Trio of Australian soil health experts nominated for prestigious new award

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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.

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

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/

Longreach farmer sustainable approach secures nomination for Bob Hawke Landcare Award

James Walker announced as a finalist for the Bob Hawke Landcare Award

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.

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

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.

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/

Corangamite landholder’s 50,000 tree and shrub eco plan up for Bob Hawke Landcare Award

Andrew Stewart Announced As Bob Hawke Landcare Award Finalist

MEDIA RELEASE

26/07/2021

Corangamite landholder’s 50,000 tree and shrub eco plan up for Bob Hawke Landcare Award

A Corangamite landholder living on the fringes of the Otway Ranges is set to represent VIC for the Bob Hawke Landcare Award.

Announced at the 2021 National Landcare Awards next month, Andrew Stewart’s environmental and sustainable agricultural advancements on Yan Yan Gurt West Farm, a 230-hectare regenerative grazing and agroforestry property, including the establishment of 50,000 trees and shrubs, increasing woody vegetation across the farm from 3 per cent to 18 per cent, has seen him secure a nomination for the coveted award.

Thirty years ago, the family developed a whole farm plan and mission statement for YYGW 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.

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

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.

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/

New study indicates Landcare volunteers avoid $57 million in healthcare costs due to boost in mental and physical wellbeing

June 18 2021: Landcare volunteers benefit from a significant increase in mental and physical wellbeing – and a significant decrease to their healthcare costs, according to a new report.

Unveiled today by Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley at a launch event in Albury NSW, the newly published findings by KPMG Australia in partnership with Landcare Australia, suggested volunteers involved in Landcare enjoy substantial improvements to their mental and physical wellbeing.

These improvements lead to an approximate saving from avoided healthcare costs of $403 per individual per year, and for the Landcare movement which exceeds 140,000 individuals, that number equates to $57million nationally.

Championed by the late Bob Hawke in 1989, the Landcare movement has surged across the country over the last 30 years to become one of the largest volunteer movements in Australia, with local groups focused on conservation and improved management of agricultural landscapes.

Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley, who was once a secretary of her own local Landcare group, said while the benefits of Landcare had long been evident, this report shows those gains also flow through to their volunteers.

“As one of the oldest conservation and sustainable agriculture movements in the country, our people in Landcare breathe extra life into our communities and local environment. Now we can see there is a quantifiable return to their physical and mental wellbeing as well, and that’s got to be a win-win for our country.”

The report also goes on to address additional savings to the Landcare volunteer community relating to productivity, and benefits owing to natural disaster resilience and recovery, with the combined value amounting to $191million annually.

“For decades, those involved in Landcare have testified to a greater sense of self, both physically and mentally, resulting from an enhanced link with their local environment,” said Doug Humann AM, Chair Landcare Australia.

“This in turn has boosted community wellbeing and it has long been the desire of the Landcare movement to quantify the significance of these benefits. Clearly, these ground-breaking new figures speak for themselves and to the importance of volunteering and engaging with Landcare activities within the community.”

Produced by KPMG Australia, the study titled, Building resilience in local communities: The wellbeing benefits of participating in Landcare, surveyed more than 1,000 Landcare volunteers and coordinators from Landcare groups. KPMG Australia also interviewed people involved in different Landcare activities from across the country. In the survey, almost half of all participants surveyed, 46 per cent, reported clear improvements in their mental wellbeing.

According to the report, one respondent said they had three people who came along to their Landcare group for their Centrelink obligations who have bipolar, and they were pleased to see how these individuals became more relaxed and confident working with others over time.

Mr Humann added: “That connection to community, as well as the landscape and environment, that is at the heart of the Landcare movement.”

With a connection to the land felt by almost all of those surveyed at 93 per cent, and 90 per cent experiencing a stronger connection to the community, 19 per cent reported a reduced use of physical health services, contributing to avoided healthcare costs.

Elsewhere, the study found that the majority of people who were not in full-time employment enjoyed an improvement in their mental wellbeing associated with participation in Landcare activities, and more so than those in full-time employment.

There was a tendency for improved mental health through increased participation in Landcare, with the majority of participants that were involved for more than 100 hours per month reporting better mental health. However, even those who dedicated a few hours each month to Landcare have reported an improvement for their mental wellbeing. In the findings, 43 per cent who spent less than 4 hours per month noticed a distinct mental health boost.

Although the roots of Landcare are in regional and rural Australia, the movement is now also very active in major cities and providing significant wellbeing benefits to those urban dwellers who choose to get involved. The majority (59 per cent) of landcarers in major cities reported an improvement in their mental wellbeing, compared to 47 per cent in regional areas.

“2020 was a year of extremes – drought, bushfires, floods and a global pandemic. People have been displaced, isolated, lost their loved ones, their livelihoods, and their properties. Environmental concerns and mental health challenges have never been more complex or more evident,” said Richard Boele, Partner in Charge, Human Rights & Social Impact Services, KPMG Australia.

“At a time of unprecedented change, it is important to recognise that it can be those micro-moments of connection that can make all the difference. Connection with the environment, with nature, and with each other can lead to emotional benefits. This is why Landcare is so important and so crucial for the Australian community, economy and environment.

Mr Boele added: “This report in partnership with Landcare Australia, demonstrates that participation in Landcare can lead to significant mental and physical wellbeing benefits through increased connection with people, communities and the environment.”

*Figures in report are estimated and are collated on a separate Fact Sheet

Building resilience in local communities: The wellbeing benefits of participating in Landcare is available to read and download.