Videos

The potential of Australian soils to sequester carbon and offset emissions is a hot topic right now. As seen in our previous webinars in this series, building soil organic carbon depends on healthy, active, productive soils. But how does a major soil constraint common across Australia, increasing soil acidity, affect this process?

Join us to hear from Dr Jason Condon, NSW Department of Primary Industries, about the latest research on acidic soil management in cropping systems.

The Road to Net Zero webinar series explores the reasons for reducing emissions, the different solutions available and industry progress towards carbon neutrality. Soils are a very complex and integral system, so keep an eye out for more Road to Net Zero webinars on the topic.

Authorised by F.Davis, 6 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine VIC 3450

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The potential of Australian soils to sequester carbon and offset emissions is a hot topic right now. But what are governments doing to help farmers realise this potential?
In our Understanding Soils webinar series we’ve been taking a deep dive into soil science. But what happens once you’ve managed to carbon sequester in your soils?

Join us to hear from Dr Cathy Waters, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, to learn what the NSW Government is doing to support farmers establishing baselines and use unsold credits as business assets via a register of carbon credits.

The Road to Net Zero webinar series explores the reasons for reducing emissions, the different solutions available and industry progress towards carbon neutrality. Soils are a very complex and integral system, so keep an eye out for more Road to Net Zero webinars on the topic.

In Part 1 of our Road to Net Zero: Understanding Soils webinar series we heard from Dr Cassandra Schefe on the soil characteristics that are integral for building soil carbon. In Part 2 Dr Lyn Abbott will discuss the role of soil microbes.

Dr Cathy Waters
Cathy is a Principal Research Scientist and Leader of Climate Research in NSW DPI. She manages a high performing team of scientists working across both the applied climate science and industry practice space. Current research themes include the science-policy interface, holistic approaches to climate change, impact assessment and abatement potential from the agricultural sector.

Her current research program is focused on carbon (emissions reduction and sequestration) and energy (supply and demand) themes under the NSW DPI Climate Change Research Strategy. This research aims to create opportunities to increase farm business resilience through the creation of additional income streams from carbon farming and cost savings through energy efficiencies and transition to clean energy. Cathy is also co-developing the NSW Primary Industries and Productivity Abatement Program with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and is developing new R&D areas including whole-farm carbon management.

Cathy has had more than 25 years’ experience working as a rangeland ecologist in sustainable grazing management, policy development and addressing ground cover and total grazing pressure management.

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The Road to Net Zero webinar series explores the reasons for reducing emissions, the different solutions available and industry progress towards carbon neutrality. Soils are a very complex and integral system, so keep an eye out for more Road to Net Zero webinars on the topic.

In Part 1 of our Road to Net Zero: Understanding Soils webinar series we heard from Dr Cassandra Schefe on the soil characteristics that are integral for building soil carbon. In Part 2 Dr Lyn Abbott will discuss the role of soil microbes.

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On Wednesday 31 March 2021, Farmers for Climate Action together with Community Power Agency hosted 'How to harness the renewable energy boom'.

Australia is on the cusp of a renewable energy boom. But how can we make sure farmers and regional communities benefit from the mass investment and build-out of solar and wind energy?

The electricity sector is the single largest driver of climate change and takes billions of dollars out of our regional Australia each year. Together we can change that. We can build a local renewable energy economy that works for everyone.

Farmers for Climate Action is running a campaign called Repower our Communities to ensure that regional communities benefit from this transition. Find out more here https://www.repowerourcommunities.org.au/

Watch the webinar and find out how we can do it.

If you're interested in joining the campaign you can do so here https://www.repowerourcommunities.org.au/

Dr Helen Haines MP
Dr Helen Haines is the Federal Member for Indi. She developed the Local Power Plan to ensure that communities benefit from the transition to renewable energy. She has a bill currently before Parliament that would set up an agency to support communities to invest in local renewable energy solutions.

Mark Hull
Mark has been supporting community-focussed energy programmes for over two decades, working for Community Energy Scotland for more than 10 of those years. Scotland is a global leader in community renewable energy. At the end of June 2019 an estimated 731 MW of community or locally owned renewable energy capacity was operational in Scotland. This was spread over a total of 20,560 individual renewable energy installations. This has revitalised many rural communities in Scotland and is a model that can be adopted here in Australia.

Authorised by F. Davis, 6 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine VIC, 3450.

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The potential of Australian soils to sequester carbon and offset emissions is a hot topic right now. But how do you go about building soil carbon?

We heard from Dr Cassandra Schefe, a leading soil science researcher, for the first in our Road to Net Zero webinar series, Understanding Soils held on 25 March 2021.

Dr Schefe will took us back to basics, explaining the relationships between different soil characteristics and their contributions to a soil system. She then took us through how farmers can use this knowledge to achieve an increase in carbon.

The Road to Net Zero webinar series explores the reasons for reducing emissions, the different solutions available and industry progress towards carbon neutrality. Soils are a very complex and integral system, so keep an eye out for more Road to Net Zero webinars on the topic. As they are announced, you will be able to find them here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/what-we-do/events/

If you are interested in getting involved in our Tassie work, you can do so here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/tasmania/

Dr Cassandra Schefe
After completing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) in 1999 at The University of Melbourne, Dr Schefe was employed by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), Victoria as a research scientist in soil chemistry. Cassandra specialised in soil chemistry and soil-plant interactions, completing a GRDC-funded PhD with Monash University on the interactions between carbon and fertilisers in improving nutrient availability in acid soils. Further research was conducted on understanding how nutrients and soil interact using synchrotron techniques, identifying mechanisms to improve nutrient supply, and determining the impact of source and process on the quality of organic amendments.

