Published
25 July 2023
Ministers
Funding for on-farm projects to accelerate carbon farming
The Cook Government's Western Australian Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program is providing more than $2.15 million to farmers to capture carbon and build soil health, while lifting business vitality.
- Eight recipients to share in $2.15 million Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program funding for on-farm projects
- Cook Government supporting WA farmers' participation in carbon farming market
The Cook Government's Western Australian Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program is providing more than $2.15 million to farmers to capture carbon and build soil health, while lifting business vitality.
Murray and Adele Grey's Grazing Soil Carbon project at Yathroo, south west of Moora, is among eight recipients from across the agricultural region to receive funding for carbon farming initiatives.
The $166,901 allocated to the Grey family will leverage co-investment to sequester carbon at depth – where it will become more secure and stable – and increase soil organic matter by extending grazing rest periods on tagasaste and pastures.
The funds will assist the family to lease land and install water points to increase stocking rates and grazing intensity of their cattle, without risking soil erosion. They will also be able to plant sub-tropical perennial plants, multi-species shelter belts and cover crops.
Other recipients are investing in soil amelioration using clay, compost and manure, mixed species legume fodder crops, revegetation, cell fencing and applications of synthetic calcium to encourage long term deep root development.
These activities will generate co-benefits, including improved soil health, agricultural productivity, salinity mitigation, biodiversity and conservation, and Aboriginal economic and cultural opportunities.
Together, the recipients' projects span 26,390 hectares and will remove a projected 423,103 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere over the next decade. This will build on the work of the round 1 recipients removing 240,000 tonnes across 7,000 hectares.
Several of the round 2 successful applicants were recipients of the WA Government's Carbon Farming Vouchers to engage professional advice to develop land management strategies for soil and vegetation carbon sequestration projects.
Applications for the next round of vouchers will open soon. More information on the voucher program and a full list of round 2 Carbon Farming Land Restoration Program funding recipients is available at www.agric.wa.gov.au/CF-LRP.
This pioneering program is assisting WA landholders to be leaders in carbon farming and respond to market forces for sustainably produced food and fibre products.
"The Greys' Yathroo project will be ground breaking, providing new insights into sequestering carbon at depths of at least 1.2 metres, as well as alternative grazing management strategies – paving the way for others to learn from their experiences.
"I encourage all landholders to find out how carbon farming can benefit their businesses by attending an upcoming carbon farming workshop or webinar or apply for a Carbon Farming Voucher later this year, to reap the rewards of participating in the carbon marketplace."
Carbon Farming Land Restoration Program – Round 2 recipients
|
Recipient |
Project |
Region |
Grant |
|
Trustee for the Grey Family Farming Trust |
GFB Grazing soil carbon – increasing stocking rates and grazing intensity to extend pasture rest periodsto increase soil humus and sequester carbon at depth. |
Central Wheatbelt |
$166,901 |
|
Hacienda De Trigo |
Hacienda De Trigo endemic vegetation and soil – very deep ripping, ameliorating soil with clay, compost and manure and introducing mixed legume species fodder crops to improve soil health and increase carbon sequestration. |
Central Wheatbelt |
$140,000 |
|
Lemonade Valley Pty Ltd |
Lemonade Valley Biodiversity – restore low productivity farmland and conservation assets by biodiverse plantings across 200ha to support soil health, carbon levels and honey production. |
Central Wheatbelt |
$397,950 |
|
A. L. Ruse |
Red Gully Farm Soil and Vegetation – implement strategic grazing management and establish vegetation strips to reduce soil erosion and increase soil organic carbon. |
Central Wheatbelt |
$150,000 |
|
Wide Open Agriculture |
Dirty Clean Food – multi-species environmental planting across five properties to optimise carbon yields and purchase of a seed nursery to secure future supplies. |
Wheatbelt/Great Southern |
$174,533 |
|
Native Carbon Three Pty Ltd |
Tambellup Noongar Farm – ecological restoration of 130 hectares of degraded farmland and reconnecting remnant vegetation adjacent to the Gordon River by the local Aboriginal community to mitigate salinity and capture carbon. |
Great Southern |
$607,750 |
|
The Trustree for Vermac Trust |
Wandoo Springs – implement holistic grazing management, alongside establishing salt tolerant pasture species to improve soil health and carbon stocks. |
South West |
$172,000 |
|
Hayes – Thompson |
Daraining Springs – establishing fencing to aid cell grazing and planting permanent pastures, treated with synthetic calcium to aid deep root development, to mitigate soil erosion and improve carbon levels. |
Eastern Wheatbelt |
$348,140 |
