“Let's Get Earthy - Making Your Landscape Sustainable!” A Conference and Webinar

Recent extreme weather events have highlighted the central role that the community plays in times of crises. In addition to the extreme weather events, others, such as COVID and the war in Ukraine, have underlined the need to build food security at community, regional, state and national levels.

Allied to the above scenarios we have the rapidly rising cost of farm chemicals, from glyphosate to various fertilisers that, whilst possibly sustainable in the current good seasons, will be a drag on farm profitability in lesser seasons.   

This conference and the associated Expo, are designed to inform and connect farmers who are already on the path to improve the sustainability of their farm and farmers looking to transition to such practices and are looking for guidance on how best to make the journey.      

The conference brings together leaders in farm sustainability and regenerative/sustainable and resilient farming practices, such as the ANU's Sustainable Farms Project, the Mulloon Institute's land rehydration practices, Local Land Services, Land To Market, Farmers for Climate Action, with highly experienced farmers who have made the transition or who are on that journey.

Research into how best to transition to sustainable/regenerative farming practices will be used to guide the conference program and the associated expo. The research draws on the knowledge and experience of our leading sustainable/regenerative farmers. 

The conference will be delivered face to face and as a webinar.

Conference Program 15th-16th September

15th September 

Afternoon - there will be a visit to a well known and long established local regenerative farm, see below for more detail, that will be run in conjunction with the ANU Sustainable Farms Project.

Evening - A conference dinner preceded by drinks and nibbles as part of the conference networking program. Live music is planned for those who have "tapping toes".

16th September

Speakers and titles of presentations

Acknowledgement of Country - TBA

Conference Opening The Hon. Wendy Tuckerman MP and NSW Minister for Local Government

Keynote Walter Jehne - Internationally recognised soil microbiologist - Food Security

ANU Sustainable Farms Project - Dan Florence, Ecologist, Benefits To Water Quality, Biodiversity and Animal Health From Fencing off your Farm Dams 

Nolani McColl - Landscape Planner and Science Administrator at The Mulloon Institute - Rehydrating Australia

Jenny Bell - A Well-Known Local Regen Farmer, Artist and Noted Conference Speaker - Transforming Our Land and Our Lives

Julia McKay - Dairy Farmer, Research Catalyst, Environmental Policy Specialist - Wondrous Wetlands – A Drought Resilience Strategy

Landcare Goulburn Mulwaree - Hannah McInerney Project Officer Soil Improvement Project/Farmer Regen Transition Program

Dr Robert Favaloro - Farmer and Retired GP Managing Your Mental Health - A Case Study

Tony Hill - CEO Land to Market - Verifying ecosystem health for farm productivity and satisfying market demand

Di Dibley Convenor of ZeroSE - A Comprehensive Approach to Ecological Sustainability

Peter Holding, Farmer and Community Outreach Officer at Farmers For Climate Action - Climate opportunities for farmers in South-East NSW

LLS SE NSW Matthew Lieschke Senior Agriculture Advisor Livestock - Helping Farmers on the Ground

Adam Rabjohns - Local Regen/Carbon Farmer - A Regenerative Journey

Lori Gould -  Rivers of Carbon and Land for Wildlife - Riverine Restoration 

Prof Justin Borevitz ANU - Professor Research School of Biology
College of Science -Large Scale Carbon Sequestration 

Panel Session - Panel members to be advised

Conference Topics 

• Building food security
• Soil improvement/Eco System Improvement
• Building Biodiversity and Improving the quality of dam water
• Emissions reduction, methane and carbon
• Carbon sequestration
• The business case for improving your landscape and managing financial risk
• Managing your mental health
• Income Diversification though agri-tourism and agri-forestry
• Carbon Farming

Supporting Program

• Farm Visit  Visit on 15th September to a well known and long established local regenerative farm, co-owned by Jenny Bell, one of our speakers. This will be run in conjunction with the ANU Sustainable Farms Project and will compare the higher stocking level achieved on the paddock with fenced off dam versus one with an unfenced dam
• Sustainability Expo - This is a one day event that will run alongside the conference on 16th September that showcases regenerative agriculture and sustainable farms. The theme of the Expo is:- "Working Together to Support Sustainable/Regenerative Farmers".  
• Conference/Expo Dinner on the evening on 15^th September is an opportunity to network, also other key community stakeholders will be invited. Live music and a keynote speaker are planned. The dinner has a farming theme so in addition to formal wear, eg an evening gown or similar and a lounge suit for me you can wear an ornament or similar that represents something farm-ey. A blade from your old disc plough is a bit OTT. Also if you are on an organised table, you can have a table theme with each person comprising part of the whole! Prizes will be awarded for the best table theme and personal adornment. No livestock please!    

Conference Presentations are to be no more than 15 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions

There are opportunities for sponsorship of the Conference/Expo and Dinner.