Locmaria Farms Pty Ltd

College Park, Australia

An Overview Of Our Solution

Locmaria Farms (est. 2014) has been challenged by its owners to integrate their family value of developing environmentally sustainable farming practices with a dual objective of a safe, profitable and sustainable wool and prime lamb grazing enterprise. Based 25kms from Naracoorte (South Australia) and 5kms from Apsley (Victoria) on the Limestone Coast, Locmaria Farms balances these dual objectives, while always holding to a third overriding commitment; safety as its highest priority. It believes that all accidents are preventable. Locmaria Farms is committed to protecting and improving the natural habitat for the benefit of future generations. In 2014 Locmaria Farms embarked on a 5 year plan to: (1) improve pasture quality & utilization through rotational cell grazing and (2) restore a degraded 2.5km section of Koijak Creek that flows through properties

Who is this solution impacting?

Community Type

Rural

Organization type

Corporación/Sector Privado

Ecosystem (select all that apply)

Grasslands

Population impacted

8,000+

Size of agricultural area

1440Ha: currently 1060 Ha and an additional 380 Ha on contract to be purchased on 1st April 2017.

Production quantity

168,000 kg Wool plus meat in 2016 and budgeted to grow to 325,000 kg in 2019

People employed

Currently 6 and budgeted to rise to 8 by 2019

Describe your solution

Rotational cell grazing moves away from the traditional sheep farming practices of set grazing historically utilised on the properties and more extensively throughout the region. Cell grazing can reduce the risk of over or undergrazing pasture which can have a detrimental effect on plants, soils, water quality and animal health. The fundamental premise of cell grazing is to rotate livestock on a set cycle across a number of cells. Through employing this strategy, pasture in each individual cell is provided opportunity to rejuvenate during rest periods. Allowing for these growth phases, creates better yields on the natural grasses, provides less opportunity for weeds to dominate and reduces the risk of soil degradation. The sizing and layout of cells discourages sheep camping, allowing for a more even distribution of manure (natural fertilizer) and reduces the selectivity of sheep feeding habits, encouraging them to eat weeds. As the cell rotation cycle (36 to 84 days), is longer than the life cycle of worms, the livestock are less exposed to worm lava, reducing worm counts in the livestock. The flow on effect of this, is that over time it will reduce the reliance on worming and meulsing of livestock. The work undertaken in restoring the 2.5km of Koijack Creek contributes to the Habitat 141 initiative (http://www.habitat141.org.au). This is a bold landscape scale project that seeks to restore the links between major national parks and nature reserves over a 700km stretch

Describe your implementation

Our solution to restoring sustainable pastures and rejuvenating the creek system has been a multifaceted approach. To understand, design and implement cell grazing, Locmaria Farms brought in a consultant cell grazing specialist from New Zealand, who holds extensive knowledge in both Australian and New Zealand farming practices. Cells are rolled out in a staged approach which has aided in testing the strategy, identifying problems, and drawing comparative results on cell grazed versus set stocked paddocks. It is a strategy which has taken time and investment to: develop the infrastructure; build team acceptance of cell grazing; and we now see the results. The Koijak Creek rejuvenation project required cooperation between Locmaria Farms, the Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) (South Australia) and Greening Australia. This was a coordinated effort with all parties contributing through a combination of: financial assistance; materials; and labour. This has enabled the completion of fencing, planting and spraying, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance. This has been a two year project to date and will be on-going. A key to success for both the cell grazing and creek rejuvenation projects has been the development of a shared understanding. A team based approach where all members share the same focus on direction and an understanding of responsibilities, deliverables and set goals has been vital. It has been pivotal that the projects contain some elements of flexibility so as to meet unforeseen or changing situations. Cell grazing is not a practice which has been traditionally used by farms within the surrounding district. This strategy has been met with caution about its suitability in the area and its likelihood of success. To overcome this, Locmaria Farms has consciously worked to build a team where members understand and support the cell grazing strategy. This has been achieved through continued education, discussions, and experience.

