Gunnedah Matters What’s in storePage 2: EverGraze Page 3: Improving soil health & biodiversity Page 4: All from the same

paddock

Page 5: Look after all aspects of your country

Page 5: Sub Tropical pastures Page 6: Staff profiles Page 7: Pressurrised irrigation

systems

Page 8: Healthy soils Page 8: Tropical pastures

www.namoi.cma.gov.au

Healthy Soils for a Healthy CatchmentSoil quality is determined by the biological, chemical and physical properties of a soil and the interaction of these. Together with climatic conditions and management practices, these three soil properties are the major influences on production. The Namoi Catchment Management Authority is available to provide information on improving your soil.

If you would like more information about these contact your local Namoi Catchment Management Authority office.

Head Office PO Box 546, 35-37 Abbott Street,

Gunnedah NSW 2380 Phone (02) 6742 9220 Fax (02) 6742 4022

Glenn Bailey

Catchment Coordinator Phone 02 6742 9204 Mobile 0429 900 329

Stacey AvardCatchment Officer

Senior Property Planner Phone 02 6742 9211

Angela Baker

Catchment Officer Projects & Property Planning

Phone 02 6742 9209

Ryan BreenCatchment Officer—Riparian

Phone 02 6742 9210

Leith Hawkins Catchment Officer

Phone 02 6742 9213

George Truman Catchment Officer—Salinity

Phone 02 6742 9203

Simon Turpin Catchment Officer—Soils

Phone 02 6742 9212

Since mid-2005 Namoi CMA’s Property Planning Unit has been successfully running workshops and one-on-one activities across the Namoi catchment area. These activities have included two workshops specifically targeted at areas involved in the Department of Water & Energy’s Cap & Pipe the Bores program and a workshop for small acreages in the Tamworth area.

To date, there have been 16 workshops completed in the Nundle, Woolbrook, Tamworth, Barraba, Tambar Springs, Narrabri and Walgett areas. Workshops have also been run in conjunction with Cotton Australia’s Best Management Practice Land and Water module at Narrabri, Wee Waa and Walgett, the Quirindi Creek Catchment Communities NLP project and with dairy farmers in the Tamworth district.

Throughout 2006/07, 231 properties have been involved in both group-based and individual Property Planning activities covering a total area of 383,714 hectares or 9.13% of the Namoi Catchment. Since the inception of Namoi CMA, 410 properties covering 540,711 hectares, or 12.86% of the catchment, have been involved in Property Planning activities. This is 85% of the 2010 target set in the Namoi Catchment Action Plan.

Property Planning provides practical support to local primary producers to understand the environmental issues facing their farm, undertake activities to locate, map and assess these areas, and plan the action steps that will improve your on-farm environmental practices.

Expressions of interest are currently being taken for 4-day workshops (1 each week over a four week period) which cover• Mapping farm resources and

infrastructure on an aerial photograph

• Identifying soil types, land capability and salinity

• Water resource management• Pasture and crop management• Groundcover assessment• Native vegetation management• Riparian area management• Indigenous Cultural Heritage• Risk management planning.

More workshops are planned for early 2008, so if you are interested in participating in one in your local area, or would like further information, please contact Stacey Avard or Angela Baker on 6742 9220. or go to www.namoi.cma.nsw.gov.au

Property Planning

Tropical Pastures WorkshopsNamoi CMA recently held a serious of workshops designed to debunk some of the myths surrounding tropical pastures establishment. This series was a follow on from the successful field day held in Gunnedah earlier in the year.

The workshops represented a chance for multiple agencies including NSW Department of Primary Industries, Liverpool Plains Land Management Committee and the Namoi Catchment Management Authority to come together and share their knowledge including technical data and practical experiences on establishment of tropical pastures with topics including:• Paddock preparation• Species selection• Legumes suited to tropical pastures• Sowing techniques• Grazing management

Both field days were well attended with about 20 participants at each event and questions where fielded from all presenters on multiple topics with questions spilling well into lunch on both days.

If you are interested in attending a workshop on tropical pastures establishment or would like further information please contact Simon Turpin, Soils Officer, Namoi CMA at the Gunnedah Office on (02) 6742 9212

The Namoi CMA is involved in EverGraze, a joint research and delivery program of the Future Farm Industries CRC, MLA and AWI. EverGraze is investigating perennial-based grazing systems with the ambitious aim of increasing livestock profitability by 50% while simultaneously improving the NRM outcomes of better water management, perenniality, biodiversity and soil health.