In 2014 Cassandra left DEPI to establish ‘Schefe Consulting’, and to continue working with farmers through part-time employment with Riverine Plains Inc. Within ‘Schefe Consulting’ Cassandra has partnered with a range of fertiliser and mining companies to develop and field test new fertiliser products, conducted synchrotron research with the University of New England and Southern Cross University, supervised PhD students at Monash and Melbourne University, worked with councils and water authorities to manage waste products, advised corporate farming entities on the management of soil constraints, and established an industry program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cropping, in partnership with Mars Petcare and the Sustainable Food Lab, USA.

Authorised by F. Davis, 6 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine VIC 3450

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This year Farmers for Climate Action is taking a closer look at how Tasmanian graziers can become more climate-smart via an online and in-person series, Climate-Smart Tasmanian Grazing.

At this webinar attendees heard from Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) Research Fellow Dr Rowan Smith on the latest in growing red meat productivity through the selection and establishment of perennial legumes.

Our first event for 2021 was a Campbell Town site visit held on 19 January, where attendees took a closer look at Dr Smith’s new research that promises to boost beef productivity and enhance resilience in the face of a changing climate. Dr Smith will share the latest from the Campbell Town site for all those unable to make the day.

The research will help grow productivity in the red meat industry by identifying and establishing perennial legume species that can successfully persist to fill feed gaps and improve tolerance and productivity under waterlogging.

Dr Smith’s project aims to take a region-focused approach to improve the proportion of legumes in the high rainfall regions of the North West Coast and low-medium rainfall region of the Tasmanian Midlands.

Find out more about how this exciting new project promises to boost the productivity and resilience of Tasmania’s red meat industry here https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/legume-research-to-boost-tassie-s-red-meat-industry/

To join our Tassie network go here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/tasmania/

You can find other FCA events here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/what-we-do/events/

Photo credit: Brett Hall

Authorised by F. Davis 6 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine VIC 3450

Acknowledgments:

‘Growing red meat productivity through the selection and establishment of perennial legumes’ is jointly funded by TIA and the MLA Donor Company in association with the Livestock Productivity Partnership.

Research Team: Rowan Smith, Beth Penrose, Adam Langworthy, Gary Martin, Joanna Talbot.

‘TIA’s Herbage Development Program’ is jointly funded by TIA and the State Government.

Research Team: Rowan Smith, Beth Penrose, Gary Martin, Joanna Talbot
Student contributions from: Kristy Stevenson, Hugh McShane.

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Renewing the Regions: Agriculture and the Energy Transition was held on Wednesday 9 December 2020.

With abundant sunshine and wind, regional Australia has the potential to reap enormous rewards from the clean energy transition. This webinar explores how farmers here are already benefiting as well as new research out of the United States focussed on growing crops under solar panels.

Hosted by the Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Farmers for Climate Action, this free webinar showcased a great line-up of speakers, including:
- Oregon State University Associate Professor Chad Higgins on growing crops under solar panels
- Victorian farmer Paul Squires on growing potatoes under solar panels
- South Australian farmer James Stacey on cutting costs with solar irrigation
- Meredith Dairy environmental co-ordinator Dom Murphy on using bioenergy

Karin Stark, National Renewables in Agriculture Conference convenor, facilitated the webinar. ReAqua business development manager (QLD) Glenn Miller and GV Community Energy CEO Geoff Lodge joined the panel for a Q&A.

This event was brought to you thanks to generous sponsorship from Regen Energy. https://regenenergy.com.au/

Visit our website for similar events https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/
Visit the Renewables in Ag Conference website for more information about the 2021 conference https://www.renewablesinagconference.com.au/

Thanks also to the partners of the Renewables in Agriculture Conference:
NSW Farmers, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, National Irrigators’ Council, Clean Energy Council, Queensland Farmers’ Federation, National Farmers’ Federation and ReAqua.

Authorised by F. Davis, 6 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine VIC 3450

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On Tuesday 1 December, Farmers for Climate launched their latest briefing paper Foot off the Gas: How a gas-led recovery will impact Australian farmers.

This briefing paper explores the impacts of gas extraction on rural Australia’s natural capital, economy and social capital. It finds that increasing gas production in Australia creates obstacles to the agriculture sector’s economic viability, social cohesion, environmental stewardship and ability to meet sustainability goals.

Wendy Cohen, CEO of Farmers for Climate Action, launched the briefing paper. Wendy was joined by Richard Heath, Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute, and Niall Blair, former leader of the New South Wales National Party.

The briefing paper was written by the Australian Farm Institute, commissioned by Farmers for Climate Action and Australian Conservation Foundation.

You can read the full report here: https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/foot-off-the-gas/

Sign the petition here: https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/portfolio/keep-gas-off-our-farms/

Authorised by F. Davis, 6 Lewis Dr, Castlemaine VIC 3450

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What trade risks and opportunities lie on our road to net zero? How do we make sure Australian agriculture makes the most of the shift to a low carbon world? How can Australian farmers capitalise on international demand for clean, green produce and not just retain but expand our export markets?

On Friday, 20 November FCA hosted this webinar to hear leading experts from National Farmers’ Federation and Australian Wool Innovation on commodity trading discuss these questions and more.

Ash Salardini, NFF Chief Economist and General Manager Trade, discussed the broad trade implications. Angus Ireland, AWI Program Manager for Fibre Advocacy and Eco Credentials, discussed some of the opportunities already available for sustainable producers.

For more information visit our website https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/

Authorised by F. Davis, 6 Lewis Dr, Castlemaine VIC 3450.

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