Dynamic New Farming Group

FOLLOWING the success of a carbon farming project four years ago, the same local farmers decided to look at a range of innovative farming projects together.

The newly formed Upper Hunter Sustainable Farming Group is actively welcoming new members to provide networking, on-farm trips, research and educational activities for farmers from Cassilis to Timor, Muswellbrook to Merriwa, Denman to Singleton and everywhere in between.

Upper Hunter Sustainable Farming Group members John Bigg, Kim Fenley and Col Bates discussing the paddock tour of sub-tropical pastures at Boggabri later this month.

Kim Fenley, president of the Upper Hunter Sustainable Farming Group, said they are planning their first field trip this month and invite other farmers to join them.

“Everyone involved with the project (carbon farming) was a successful experience and after some encouragement from Hunter Local Land Services, and joint discussion with the Scone More Beef and Pastures group, we formed an incorporated group, to set our own goals, explore ideas and production technologies, and drive our own projects,” Mr Fenley said.

“Our first trip to launch the new group is a Tropical Pastures bus tour to Boggabri on Wednesday, September 21 hosted by agronomist, Bob Freebairn, to George and Maree Avendano’s property, “Towri”.

“We are keen to learn more about tropical pasture systems, establishment, grazing management and long term persistence, and will inspect pastures up to 25 years old,” he said.

“The trip will also include a discussion of the role of winter legumes in tropical grass systems, fodder crops, fertilisers, livestock management and the “Towri” cattle enterprise,” Kim Fenley said.

Last month the group held a meeting at Scone RSL Club and featured guest speaker Robert Gill who shared his family’s experience of establishing a vertically integrated beef cattle production, processing, wholesale and retail business in the Hunter Valley.

They are already planning their next group trip to the University of New England’s smart farming group to view new farming technologies.

• WHAT: Trip to view sub-tropical pastures at Boggabri with agronomist Bob Freebairn.
• WHEN: Wednesday, September 21.
• COST: $20 – including food.
• INFORMATION: Jonathan Moore: jemoore@activ8.net.au

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