Watershed Landcare will be hosting a Farm Walk on Saturday 28 May at Eastwood, Rylstone, the property of Bruce and Sonia Christie.

The Christies operate a mixed grazing system and are keen to share their next challenge of how to incorporate an undeveloped block of 20 hectares into their system. They took over the management of this area 3 years ago.

“The area had a long history of cropping and set stocking, we thought the best option was to rest it but this created different management issues”. said Mr Christie.

As it turned out, the resting of the area saw an increase in sifton bush and areas of erosion that weren’t as prominent previously.

The landholders are keen to sub divide the area into smaller paddocks and manage it as part of a high input rotational grazing system. They have also tried several methods to manage the sifton bush including the use of mechanical means slashing, knocking down with harrows or herd effect versus leaving to black soot or age.

The Farm Walk will let us have a look at the area and hear from Bruce and Sonia about their learnings from the area, including things they had to take into consideration with the area such as the cultural, grazing and cropping history to formulate their plan.

In addition, the morning will look at what tools and resources they used and how they will take into account seasonal conditions and risks when making decisions.

Bruce and Sonia will share their management principles, tools they use and how their property operates.

The Farm Walk is free to attend for Watershed Landcare members and $10 for non-members, with a BBQ lunch provided.

For further information or to RSVP contact Claudia Wythes, Watershed Landcare Co-ordinator, on 0412 011 064 or by email: claudia.wythes@watershedlandcare.com.au.

This event is supported by Watershed Landcare through partial funding from the Australian Government's 25^th Anniversary Landcare grants and the Central Tablelands Local Land Services.

The closing date for EOI submissions for the Driving Sustainable Landuse Project is fast approaching. EOI from interested landholders need to be submitted by 3 May 2016.

Incentives are available for landholders to conduct on-ground, with 3 grants of up to $5,000 available for grazing management projects, and a further 3 grants of up to $2,100 for farm tree/revegetation projects.

For more information or to obtain an EOI form contact Claudia Wythes, Watershed Landcare Co-ordinator, on 0412 011 064 or by email: claudia.wythes@watershedlandcare.com.au.

The Driving Sustainable Landuse project is supported by Watershed Landcare through funding from the Central Tablelands Local Land Services and is part of the NSW Government’s Local Landcare Coordinators Initiative, supported through the partnership of Local Land Services and Landcare NSW.