To achieve these targets, EverGraze looks at the whole farm system and how it relates to the catchment – and brings in the knowledge and experience of top farmers together with leading researchers. An integral part of the EverGraze program are Supporting Sites located throughout the high rainfall (>550 mm) parts of southern

Australia. These Supporting Sites are situated on commercial scale farms, allowing on-farm evaluation of innovations that will increase profits and improve NRM outcomes. Supporting Sites are local trials or demonstrations where groups of producers can implement a pasture or grazing treatment, linked to work being undertaken at a Proof or research site, and compare results to their existing systems. The concept is that the sites allow livestock producers to test technologies in their own locality, at a scale that they feel is realistic, with support of scientists and Namoi CMA staff. The goal of the Supporting Sites is to encourage the adoption of new practises on farm throughout the region. There will be five Supporting Sites within the Namoi catchment that will be funded by EverGraze and the Namoi CMA over the next three years starting this year. These five Supporting Sites have been selected from Namoi CMA clients and will be located at Tambar Springs, Barraba, Quirindi, Currabubula and Gunnedah.

Supporting Site activities fall into three categories. The first, is trying new or alternative pasture species such as tropical grasses or native pasture over-sown with annual legumes. The second involves implementing new management packages on existing pastures such as grazing, fertiliser or spelling regimes for pastures to improve utilisation, ground cover or the proportion of desirable perennials. The third category looks at

innovative livestock production practises. For example, in Wagga Wagga they are trialling hedges for lambing, tree and shrub lines for shelter, combinations of sheep and cattle grazing systems and different animal systems.

Supporting Sites will be linked to one of six research sites, or Proof Sites, in priority catchments in the major livestock production areas of southern Australia; Albany in Western Australia, Hamilton in Victoria, Albury/Wodonga, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Tamworth in NSW. At these sites, new livestock options are being grazed on innovative pasture treatments to develop production systems that achieve the project goals of increased profit and improved NRM outcomes. Detailed monitoring of the effects of the treatments on soils, pastures, animals and the local environment will be undertaken.

The Tamworth Proof Site in NSW will be run by the Department of Primary Industry and the team will be headed by Dr Greg Lodge. The primary outputs from this project will be information packaged for use by producers when assessing their farm business, industry benchmark values and new tools for monitoring and assessing whole farm economics, biodiversity and soil and pasture health. Improved knowledge of the role of perennial based pastures, a better definition of catchment outcomes for recharge and runoff and the delivery of best management practices guidelines will assist in promoting the use of more profitable and environmentally sustainable farming systems by producers and local communities. The appeal of EverGraze’s Suppor t i ng Sites is that they are l a ndho l d e r driven, with financial and t e c h n i c a l s u p p o r t from local c a t c h m e n t management authorities and other agencies. Graziers join local groups to share a common problem with the aim of reducing the factors that constrain production on their farms. Healthier farms enjoy improved long-term viability. They are more drought-resistant and more profitable. The program represents a great opportunity for the region’s graziers to join efforts already underway on properties in Victoria, Western Australia and the Riverina district of New South Wales.

To contribute to a growing body of knowledge while improving your own land ,management or for more information on the EverGraze program or the Namoi CMA contact Simon Turpin, Namoi CMA Soils Officer, on 67429212, or by email on: simon.turpin@cma.nsw.gov.au

EverGraze: Healthier catchments

Jenny Buckley & Justine MartinJenny and Justine are the Reception/Administrative Officers for Namoi CMA based at the Gunnedah office.

Before Jenny came to Namoi CMA she worked at the Gunnedah TAFE campus and Gunnedah Council in the Administrative area.

She is a local Gunnedah girl and loves living in Gunnedah and her interests are gardening, school activities and reading. Jenny has three children and is married to Rod who works at the tannery.

Before joining Namoi CMA, Justine lived down on the South Coast in Bega working at a local Solicitors office for three years providing administrative support to Solicitors and staff. Her interests are, reading, bowling, music and hanging with family and friends.

Joy MartinJoy is the Executive Assistant to the General Manager of Namoi CMA. She assists the GM and other staff with administration needs, organising functions, meetings and liaising with Board Members.

Joy worked for three years at Goulburn City Council in the Engineering/Operations Dept and completed Cert IV in Business Administration by correspondence moving from Trainee Receptionist to PA for the Manager of Water Services in three years. Joy then worked for Wyong Shire Council for three years in the Health Services Department. Joy and her partner Eric have just bought a house in Gunnedah and her interests are antiques, travel, crafts music, reading and photography.

