Regenerative agriculture

HCCC has applied for and received funding to undertake a project to engage with landholders to promote regenerative farming practices. The plan is to establish 3 sites to examine soil structure, biology, water holding capacity, water infiltration, total nutrient availability, and soil density with the view to improve soil productivity and function. By improving soil health the farmers of the catchment will improve productivity, increase the drought tolerance of pastures by growing more biomass, reducing nutrient and water runoff. One of the key aspects and outcomes of regenerative agriculture is to increase the diversity of plant and grass species on the farm. The focus is to move from a monoculture to a polyculture, encourage summer plantations and growth, benefit fire risk and reduce fodder importation. This is done through better selection of pastures species, reducing the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. The improvement in biodiversity will restore degraded land and help with the long-term sustainability of farming. The principal focus of the work is to engage with landowners in the catchment, work with HCCC members and volunteers. Much of the work will be done by landowners with some input from First Nations people.

The GBCMA catchment strategy identified five critical attributes of concern for the area of the catchment:

1. Productive land,

2. Water Quality and Flows,

3. Native vegetation,

4. Landscape diversity and

5. Belonging.

This project will consider all these attributes.  It will also develop plans to improve biodiversity in pasture and farming land and help bring back native vegetation and make sure that the community is engaged and supportive of the work, thereby making sure that they have a sense of belonging.

Three initial sites have been chosen for the study; 

Lawson's, Looking Glass and Tarcombe Herefords. Activity on this project will commence in first half of 2022. 

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