinguished national accolade. The award will be presented to an individual who actively pursues, introduces and shapes innovative farming systems to improve productivity, profitability, sustainability, and the quality of our natural resources.”

The winner of the 2020 Bob Hawke Landcare Award will be announced at the virtual 2021 National Landcare Awards gala dinner on Thursday 5 August, 2021.    

The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded a prize package of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to Landcare.

For more information about the Bob Hawke Landcare Award please visit: https://bobhawkelandcareaward.com.au/

**To register for free as an online delegate at the National Landcare Conference and National Landcare Awards, visit https://nationallandcareconference.org.au/