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Project leader/contact: Lesley Rogers, DPI Rutherglen (02 6030 4612) Property Management Systems are whole farm business plans that have the potential to simplify and make more efficient farm business in relation to; planning, regulation, legal, NRM requirements and access to resources. They include both the environmental and business management components and can integrate EMS, Quality Assurance schemes, Occupational Health & Safety, biosecurity and animal welfare. This project focuses on the institutional aspects of land-use planning processes and policy using PMS to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers/land managers. The project aims to provide farmers with better access to market and environmental drivers by linking on-farm activity to industry certification standards and NRM incentives. Streamlining regulatory processes and improving access for farmers to market and environmental drivers will ultimately mean that farmers can more effectively meet their regulatory obligations, increase productivity and deliver improved environmental outcomes. eFarmer - A web-based farm and catchment planning tool
Through the use of spatial tools, land managers have more information on which to base natural resource management decisions. The ability to overlay spatial information that is unique to their property, is a major advantage of such systems. The project also allows regions to report on voluntary activities completed that contribute to natural resource management outcomes of the whole catchment. The web-based application 'eFarmer' is being trialed in 4 contrasting catchments across Victoria, utilising the valuable feedback from land managers and catchment planning staff. The pilot will be completed in November 2006 and further development of the application will be confirmed after an evaluation report is submitted late 2006. EMS – Connecting Farms to Catchments and Land Managers to Ecosystems Funded by: DPI Program 1 for four years. Project leader/contact: Anna Ridley, DPI Rutherglen (02 6030 4500) Approach Taken: This project addresses the need to substantiate the ability of EMS to deliver natural resource management outcomes on farm and at the catchment scale in Victoria. The project has whole-of-state and cross industry relevance and has implications in both domestic and international markets. The project has 3 modules and aims to:
VFF-led, Co-operative Action on Environmental Awareness and EMS
Gippsland EMS
The results are used by DPI, DSE and CMA’s with planning and resourcing. For example this data could inform catchment managers that 1500 ha of perennial pasture needs to be sown and 20km of protective fencing needs to be erected, or that soil management or water quality is a particular priority in an area. What’s Happening in Victoria? Corangamite Approach taken: A joint program to implement the actions specified in fourteen Local Area Action Plans (LAAP) developed in 2004 with 200 landholders in the Corangamite Region. Over the next three years the National Landcare Program together with the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Dept of Primary Industries, will support the existing 14 LAAP and the development of five new LAAP to provide participants with the opportunity to implement actions specified. The project links landholder learning and support needs, for practice change towards more sustainable production, identified in the previous project with the priority actions of the RCS and sub strategies and regionally available support / incentive programs to achieve on-ground practice change. The implementation of the 19 LAAP over the next three years will help to ensure that agricultural productivity, land capability, water quality and soil health are maintained over the long term in the Corangamite region. The specific NRM issues this project will address include soil conservation, nutrient management, weed management, vermin control, native vegetation management and perennial pasture establishment. Glenelg Hopkins Approach taken: In July 2005, DPI, the Glenelg Hopkins CMA and Victorian Farmers Federation joined forces the to deliver a new program of Environmental Best Management Practices (EBMP) over the next three years. The project builds on a pilot program that ran in 2002 in the Glenelg Hopkins region with 200 participants. The new funding provides assistance for past participants to review their plans and receive technical support for on-farm works. It also enables 200 new properties to participate in EBMP during each year of the program, with a greater emphasis on follow-up support through on-farm days and the use of monitoring and assessment tools. Articles and papers: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the below documents. A free copy can be downloaded from Adobe Acrobat (external link). Information Package on EBMP Workbooks are currently being updated, the next edition building in aspects of environmental monitoring and record keeping. Below is an example of one chapter within a workbook. Linking On-Farm EMS with Catchment Targets - A Farmer-Catchment-Government Partnership in Victoria Contact: Geoff Park - North Central Catchment Management Authority, ph. 03 5440 1808 Funded by: AFFA EMS Pilot Program Approach taken: This project is a partnership between three Catchment Management Authorities (North Central, North East and Glenelg Hopkins), DPI, DSE, the VFF and participating farmers. The project builds on the Riverina EMS Project (GRDC) and will use an EMS package tailored for dryland cropping/livestock farms. This approach will use EMS as a process tool while using adult education to communicate to farmers and create an understanding of the principles of a sustainable farming system. There is a strong emphasis on incorporating environmental monitoring and using methodologies based on scientific research to educate farmers about production and environmental aspects of farming. This project will link on farm EMS to regional catchment targets as currently being developed in Regional Catchment Strategies. The synergy and relevance between on-farm EMS and regional targets will be tested on farms (with 9 farmer groups) in the 3 CMA regions. Mallee EMS
The project has moved to an evaluation trial phase with a target engagement of forty landholders. Trial implementation has commenced following the formation of a project partnership between DPI and Sunraysia Institute of TAFE with workshops scheduled for winter 2005. The partnership combines the strengths of two key region service organisations to deliver education and extension in a case managed delivery framework. Through adoption of change at paddock scale, farmers will be encouraged to effect change using whole farm planning while understanding the effects of their work beyond the farm boundary. The evaluation of this project will include measurement of catchment indicators, and established agricultural and biodiversity benchmarks. The project will provide a decision support tool for Mallee farming systems which integrates current dryland programs. The project will deliver strategic outputs that are geared to protect key assets in line with the Regional Catchment Strategy, the Salinity and Water Quality Plan for the Victorian Mallee and biodiversity Action Plans. The project also utilises, builds on and implements the anticipated outcomes from the initiatives of the NAP foundation funding projects for the Mallee dryland region. |
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© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2008.
This document was published on 25/09/2008.