Next Gen Farmers
Focusing on our "Next Gen" Farming Families
In 2010/11, BIEDO undertook the "Next Gen" Farmers Project, with funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under “Australia’s Farming Future”. You can see photos and further project information in our Next Gen Newsletters.
The project was a great success, with 18 young farmers completing training in areas which will assist them to become ‘Champions’ for climate change and sustainability in their communities. Just some of the workshops they attended included: Soil Biology (run by Adam Willson), Climate Variability (run by Jeff Clewett) (both specifically written for the Next Gen Project, see stories below), Private Forestry, Land Management, Climate Variability and Maximum Achievement Training.
Although funding for the ‘Next Gen Farmers’ program has concluded, the investment in knowledge will continue to be utilised under the Clean and Clever program. The foundations have been firmly laid for these young farmers to become ‘Champions’ in the agriculture sector whereby information will be shared through relationship networks and word of mouth.
BIEDO looks forward to receiving reports from the participants onhow they are sharing their knowledge within their community and industry. To find out more about the participants, click here!
Adam Willson Soil Workshop
A keen group of seventeen people from around the South Burnett, and from as far as Dalby, gathered at Brian Pastures near Gayndah for a two day Soil Biology Workshop organised by BIEDO through the Next Gen Farmers project. There was a broad range of participants who’d come to learn more about soil biology and its management. The group was very diverse, from broadacre and lucerne farmers to cattle producers and staff from the market garden at Cherbourg. The two day workshop was hosted by Adam Willson of Soil Systems Australia, who focussed on issues such as the importance of soil micro-organisms and ecology, organic matter, humus and food-web interactions and green manures, rotations & crop succession. He also highlighted four Australian case studies in regards to grain production, hay production, vegetables and pasture & grazing management, which were very relevant and helpful in understanding the topic,” she said. The workshop was also supported the Burnett Mary Regional Group, through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country project.
Climate Variability Workshops
"The best workshop I've ever attended. The adaptation strategies and growth projections of native pastures will definitely give us something to consider from a graziers point of view." - Dean Rockemer, ‘Next Gen‘ farmer
Workshopping options to enhance climate opportunities and overcome climate challenges drew a variety of Burnett Inland agriculturalists to the RM Williams Centre and Wondai State School during June 2011. Guest speaker, Dr Jeff Clewett, Principal Scientist with Agroclim and developer of climate software ‘Rainman’, delivered a package of information specific to the Burnett Inland climatic conditions. The sessions were an opportunity to share information on the climate history of the Burnett region as well as factors causing climate variability and change. Dr Clewett also guided participants through a consideration of the science, history, future, uncertainty and use of short and long-term climate forecasts including seasonal forecasts based on MJO and ENSO. All participants were encouraged to focus on factors most directly related to their enterprise and make choices based on risk assessment models. Participants agreed that discussions on links between climate, management and sustainable production would aid in future planning. The goal was to arm participants with information to make a decision to continue business as usual, trim their business strategy or take their operation in a bold new direction.
One-on-one session for Cherbourg Fresh Staff
Soil Systems Australia’s ‘guru’, Adam Willson, dedicated a day to sharing specialist soil knowledge with the staff of Cherbourg Fresh. This unique opportunity was made possible by BIEDO’s ‘Next Gen Farmers’ program and was aimed at shaping a new organic future for Cherbourg Fresh.
Scott Jones, Produce Manager, said his staff participated in the two day work shop with Adam last month and were inspired to put theory into practice. "Our staff came back hungry for even more knowledge, so it was a great opportunity to have Adam and the Cherbourg Fresh team spending the day in the field together testing the soils, assessing the current operation and considering practical changes. Flooding early in 2011 inundated the paddocks and robbed the enterprise of valuable crops. The disaster also impacted on the health and viability of the soil. We are basically starting from scratch to bring our soils back into good condition. With Adam’s insights we can assess where we’re at and plan a better way forward to grow the high quality produce we’re aiming for."
Duncan Hegarty, Cherbourg Fresh Supervisor, says he found the day very informative and really enjoyed the opportunity. "I got so much out of the time spent with Adam. He’s helped us understand a lot more about how our soils work and how plants react to different conditions. Cherbourg Fresh is looking to expand its current production (which includes parley, shallots, silver beet, cabbage and broccoli) to include rockmelons, watermelons and pumpkins. We’re trying to move away from fertilisers and pesticides and go totally organic, so this has helped us towards this goal."
by Next Gen participant, Dean Rockemer.