Glenn BaileyGlenn is Catchment Co-ordinator for the Western section of the Namoi Catchment covering an area from Gunnedah to Walgett. His role is to coordinate and manage natural resource management funding for on-ground works and to oversee the delivery of advice and information on soil, riparian and biodiversity management.

Glenn has a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience as he has been in natural resource management for nearly 30 years with over 25 years on the Liverpool Plains. He was a practicing soil conservationist for many years followed by Catchment Management with DIPNR responsible for soil conservation, vegetation and floodplain management.

Glenn has seen the floods through the 90s and the damage and benefits floods can deliver. He has also seen dry times and the impacts of salinity and government policy. He is looking forward to the next big rains to fill dams and regenerate soil moisture, as he believes eight years between floods is excessive.

Glenn has resided in Gunnedah for the past 20 years with his wife Liz. They have raised three daughters all of which have followed their mother in the health industry.

Jenny

Buckley & Justine

The Namoi CMA has assisted Somerton irrigator, Guy Hebblewhite with funds to undertake an irrigation system evaluation of his property ‘Moana’. The current enterprise consists of 60ha of irrigated lucerne and forage sorghum, which the area divided in two 30ha fields along the alluvial flats of the Peel River. The water audit identified that the present system is around 50% efficient and that with a number of changes and additions an efficiency of 90% could be achieved.

Irrigation issues that were identified were:

A very poor distribution uniformity (50%) from the hand shift irrigator due to sprays and nozzles having 5 different sizes and some without stand pipes resulting in uneven watering. These have been replaced with the same size and type which should increase the distribution uniformity from 50% to 85%.

The identification of surface crusting of some soils which is resulting in slaking and dispersion of soil leading to poor water infiltration and drainage. This area has been removed from

irrigation until organic levels have been improved and soil structure re-established.

The location of the river pump in relation to where the better soils are. The river pump is currently located where the poorest irrigation soils are. This has been moved upstream near to where the good irrigation soils are.

In addition to these changes a centre pivot has been installed in the area where the better soils are located. This has improved the overall farm efficiency by reducing the amount of water that is lost through system inefficiencies, poor scheduling, evaporation and seepage.

Guy has also attended a Centre Pivot Irrigation System training course to improve his knowledge of the system and improve his scheduling of irrigation.“By first identifying critical measurable water issues through the water audit then applying an appropriate level of funding to fix those issues is without a doubt the best money we have ever spent. “The centre pivot saves time, labor, fuel and most of all water,” Guy said.

Case Study: Water Use Efficiency Improvements on the property ‘Moana’ Somerton

ProfIlES

The Engineered Woodlands Project is about trialling an innovative new land use in the upper Namoi catchment. The project aims to demonstrate a profitable land use with good natural resource management outcomes that integrates the growing of native trees for carbon and timber within agricultural production systems. The aim is for the resulting engineered woodlands to mimic the original native vegetation in form and structure, and be sufficiently cost effective to foster large scale adoption to reverse the past trend of rural tree decline in affected landscapes. The woodlands are likely to have improved biodiversity, nutrient cycling, water-use efficiency, landscape aesthetics and shade and shelter values over current pasture or crop - only land use. But be designed to allow the continued efficient operation of the agricultural enterprises at the same time. Key features of this new approach include:

• The use of entire paddocks for tree establishment to minimise fencing costs, hence substantially reduce establishment costs;

• Use wide-spaced belts of trees to allow agricultural activity to continue between the belts once trees have become sufficiently established (within 1-2 years). Tree rows are established at spacings to suit farmers’ machinery and pasture and stock management and aligned to maximise microclimate benefits. They can be established in straight rows to simplify the erection of temporary fences if needed for grazing mgt, or they can be established in curved contour plantings to suit the landscape. Indeed landholder partners to the project are likely to invent their own designs to suit their operations and innovations are expected;

• Use native species which have been identified with good straight form and fast growth rates in the upper Namoi region and use best practice

establishment techniques to optimise growth rates;

• Have the participating landholders established in the carbon market and receiving (or are set up to

receive) carbon credit payments;

Six landholders from the Namoi have agreed to become part

of the project with trial sites ranging from 10ha to

50ha in size. They are located at Kentucky and Woolbrook in the upper catchment and at Duri, Loomberah and Gunnedah on the slopes and plains. Field days are planned for autumn 08 to

inform landholders of the progress of

the project, show-case the participating

landholders various designs and, in particular, to

report on the development of the carbon market for farmers.

