Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Grazing for Profit project helps Lachlan farmers
Like many farmers in New South Wales, Wes Brown has completed a five-day intensive Grazing for Profit (GFP) course.
The course has helped Wes incorporate natural resource management work into planning on his beef and sheep property near Cargo, 28 kilometres southwest of Orange.
Funding
The Australian Government has provided $35,000 in funding through the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (LCMA). The State Government has also provided support, and Wes has put in an equal amount of personal funds.
Activities
Wes has carried out a range of activities with the funding like fencing off creeks, reducing paddock sizes, providing alternative stock water and planting 2,300 trees.
But Wes said the advantage of completing the GFP course was that it clarified things he knew about but hadn't been able put into words.
"During the course they teach you about working on the business and at the business. Working on the business involves planning, training, and profit and cost analysis, while working at the business involves fixing fences, feeding stock and so on," Wes said.
"We'd always held weekly meetings on the farm and I've always worked on the principle that if it moves, measure it. So this part of the business interests me. The problem is I measure so much I don't have the time to analyse it all!"
Achievements
The GFP course taught Wes the concept of cell grazing, which requires smaller paddock sizes.
"There are several benefits of grazing larger numbers of stock for a shorter time on smaller paddocks. The process means you get a longer rest period for your paddocks which means healthier stock and pastures," he said.
Working in conjunction with the Lachlan CMA was beneficial for both Wes and the catchment area because their goals were identical.
"The LCMA and I had the same goals: to make the farm more productive in the long-term and to improve natural resource management outcomes," Wes said.
"We realise what we're doing is a long-term project and we may not see all the outcomes until five or 10 years from now.
"I've always been environmentally aware - when it rains I watch the colour of the water run-off.
"On my property it's almost clear, which indicates a healthy farm. This means I'm also contributing to, and maintaining the health of, the Lachlan River where the water flows to."
More information
- Wes Brown, Property Owner: (02) 6362 2582
- Lachlan CMA website: www.lcma.nsw.gov.au
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window