Showcasing Organic Beef and Pork farming in the Clarence

Community awareness and education about sustainable agriculture including two field days, a workshop, two fact sheets and on ground work.

Showcasing Organic Beef and Pork farming in the Clarence

Community awareness and education about sustainable agriculture including two field days, a workshop, two fact sheets and on ground work.

Making a Difference -

LLCI033-051

The issue

‘Set stock’ grazing is still the predominate regime in the Clarence, leading to overgrazing, soil erosion, pasture weeds, pressure on native pasture species, depleted soil organic matter and soil biology. This means a lack of resilience and sustainability of a key primary industry in the Clarence Valley.

Increasing soil health and carbon by implementing good soil management principals including rotational grazing increases the farms resilience to predicted longer dry periods and increases the pastures ability to capitalise on storm rain events. Raising participant’s awareness and knowledge of this issue may lead to a change in practice.

The solution

This project was funded by the Australian Government National Landcare Programme to promote sustainable practices to the farming and wider community. As part of this project Clarence Landcare ran an Organic Beef Field Day, an Organic Pork Field day and a ‘Get on Board with Organics’ workshop. We produced two information sheets and published nine pieces of media including articles in the local paper and facebook posts. On ground work was implemented on the two hosting farms including soil amendments and 700 native trees planted.

Both of the field days and the workshop were very successful and well attended. Most of the participants were really keen to learn about managing their land and stock in a sustainable way without the use of chemicals - even those attendees who had no intention of converting to certified organic production wanted to learn practices to minimize the use of chemicals

The impact

150 participants were involved in the project and there is no doubt that we have engaged and educated many landholders about sustainable land management at a local level. With the interest demonstrated in organic practices for soil, pasture and stock management at the field days and farm visits we are confident that landholders will put some of these strategies into practice on their own farms and go on to seek further education and advise.

All landholders and community who atteded said they "got something out of the day that I can take home and put into practice" and "now have a better understanding of sustainable grazing practices".

Both Field days outlined the importance of managing natural areas and increasing biodiversity for the benefit of the farm and wider environment.

Key facts

  • 150 participants attended the events.
  • Participants traveled up to four hours to attend events.
  • All participants had positive feedback
  • Clarence Landcare now have an ‘Organic’ email list of 150 people
  • 75% indicated they were "interested in being part of an organic producers group"

Project Partners