Big Shift For Small Farms - Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming

This episode explores the importance of soil and soil management for agriculture and the environment, focusing on the soils of the Sydney region. Experts from the New South Wales Soil Knowledge Network share their expertise on topics such as geology, soil formation, soil types, erosion, and assessing soil health. The conversation highlights the role of organic matter, irrigation, and soil samples in managing different soil types. Listeners will gain a better understanding of the value of soil and practical tips for improving soil health. Let's make the world greener and healthier, one soil particle at a time!Thank you to our guests featured in this episode: Greg Chapman Tony Voller Madeleine Florin Cathy SherryFor more information: NSW Soils Knowledge Network eSPADE National Library of Australia (Trove) Six Maps Sustainable Vegetable Farming - Episode 3 - Soil health fundamentals - YouTubeProduced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services

In this episode, we explore soil amendments and their role in enhancing soil fertility. Accompanied by farmers from Kangaroo Valley, we delve into their strategic use of compost and diverse amendments to enhance soil health. Former Senior Agricultural Advisor Ed Hogan presents a comprehensive soil biology demonstration, offering invaluable insights for the farming community - recognising the significance of tailoring agricultural approaches to meet the distinctive needs of each soil and steering clear of a generic 'one-size-fits-all' methodology. Tune in to discover which amendments could potentially elevate the soil fertility on your farm.Thank you to our guests featured in this episode: Brad Hawthorne Gavin Chittick Edmund HoganFor more information: Southeast local land servicesProduced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services

Many landholders have been promoting biodiversity and wildlife conservation on their property for many years. Not only is this beneficial for the environment, but through conservation agreements, landholders benefit financially from protecting their patches.Landholders can be involved in a variety of different programs and conservation agreements. One of the main aspects is landholders need to have native vegetation in good condition on their land. In terms of size, smaller farms can collaborate to create larger parcels that may be eligible for financial compensation. In this episode, we’ll hear from private landowners who have been managing biodiversity and promoting wildlife conservation on their land for years - and they have benefited from it in many ways. Thank you to our guests featured in this episode: Bev Debrincat - Chair of Greater Sydney Landcare, landholder Xuela Sledge - Koala Project Officer with Greater Sydney Landcare Matt Carr - acting director of the Biodiversity Conservation Trust Jocelyn Howden - founder of the Glenorie Wildlife RefugeFor more information or to get involved:Landholder guide to conservation agreementsBiodiversity Conservation TrustLand for Wildlife Hosted by Edgars Greste 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 Matthew Martin - Old Cobran Pastoral https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/m-martin Stacey Lugsdin - Warrendale https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/stories/s-lugsdin Luke and Pia Winder - Tathra Place 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.

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 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 Watch all the Climate Smart films: https://www.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.

#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