Western NSW Farm Tour: Landscape rehydration and revegetation

Join NSW Department of Primary Industries and Western Local Land Services at Cobar.

Scott Preisig and Belinda Blake trialled several landscape modifications to rehabilitate and rejuvenate their property during the 2018/19 drought. Despite tough climatic condition they successfully brought productivity back to the areas. They’ve since partnered with DPI to extend the work.

This farm tour is a chance to talk to the experts and see the projects first-hand.

You’ll hear from:

• Farmers: Scott Preisig and Belinda Blake
• Western LLS: Paul Theakston, Rangelands Rehabilitation
• NSW DPI: Sarah McDonald, Research Officer, Pastures
• NSW DPI: Digital Agriculture Team, AgTech

You'll see:

• Sites ripped 3 years ago (2019),
• Sites ripped earlier this year (2022),
• Sites ponded this year,
• AgTech installed to monitor on-site weather and water infiltration, and
• Multiple sown species including Burgundy Bean, Forage Sorghum, Buffle Grass, Silky Bluegrass, Curly Windmill Grass, Evans Wallaby Grass, Kangaroo Grass, Premier Digit and others.

When: 13th December 2022 8:15am-1:30pm

Bring: Hat, closed shoes, morning tea & water. Lunch provided.

Where: ‘Merrylands’, Mulya Road, Kerrigundi, NSW, 2835 (50min NW of Cobar)

Directions: From Cobar - entry gate on right 72km after Louth Rd/Fredrick St turn off. From Louth - entry gate on left 55km after Louth Rd/Darling River Rd turn off.

For more information contact Matt Pierce on 0439 321 260 or email matt.pierce@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Agenda

8:15 am Arrival  

8:30 am Meet at Cow Paddock  

New ripping site sown with multi-species mix in April/May 2022.

Acknowledgement of country.

Speakers:

• Matt Pierce – Welcome, overview of field day and project, introductions.
• Scott and Belinda – the challenge (paddocks unproductive and getting worse + poor climatic record/data for sound decision making).
• Paul Theakston – rehabilitation methods (diversion banks, ripping, ponding).
• Sarah McDonald – quantitatively assessing improvements (Landscape Function Analysis).
• Michael Middleton – Climate tech (advantages of on farm data, connectivity options).

10:00 am Leave Cow Paddock to Paddock 7  

2x Stops:   

• Existing ripping site sown with Forage Sorghum and Burgundy Bean in 2019, and
• Ponding site (Fairy Waterhole) ponded in 2022.

11:30 am Leave Fairy Waterhole for House paddock  

Existing ripping site and sown with Oats and Buffle Grass in 2019.

12:30 pm Lunch 

13:30 pm Finish 

This farm tour is being undertaken as part of the Primary Industries Climate Change Research Strategy, funded by the NSW Climate Change Fund.