Paddock Potential of Native Grasses a success
35 participants explored the often overlooked 'Paddock Potential of Native Grasses' at an information day in Serpentine on March 22nd. The day featured two presentations from local farmers and a farm walk to reinforce the information presented during the morning session.
Eris O'Brien provided a stimulating presentation to convey his knowledge of not only native grasses, but other native pasture species such as saltbushes that are suited for this region. He is a passionate advocate of the year-round productivity benefits resulting from the use of native pasture and spoke about his experience incorporating low-input native perennial species into Lucerne and traditional crops. By timing grazing to encourage native species, Eris related how he has dramatically reduced summer weeds on his Pine Grove property.
Tim Barden of Ko-warra Native grasses spoke on the benefits of sowing native pastures and the trials and tribulations experienced in establishing his property and native seed business. Previously a dairy farmer, Tim decided to branch out into the developing market of native grass seed.
The impressive story of the revegetation work and the stabilising effects that native grasses have on soil was also a highlight. To read more about Ko-warra visit www.nativegrasses.com.au.
During the morning tea break Tim gave the audience a demonstration of the equipment that he uses for harvesting native grass seed as well as sowing. The light, fluffy seed of many native grasses such as the winter active Wallaby grass can prove a challenge with conventional equipment and Tim has learnt much through trial and error.
Participants took home seed of one of two summer active native grasses - Silky Blue-grass (Dichanthium sericeum) or Red-leg grass (Bothriochloa macra) to try for themselves.
The field day was supported by the North Central CMA's Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands project and Wedderburn CMN to let participants know about the additional conservation and woodland protection benefits that native pastures can provide.
For more information on native grasses www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/field/pastures-and-rangelands/rangelands/publications/grassedup.
Download the presentations and fact sheets from the Information Day here.
North Central Waterwatch launches Frog Fact Sheets
The launch of the North Central Waterwatch Frogs Field Guide earlier this year was so popular that Regional Waterwatch Coordinator, Cass Davis, developed the guide into easily accessible Fact Sheets. Now the frogs of the north central Victoria region are easily identifiable with both a sound clip and Fact Sheet available for download on the Waterwatch page. This focus on frogs will continue with the 'Annual Water Science Forum - A Focus on Frogs' on 28 April 2012.
This initiative is the first of a series that will run over the following years.
You can view the new Frog Fact Sheets and sound files for download here.
North Central CMA Flood Recovery Works Update Feb 2012 - Click here
A short newsletter that highlights the flood recovery works undertaken by the North Central CMA.
Monday 10 January 2012
North Central CMA CEO Damian Wells interviewed by ABC journalist Peter Lenaghan, broadcasted on ABC Central Victoria (Bendigo) with Jo Printz.
Printz discusses the heavy rain in Vic. She discusses the report from Neil Comrie, Former Police Chief Commissioner putting the bill at $1.3 million. The North Central Catchment Management Authority says flood recovery work could take another 18 months to finish. This week marks the anniversary of the floods. She plays an excerpt of Damian Wells, CEO, North Central CMA who says the scale of the job is still very large. He describes the timeline of repairs and the funding they received from the Government. They discuss the different projects and the main flood recovery work. Wells discusses the repairs and the need to mend kilometres of fencing. They discuss the site assessments and that they will work with landowners to schedule work. They discuss the public meetings and flood plan reports that are being worked on.
Listen to the discussion here Audio file - ABC (Bendigo) Damian Wells Flood recovery 9.15min.mp3 (2243KB)