SOIL BIOLOGY remains the baseline of all farming systems, if this is healthy, so is your enterprise.
COVER CROPS can be one of the tools to sustain a robust soil.
WEEDS are now the number ONE enemy all year round. Resistance can emerge as your second worst ENEMY.
PROVIDE competition to these weeds with cover crops.
SUMMER CROPS have been/ are viable and are successful crops that grow in Dumbleyung.
ZERO tillage, maintaining total soil cover, growing plants all year round and maximizing plant diversity to build soil carbon and support soil biology can be achieved.
WHITE FRENCH MILLET mixed with sunflower, sorghum, lablab are just a few of the summer cover or cash crops that can be grown here.
SUMMER cropping does not have to leave you water deficient for winter crops.
POOR soil structure and biology is a bigger limitation to production than rainfall.
REDUCE summer weed control by planting a cover crop.
SUPPRESSING pathogens by increasing the activity and diversity of soil biology is possible with cover crops.
ALTERNATIVE mature compost and paddock spreading will increases soil microbiology activity.
OPTIONS for a healthier farming system are out there.
IF you are keen to investigate and trial an alternative system, funding is available to get you started.
Email dyglandcare@westnet.com.au or ring 0429612447 for more information.
STATE NRM FUNDING is offering funding assistance to achieve healthier soils!!
APPLICATIONS close AUGUST 3 2018.
2018-19 State NRM - Community Stewardship Grants Program
The State Government has announced that the $7.75 million 2018-19 State NRM Community Stewardship Grants Program is now open. Community groups have until August 6, 2018 to apply for natural resource management grants ranging from $1,000 to $450,000.
State Natural Resource Management (NRM) program grants are available to local Landcare, farming and NRM community groups, schools and local governments. The 2018-19 Community Stewardship Grants round, totalling $7.75 million, allows groups to apply for two different types of grants – small grants between $1,000 and $25,000, and large grants between $25,000 and $450,000. These grants can fund both co-ordination roles and on-ground activities that contribute to the conservation and sustainable and regenerative use of natural resources across WA.
In the official announcement Hon. Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food said, ‘The grants are part of a $31 million funding commitment to the State NRM program over four years’. She also praised the landcare community saying, ‘All these groups work diligently to care for our water resources, conserve our native animals, protect our flora, and to educate others in the community about the conservation of our natural resources, especially our soils. It takes a huge community effort to care for and enhance our vast and unique natural environment, and that’s why the Community Stewardship Grants are so important.’
Applications close at 12pm on Monday August 6, 2018. Landcare groups are advised to consult the Grant Guidelines on the State NRM Office website http://www.nrm.wa.gov.au/grants/state-nrm-program.aspx before completing an application. For more information, visit http://www.nrm.wa.gov.au or contact the State NRM Program on 9368 3168.
WALN has prepared a summary of what can be expected from the grants program and some hints and tips to get you started. View the summary here http://landcarewa.org.au/news/state-nrm-community-stewardship-grants-information-sessions/.
GRDC’s Open Forums near you soon
Julianne Hill, RCSN coordinator
GRDC Open Forums are being organised by GRDCs Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSN) to help GRDC further define any issues impacting on your farmers and to identify areas for possible GRDC investment. The Albany port zone RCSN members currently include: Mark Pearce, Jeremy Lemon, Trent Parsons, Scott Smith, Daniel McDougall, Ben Ball, Ben Creek, Mark Lawrence, Mark Sullivan, Kirsty Smith, Tim Mathwin and Peter Bostock.
If you’d like to talk to GRDC and their RCSN, we invite you to come along to an Open Forum near you in July. They are open to all, and conclude with a FREE BBQ and refreshments. They offer an opportunity for you to have your say to GRDC on how your levies are spent.
The events are being held:
- 16th July: Cranbrook Sporting Club (2-6pm)
- 17th July: Jerramungup CRC meeting room (8-11am)
- 17th July: Kukerin Hotel (2-6pm)
For further queries, contact Julianne Hill 0447261607; regionalcroppingsolutions@gmail.com