External connections

Stakeholders engaged for these projects: New Zealand cell grazing specialist, hydrologists, soil specialists, pasture specials, Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) (South Australia), Greening Australia The agricultural sector of the South East produces more than 30% of South Australia gross domestic product ($5 billion per annum). An issue which the agricultural industry is facing in the south east is the reduction of water licenses. The Water Allocation Plan for the Lower Limestone Coast is set to reduce water consumption by approximately 87,000 ML/year. It forms part of a larger sustainability focus by the State Government on areas managing: ground water, vegetation, pests, costal, creeks & wetlands protection. Through cell grazing, Locmaria Farms aims to build a sustainable farming model to accommodate the reduction in water license. In comparison to traditional set grazing where the livestock remain in one larger paddock all year, rotational cell grazing allows a greater proportion of the grass (measured as dry matter) currently grown to be grazed by livestock. Typically in set grazing, livestock would only eat between 25% and 33% of dry matter grown while in rotational cell grazing a much higher proportion can be eaten; 70% to as high as 90%. From the cell grazing trial in 2016 on a 160 Ha grazing area, Locmaria Farms estimates (satellite data-Pastures from Space) that 1370 tonnes of dry matter was grown & 84% of that dry matter was grazed

What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?

On acquiring its properties in South Australia/western Victoria, the first challenge was pasture rejuvenation; the land had previously been cropped for many years cereal production. The pasture quality was at best average and poor in certain areas with extensive weed infestation. High worm counts in livestock manure and frequent fly blowing of sheep was recorded. This required herbicide spraying for weed management, and chemical drenching, mulesing and regular crutching of sheep to control weeds, worm infestation and fly blowing. A 2.5km section of Koijak Creek that flows through the properties was extensively degraded. This forms part of the Mosquito Creek Catchment; the primary source of surface water inflow to the internationally recognized Bool and Hacks Lagoons RAMSAR site. The creek is an important environmental landmark of the property and a significant connection between the RAMSAR site and its water source. Historic management practices have severely degraded the creek

Describe the context in which you are operating

The Limestone Coast’s natural resources are the backbone of its regional economy, providing employment for up to one quarter of the population. Soil, water and biodiversity are critical inputs into agriculture and forestry, while effective pest plant and animal control is another important contributor to productivity.
The majority of the landscape in the South East of South Australia is in private ownership. This makes the actions of private land managers crucial as their decisions and practices will determine how most of the natural resources are utilized and cared for. Research undertaken in 2009 found that 94% of landholders indicated they were aware of pest plant and animal control issues on their land. However, 87% of the population supports the expenditure of public funds to improve natural resources management.
The region is a popular area for tourism with over 600,000 visitors a year, with Bool Lagoon and the wine regions a key attraction.
Water characterises the region. Prior to European settlement up to 40% of the region could be inundated in wet years. Whilst drainage has enabled industry and agriculture to develop, it is now important to protect and maintain remaining wetland areas.
Facts and figures sourced from: SENRMB (2010) Regional Natural Resources Management Plan Part 1: Regional Description.

How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?

Fencing to exclude stock from 2.5km (23Ha revegetation area) of the Koijak Creek has been completed. Around 9600 individuals (comprising 24 species) of locally native trees, shrubs, grasses and sedges were included in the revegetation area. Both direct seeding and planting of seedlings were used. This will now be managed to allow native vegetation to establish as a rich and diverse ecosystem. It will significantly reduce erosion along the creek and increase biodiversity values dramatically. Since stock have been excluded, the natural regeneration of a large number of native grasses and shrubs has been observed. Bool Lagoon Game Reserve and Hacks Lagoon Conservation Park are located 24.3km downstream of Locmaria Farms’ properties, and comprise the Bool and Hacks Lagoons RAMSAR Site which are recognized as wetlands of international importance. The lagoons provide habitat for up to 150 species of birds, including 22 migratory species and is one of the few breeding sites of the globally vulnerable Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus). A majority of the surface water on which the lagoons rely comes from the Mosquito Creek, of which Koijak Creek is a tributary. Locmaria Farms restoration projects will contribute positively to the on-going health and diversity of the RAMSAR site.

