Big Shift For Small Farms - Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming

Citizen Science has been around for a long time. It has allowed vast amounts of data to be collected and analysed within a relatively short period by getting members of the public to participate in scientific research. 

This research is invaluable as it helps to inform natural resource management, increase environmental protection and inform policy and decision making.  It also benefits individuals as they can engage in research and provide public input. 

There are numerous citizen science opportunities for landholders to get involved in, whether it be about frogs, tree hollows, scats, or even ferals - there is something for everyone.

Join us as we speak with three motivated individuals working in this space across diverse topics and landscapes, from water to earth to sky.

Thank you to our guests featured in this episode:

• Lilly Schwartz - founder of the Hills Hornsby Rural Koala Project

• Jessica Lumbroso - Land Care Coordinator and Streamwatch Coordinator for the Greater Sydney Land Care

• Ben Humphries - Coordinator of the Southern NSW Birds on Farms Project

For more information or to get involved:

Hills Hornsby Rural Koala Project  

Streamwatch

Birds on Farms Project  

Australian Citizen Science Association (in partnership with Atlas of Living Australia)

Hosted by Edgars Greste and Katie Meyer

Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services

Wildlife corridors are essential for the survival of animals. They also provide additional benefits for both the environment and agricultural productivity.

Unfortunately, habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation create immense challenges for animals as they struggle to reach food, water and shelter. But there are many things that landholders can do to improve habitat connectivity and increase wildlife conservation efforts. By planting more trees and creating corridors for animals, landholders contribute to landscape resilience and benefit in many ways by preventing soil erosion, improving crop pollination and providing shelter for stock.

Join us in this episode as we journey through three different landscapes and learn about initiatives protecting and restoring our landscapes and natural systems, improving habitat connectivity and benefiting landholders.

Thank you to our guests featured in this episode:

• Angie Fricker - Senior Land Services Officer with Greater Sydney LLS

• Garry Watterson - Landholder

• Gary Howling - Chief Executive Officer of the Great Eastern Ranges 

• Paul Madden  - Project Officer with Community Environment Network

For more information or to get involved:

 Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network

The Great Eastern Ranges

Community Environment Network (CEN)

Hosted by Edgars Greste and Katie Meyer

Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services

Livestock farming has been practiced for over 10,000 years, so understandably there are many different approaches, particularly when adapting to climate change. Climate change affects livestock production, both directly through heat stress and indirectly through effects on grassland and species distribution.  Farmers are innovatively managing their livestock to improve productivity and reduce environmental impacts. The techniques vary, including rotational grazing, precision genetics, species stacking and intensive feeding systems.  This episode features three farmers who share how, by implementing these management techniques, they have maintained production during extreme climate events, making their businesses more resilient.

Thank you to our guests

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/m-martin

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/s-lugsdin

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/lp-winder

Hosted by Edgars Greste and Matt Pierce

Produced by Grow Love Project for @NSWDPI and hosted by NSW Local Land Services #Bigshiftforsmallpodcast

*NSW DPI understands that successful adaptations will vary between locations, industries and business.

On the road again with Matt and Edgars. This time visiting farmers who have significantly injected life back into their farms growing wine, macadamias and cherries! Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem functions that support all life on Earth. Climate change significantly impacts biodiversity through the increase in the intensity and frequency of fires, storms, or periods of drought. Farmers combat and maintain healthy ecosystems by focusing on regenerative practices such as native plantings, increasing diversity, cover cropping, microbiology and integrated pest management. In this episode,  be inspired by farmers who have improved their resilience by increasing whole ecosystem biodiversity on their farms to improve pest control, pollination and carbon sequestration.

Thank you to our guests

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/ka-tulloch

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/r-arnett

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/cl-hall

Hosted by Edgars Greste and Matt Pierce

Produced by Grow Love Project for @NSWDPI and hosted by NSW Local Land Services #Bigshiftforsmallpodcast

*NSW DPI understands that successful adaptations will vary between locations, industries and business.

Soil is one of the most undervalued substances on this planet, but farmers know that our future depends on the health of our soil. Maintaining healthy soils improves productivity and resilience on farms and also plays a role in tackling climate change by capturing and storing vast amounts of carbon. Recent climatic changes contribute to many soil issues like erosion, nutrient imbalance, water logging and loss of soil biodiversity. In this episode several farmers share their experiences of cover cropping, soil testing and using compost and organic fertilisers to improve soil health and structure and increase soil carbon for a more resilient farm and planet. Healthy agricultural soils allow functional biology (food webs) and chemistry (nutrient cycling) for efficient and sustainable productivity. Hear from 3 farmers implementing practices to sustain their soils and how they've buffered the impacts from sever climate events.

Thank you to our guests

• John and Juanita Hamparsum, Drayton Station

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/jj-hamparsum

• Peter and Darcy Skipworth, Currebah

• Justin and Pip Jarrett, See Saw Wines

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/jp-jarrett

Hosted by Edgars Greste and Matt Pierce

Produced by Grow Love Project for @NSWDPI and hosted by NSW Local Land Services #Bigshiftforsmallpodcast

*NSW DPI understands that successful adaptations will vary between locations, industries and business.