Engineered Woodlands Project – initiative of the Northern Inland Forestry Investment Group (NIFIG) a sub-committee of the Northern Inland Regional Development Board – Co funded by the Board, Namoi CMA and Border Rivers Gwydir CMA.

Contact the NIFIG – Shane Andrews, Project Co-ordinator 0427 753808, David Thompson, Project Manager 0419 681 818

See more information on the Boards website: www.nio.com.au and use the forestry links. An example of an engineered woodland on John and Vicki Taylor’s place near Kentucky. The Taylors have planted 11% of their farm to trees in both blocks and contour planting’s for no loss of stock carrying capacity, observed improvement in lambing rates, reduced stock losses in cold weather and additional income from timber (photo Michael Taylor).

The viability and productivity of farming country has usually been measured in terms such as of tonnes of grain produced and carrying capacity. But there are other aspects of land management that also contribute to the long term viability, sustainability and at the end of the day the market value of your property be it large or small.

Maintaining a balance of good farming practice and at the same time being aware of the naturally occurring elements of your country – such as the diversity of native vegetation and the health and range of animal and bird communities – will ensure that all aspects of management will maximise your returns in both the short term and when the time comes to consider moving on.

Three ways to assess and prioritise the management of different areas on your farm can be addressed very simply and incorporated into your day to day farm management.

These can be summarised by the following:-

Retain and protect existing areas of native vegetation. Those of high value will maintain habitat for useful plants and animals and promote the diversity of population that will result in a more stable and resilient environment – this is in fact a way of managing risk. A healthy variety of species will result in a more productive and viable system.

Reduce pressure on degraded areas and maintain good housekeeping in regard to weed, pest and disease control. This will help restore naturally occurring areas to a healthier state.

Revegetation of identified areas close to your crops and pastures with a range of native species and creating corridors will increase the diversity and viability of the communities of plant and animal life that can be supported. This inturn encourages useful animals such as bats, which do an excellent job of eating insects, to live ‘close to the job’. Less damage to your crop will be dollars in your pocket without the expense of costly spray applications.

Recognising farming practices that improve the condition of all aspects of farm health make farms not only more productive but also a better place to live. These current tough times have given farmers the opportunity to assess their operation under the worst possible conditions. Now is the time to plan to maximise every strategy available when things improve and in turn reap the rewards from a farm that recognises the big picture – not just the short term gain.

The Namoi CMA can help you with advice in regard to identification of species on your property and the best way to retain, restore and revegetate your country.

look after all aspects of your country and reap the rewards

Despite the dry conditions this year, Brett and Wendy Blackmore have achieved good success with the establishment of 60ha of sub tropical grass pasture. The grasses sown have come to be regarded as the best overall species in a soil that is a mix of hardsetting red brown earth and more friable brown clay. They included consol lovegrass, premier digit, bambatsi panic and katambora rhodes grass. Sown in early February, the pasture germinated well on rains shortly after. Quite dry conditions saw only minor secondary root development prior to winter and it is a testimony to the strong survival ability of these pastures that there was such a high level of plant survival over the winter period.

Good rains in late August were largely used by the vigorous annual grass weed competition that grew, despite the paddock being fallowed for 18 months prior to sowing. Since sowing, there had also been two broadleaf weed sprays.

Things looked sad prior to the recent good rains which really saved the day and promoted overall secondary root development. Although there has been a thinning out where competition was severe, the pasture now looks here to stay, although it would certainly benefit from additional rain in the near future. It will be top dressed with sulphate of ammonia over summer and sown with legumes next autumn.

All in all, a success story in a dry season. It highlights the importance of sowing the right species of high quality seed into as clean a weed situation as possible. Brett and Wendy will press on and hope to sow an additional 65ha this season, moisture permitting. At present there is very little subsoil moisture, without which, as with a crop, there is a significant increased risk of failure. The strategy is, build up soil moisture first and don’t rush it, the window for sowing will last till the end of February.

Sub tropical pasture establishment at ‘Emerald Plains’, Gunnedah

Trees, pastures, crops, carbon credits and timber - all from the same paddock, can it be done?

Namoi CMA has been working with a local Maules Creek landholder to complete a series of works on their property. The project is aimed at large scale landscape change and includes:

• fencing out and managing 649ha for biodiversity management

• fencing out 79ha for biodiversity enhancement through ecological grazing

• fencing and off-stream watering to protect 1.7km a riparian area

• 856ha of land fenced to improve soil health and ground cover

• 1112ha of land fenced to improve salinity recharge and soil health ‘Wirradale’ owners Berlinda and Dominic Makim said that “the fencing will give us outcomes straight away. It means we can lock up country and give it a spell as soon as possible.

