Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Workshops a success in Lower Murray Darling
A tree of knowledge has been planted in the Lower Murray Darling Catchment - not in the literal sense but in the form of subsidised training courses for land managers. The courses encourage sustainable grazing, improve land condition, increase ground cover and reduce erosion, manage native vegetation and support best practice irrigation.
Offered by the Lower Murray Darling Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the practical courses have the added benefit of giving landholders an opportunity to access incentive funding for on-ground activities.
Funding
The training is supported by the Australian and New South Wales Governments.
Project Manager Lesley Palmer said some of the courses - such as Sustainable Grazing Management, Biodiversity Assessment and Planning for Profit - require as little as two days in practical workshops.
Activities
"The Holistic Management and Grazing for Profit courses are run over eight days and help develop farmers' skills to manage a profitable and sustainable grazing business," Lesley said. "All recipients walk away with a detailed action plan for farm enterprise improvement and improved skills in farm business analysis and planning."
The sustainable grazing course is tailored to suit the highly variable climatic conditions of the semi-arid and arid rangelands. The course includes Tactical Grazing Management, which helps farmers set objectives, determine a strategy, take action based on seasonal conditions and determine appropriate stocking rates.
"This is followed with monitoring to check landscape function, assess pasture and vegetation, and review total grazing pressure, soil cover and animal condition.
"Landholders gain conservation as well as land management skills, to understand and then protect biodiversity and other natural resources," Lesley said. "Farmers learn about ecology such as plant succession, nutritional value, habitat values, biodiversity monitoring and impact."
Biodiversity assessment training is open to all landholders in the catchment and is a requirement for applications for conservation reserve incentives.
Irrigators are also offered training ranging from introductory to advanced courses in best irrigation management practice. Driven by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, this training helps landholders save water and run more efficient production and irrigation systems.
A two-day Planning for Profit course is also held to help answer business questions on debt refinancing, breeding, buying sheep or land purchases. This course uses a computer-based tool to model 'what if' scenarios based on farmers' own data.
More information
- Lesley Palmer, Project Manager: (03) 5021 9460
- Lower Murray Darling Catchment Management Authority website: www.lmd.cma.nsw.gov.au
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