Landcare Tasmania is proud to work alongside farmers who are testing, practicing and developing sustainable farming practices that are good for the land, yield, waterways and wildlife. Below is a list of helpful resources to help you on your journey. Not what you're looking for? Let us know.
Soil First Tasmania
Soil First Tasmania is a group of farmers who are concerned about the current state of agriculture in Tasmania. They aspire to influence the model by creating a community of farmers that value soil. They do this by creating a community of farmers who are wanting to improve their practice and giving them a platform to share ideas. They support the adoption of practice that upholds the clean green image that Tasmania aspires to. They hold regular Farmer Fridays, farm visits and guest speaker events. They are also members of Landcare Tasmania, and we encourage you to join them. Connect on Facebook
Regenerative Agriculture Network Tasmania (RANT)
RANT is Tasmania's peak body for regenerative farming. They are a group of farmers, landholders and eaters who are adopting, enabling and promoting agricultural practices that regenerate the land, farm businesses and people. They run trials, workshops, conferences, webinars, and networking activities. They are also members of Landcare Tasmania, and we encourage you to join them.
Good Reading Materials
Climate Smart Farming Toolkit - Curated by the Farmers for Climate Action, this is your one-stop-shop for resources related to regenerative agriculture, carbon markets, nature repair markets, and tools to build wider ecological resilience, improve soils, and increase productivity.
Managing Tasmanian Native Pastures – A Technical Guide for Graziers. Published by DPIPWE (2006). Split into 5 sections for easier downloading: Part 1 Planning Guide, Part 2 Property Planning and Managing Native Pasture, Part 3 Managing Fertiliser on Native Pastures, Part 4 Managing Native Pastures for Conservation, Part 5 Managing Native Pastures during Drought.
Key pasture species in Tasmania, native pasture planning, management of grazing, fertiliser and weeds in native pasture, managing fire, native pastures for conservation, tree and shrub regeneration,riparian and wetland grasslands, during drought and change.
Innovations for Regenerative Landscape Management – a report released by Soils for Life, which outlines techniques and practices that can help reverse landscape degradation and enable productive, profitable and sustainable farming. The full report is available on the Soils for Life website.
Ecologically Sustainable Grazing – the effect of grazing on biodiversity and how to minimise impacts on native vegetation. From WetlandCare Australia.
Worm Boss website - Australia's sheep and goat worm control resource.
Soils Alive – Understanding and Managing Soil Biology on Tasmanian Farms – By Declan McDonald & Denis Rodgers, DPIPWE Includes soil ecosystems, soil management practices, build soil ecosystem health, tuning your soils, carbon farming
Earthworms and Dungbeetles in Tasmanian Agriculture - Dr Graeme Stevenson is passionate about soil, particularly Tasmania’s red basalt soil and speaks widely about the benefits of introducing dung beetles and earthworms into gardens and pasture. He has a range of excellent books and publications available on his research and work.
Dung Beetle Care in Tasmania (PDF) - By Andrew Doube who is spearheading a range of dung beetle programs in Tasmania. This resource is an easy-to-read manual on how to keep a healthy population of dung beetles on your property.
UTAS: Info about the release of new Dung Beetle species in Tasmania
National Dung Beetle resource: Including a farm management guide, and where to buy dung beetles
Native Vegetation on Farm Land – a report from ABARES (Aust Bureau of Ag & Resource Economics & Sciences). The report found (amongst other things) that 85% of farmers were gaining on-farm production and/or environmental benefits. Read it here.
Native Shelterbelt Design - for the North West of Tasmania, by the North-West Environment Center, but can be useful statewide.
Decision Support Tools for Soil Management
The Tasmanian Soil Extension Program has three soil management decision support tools:
Soil Test Interpretation Guide - for dryland pastures
Nutrient Management - for farming
Land Drainage - for farming
Carbon and Biodiversity Markets
Carbon Farming Initiative – an overview of CFI methodologies (from Clean Energy Future – Dept of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency)
An Overview of the Carbon Farming Initiative – for landowners interested in earning and selling carbon credits. Published by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, 2012. Opportunities in carbon farming, markets for carbon credits, eligible activities, abatement activities
CFI Methodology: Environmental Plantings of Native Species – from the Dept of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, fact sheet, monitoring, reporting, eligibility, who could benefit
Considerations for Tree Growers Before Selling Carbon – questions to address before selling carbon from farm trees. From the Victorian Dept. of Primary Industries (March 2012), emerging markets, rights and responsibilities, carbon farming initiative
Soil Carbon Stories – Stories from six Tasmanian graziers experimenting with pasture management techniques. These stories were collected during the soil carbon project: “Working with farmers to increase soil carbon storage in extensive grazing systems”.
See our Measuring Carbon & Biodiversity Reading Room for more tools, resources and methods.
Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme Trial
The Federal Government Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment has provided $4m in funding to the National Farmers’ Federation to develop and trial the Scheme. Funding has been made available through the $34m Agriculture Stewardship Package.
The package recognises that farmers, as stewards of the environment and as land managers are providing benefits to the wider community. Many small and medium sized farmers would like to do more, and the Australian Government is taking the lead to support further stewardship activities by farmers.