“Not only have we been able to remove the watering points off the creek but with assistance of Namoi CMA we have improved the flexibility of our grazing management by creating more paddocks and spelling more country.

“We have been able to achieve in a short timeframe what we had originally intended to achieve over time but such poor seasons have made it very difficult – this funding has been a big help.”

Funding received from Namoi CMA has been spent directly in on-ground works with additional investment by Berlinda and Dominic.

Namoi CMA Catchment Officer, Leith Hawkins said “we have worked closely with Berlinda & Dominic assisting with project development and technical assessments to achieve a win / win for both parties.”

The whole project consisted of 40.3km fencing, 17.3km of poly pipe, 15 troughs and 2 tanks.

This funding represents another milestone in co-operation between Namoi CMA and local landholders to help improve natural resource management and sustainable farming practices in the Mid Namoi catchment

Improving soil health and biodiversity in Maules Creek sub-catchment

What do we mean by Water Use Efficiency?Water Use Efficiency (WUE) generally describes a relationship between system inputs and outputs. There are two main measurements that are used. The first relates production outputs ($, bales or tonnes) to water input (megalitres) resulting in a water use index, the second relates water output (ML) to water input (ML) resulting in a % irrigation system efficiency. Three main efficiency terms are used widely in the irrigation industry and are applicable within the farming system. These are application efficiency which relates the amount of water supplied to the amount of water available to the crop. This is particularly useful as it can indicate the potential for water savings within the field and the associated production benefits. Field efficiency covers the on farm distribution and relates water received at the field inlet to water received at the farm gate, and is usually able to account for the efficiency of on-farm storages. Farm efficiency relates to a combination of the previous two terms.

Water Application SystemsPressurised systems generally deliver water from a river or groundwater source. Water is delivered via a series of pumps, pipes, channels, and is applied to the land generally through spray irrigation. Application techniques may include hand shift, travelling, spray, pivot and lateral move irrigators. In some areas sub-surface and surface drip irrigation techniques are being adopted.

Un-pressurised (or surface) systems rely on gravity and head of water to deliver water via supply channels, head ditches and siphons to furrows and flood irrigation systems. The systems use storages, land levelling, lift pumps and high flow low head pumps for movement of irrigation water. Improvements in WUE can be gained through soil mapping of the irrigated area; the use of moisture probes to determine plant available water content and deep drainage; an assessment of water movement in furrows; water balance of delivery systems; assessment of efficiencies of water storages; irrigation system changes, either management and/or infrastructure.

What components of irrigation systems can be measured?Areas where there is a potential for increased water use efficiency need to be firstly identified by undertaking an assessment of the current system to determine what the current water use is. This can then be compared with what could be expected from the system given water availability and the efficiency of the delivery system. Measurements may include; soil mapping of the irrigated area to determine soil type and uniformity and hence water holding capacity, the use of moisture probes to determine plant available water content and potential deep drainage, an assessment of water application uniformity from sprays and nozzles, water balance of delivery systems (pumps and flow rates). Many of these measurements are made in preparing a Water Audit which can identify what the current efficiency of various parts of the irrigation system is and where improvements can be made. What type of onground changes can be made to pressurised irrigation systems?Changes may include; adjustments to the current system through improvements in application rates (nozzles etc), installation of new equipment (pivot and lateral move irrigators, sub-surface and drip irrigation); changes in paddock layout to better suit soil conditions, and either management and/or scheduling of water application. Namoi CMA has provided funds for Water Audits to be carried out on existing irrigation systems to determine the current WUE and identify where improvements can be gained. We have also funded attendance at training sessions to improve the understanding of irrigation scheduling and benchmarking.

Pressurised Irrigation Systems - Water Use Efficiency opportunities

leith Hawkins & Dominic Makim

There has been increasing interest and awareness of the need to measure and monitor water use with the ongoing dry conditions and reduction in water availability. Namoi CMA has been working with land managers to provide funds to help them assess and monitor their water use. Through the incentives program, Namoi CMA has provided funds to both irrigators with pressurised and un-pressurised systems to benchmark and improve their efficiency. This article will relate specifically to pressurized irrigation systems and describe what water use efficiency is, what componenets of the system can be measured and the type of changes that can be made to improve efficiencies.