Language(s)

English

Water

Large woody debris has been left in-situ in the creek to provide valuable habitat for native fish and frogs. It is anticipated that the vulnerable (Federally listed) Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis), which has previously been recorded in the local area will benefit from this. Bank stabilization works (vegetation planting) reduces erosion and scourer which helps to decrease the sediment loading in the creek. The additional vegetation is beneficial in high flow scenarios as it reduces the v

Food Security/Nutrition

Cell grazing is allowing Locmaria farms to increase meat and wool production significantly above the average achieved on neighboring properties. In traditional grazing the accepted maximum grazing capacity in this area is 12.5 Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE) per Ha. By applying rotational cell grazing on a trial area of 160 Ha, Locmaria farms has achieved a grazing density of 20 DSE per Ha in the first year of the trial and it is expected to rise further in later years. New Zealand experience suggest

Economic/Sustainable Development

The system of rotational cell grazing that Locmaria Farms is introducing has already shown in the trial areas in the first year that wool and meat production can be increased by 60% above local industry average (12.5 DSE to 20 DSE per Ha) and that unit costs per kg of production will be lower. In addition chemical and drug inputs are being substantially reduced. Based on experience from cell grazing trials elsewhere, Locmaria Farms has been advised that cell grazing will reduce fly populations

Climate

The restoration of Koijack Creek will provide a diverse habitat and ecosystem and it is hoped that this will increase the resilience of the system and give it the best chance of being able to adapt to new climate scenarios. In building more sustainable pastures through the employment of cell grazing it is anticipated that the pastures produced will be able to continue to support livestock grazing despite varying climate conditions (i.e. extended dry seasons or wet seasons).

Sustainability

The Kojak creek project for the fencing, planting & spraying has required grant funding from the “Bucks for Bush” Program, Greening Australia and Locmaria Farms. Long term, this project requires ongoing maintenance & monitoring will be at the cost of Locmaria Farms. Any major expenditure will require further grant funding. It is anticipated that once establish there should be no significant costs involved in the project. Establishing cell grazing has been a significant investment for Locmaria Farms. It has required infrastructure expenses, contract hire and labour costs to develop this project. These costs have been borne by Locmaria Farms. Once the project has been rolled out, there should be minimal costs involved aside from maintenance

Return on investment

Locmaria Farms has already invested A$230000 in cell grazing to date & further A$376000 is budget to complete the roll out of cell grazing (on the existing 1060Ha) by end 2018. Assuming that ultimate production only increases by 60% achieved in the trail area in its first year, total annual farm revenue by year end 2018 will have risen by A$440000 & after costs will have paid back the investment within two years. From 2018 onwards, the benefits will be ongoing. The added benefits of lower chemical and drug inputs, weed control without herbicide spraying and the expected termination of the muelsing of breeding ewes are additional benefits not factored into the estimates above. The restoration of Koijak Creek phase 1 has been jointly funded

How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?

Cell grazing as a farming practice has been extensively implemented globally, particularly in New Zealand sheep and dairy farming, as well as in Australian dairy farming. There are limited examples of this being replicated within Australian sheep farming. It is however a strategy which could be rolled out globally within sheep and cattle farming. It requires costs related to the employment of specialist consultants, education and training, and infrastructure outlays. The cost would be generally borne by the farmer implementing the strategy. The Koijak Creek contributes to the Habitat 141 initiative which is underpinned by an alliance made up of 10 organisations, including financial support by Alcoa. There are other landscape scale visions such as Gondwana Link in Western Australia that operate in a similar way. “Bucks for Bush” is a biodiversity grants program which is supported by the South East Natural Resources Management Board (SENRMB) through funding from the Australian Gvt

YouTube URL

Bool lagoon - South Australia

Overview