The ⁠#ClimateSmart series explores the diverse impacts of ⁠#ClimateChange⁠ on the landscape and farmers' own experiences in practically adapting their land, systems and businesses.

In this episode, we're looking at farmers who have used landscape modification including diversion banks, ponding, swales and leaky weirs to slow and store water flows during rainfall events. Along with restoring ground cover this has significantly reduce erosion and restored landscape function.

Thank you to the farmers, you can watch and read their stories here:

Scott Preisig and Belinda Scott, Merrylands Station, Kerrigundi, NSW

dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/blake-preisig

Glenn Morris, Billabong Farm, Inverell, NSW

dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/g-morris

Martin Royds, Jillamatong Farm, Braidwood, NSW

dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/m-royds

Watch all the Climate Smart films:

dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/climate/digital-agriculture/farmer-stories

Your hosts Edgars Greste @growloveproject and Matt Pierce @NSWDPI

Producers Edgars Greste, Susannah Kable and Katie Meyer

Produced by @growloveproject for @NSWDPI and hosted by NSW Local Land Services #Bigshiftforsmallpodcast

*NSW DPI understands that successful adaptations will vary between locations, industries and business.

The ⁠#ClimateSmart series explores the diverse impacts of ⁠#ClimateChange⁠ on the landscape and farmers' own experiences in practically adapting their land, systems and businesses. In this episode, we're looking at farmers who have adopted digital technology that have allowed them to improve their productivity, achieve efficiencies, respond to the climate risk, and adapt their enterprises. 

Thank you to the farmers, you can watch and read their stories here:

Vito Mancini blood orange farm, Redbelly Citrus, Griffith NSW

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/v-mancini

Ewan and Kevin McAsh, Oyster Life Management on the Clyde River near Batemans Bay NSW

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/ke-mcash

Ian and Pru Pearce, Stoneleigh Orchard near Orange NSW

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/ip-pearce

Your hosts Edgars Greste @growloveproject and Matt Pierce @NSWDPI

Producers Edgars Greste, Susannah Kable and Katie Meyer

Produced by @growloveproject for @NSWDPI and hosted by NSW Local Land Services #Bigshiftforsmallpodcast

You know that phrase if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Now, depending on which Wikipedia entry you read, either Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin or Aristotle or a bunch of other people said it. But the point is, planning is a good thing to do. It helps you identify and reach your goals, realise your vision for your property, and what lifestyle you want to leave. We've actually produced a few episodes on the topic. One on farm planning principles and planning for emergencies, which looks at flood and bushfire preparedness. But in this episode we're taking a look at a farm planning package of tools that Greater Sydney Local Land Services has produced for landowners and managers. It includes a workbook, self-assessment quiz and  mapping tool to make this process easier. We'll hear from some new farmers who've trialed the tools to help them get their ideas out of their head and onto some paper or in the computer, and also help them think about stuff that wasn't even on their radar.  But first we’re going to get some farm planning fundamentals from coach Kim Deans. Let's get planning.

The workbook and self assessment resources are available to download on the LLS website 

https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/greater-sydney/key-projects/small-farms-network/property-planning-resources

Thank you to all our guests:

Richard Stephens and Madeleine Florin from Greater Sydney Local Land Services 

Kim Deans https://www.reinventingagriculture.com.au/kim-deans

Kirrily Smith, Farmer

David Adderton, Farmer

#Agricultural production relies on natural ecosystems, but, the more we modify our landscapes, the less resilient they become, resulting in reduced production.

Balancing the needs of both is crucial to meet the demands of increasing yields without further compromising the environment. So how do we do this? Well, the good news is that #farming methods that work with nature can achieve great production outcomes and incentives for landscape restoration are available.

So in this episode we’ll talk to some passionate producers, ecologists and number crunchers about our environment’s true value and how land managers can be rewarded for working with nature.

With thanks to: 

Anika Molesworth

https://www.anikamolesworth.com/

Nicole Masters

https://www.integritysoils.co.nz/

David Carr

http://stringybarkecological.com.au/

Adrian Ward

https://www.accountingfornature.org/

Rowan Foley 

https://www.abcfoundation.org.au/

Produced by the Grow Love Project in collaboration with NSW Local Land Services

Most of us know that increasing carbon in the soil has many benefits and with interest in carbon farming growing, our latest episode of The Big Shift Podcast explores how to increase carbon in the soil and the opportunities available for farmers.

First up in this episode we explore the science of soil carbon with Dr Susan Orgill followed by a chat with Dr Lorraine Gordon about her journey into carbon farming and how it could be the crop of the future.

Susan Orgill, Leader Soils R&D South at NSW Department of Primary

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/research-development/staff/staff-profiles/susan-orgill

Cameron Smith, Farm Manager

Kate Carmichael, Soilkee

https://soilkee.com.au/

Lorraine Gordon

https://www.scu.edu.au/regenerativeag/about/team/