Enhance farm dams
Dams are essential for many farming operations, including for livestock and irrigation. Enhancing a farm dam can lead to improvements in water quality and provide habitat for a wide variety of native wildlife.
Read moreSupport biodiversity, improve farm productivity and connect with community. Join us to explore the potential of on-ground action to improve natural assets on farms.
Find out moreOn the Farm:
Projects to improve natural assets on the farm
Healthy natural assets underpin farm productivity and landscape resilience. Our research, undertaken in partnership with farmers, Landcarers and NRM agencies, explores the benefits of looking after natural assets.
Establish shelterbelts
Shelterbelts provide shade and wind protection for livestock, mitigate erosion and slow wind speeds. They also support many species of animals, helping conserve wildlife and contributing to natural pest control on a farm.
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Enhance rocky outcrops
Healthy rocky outcrops can boost farm biodiversity, productivity and soil health. Managing rocky outcrops generally requires little ongoing effort or cost.
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Protect and restore paddock trees
Scattered paddock trees are vital for agricultural productivity and for the conservation of wildlife. Many of these trees are being lost due to old age, stress and fire, but there are ways to protect and restore paddock trees.
Read moreAbout us
What we do
Sustainable Farms brings science to the paddock, working closely with Landcare and with farmers to understand how improving natural assets on farms can support biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
Farmer Stories:
Meet some of our inspiring farmers
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John and Nicole Hopkins, Allawah
John and Nicole Hopkins run a Simmental Stud on ‘Allawah’, a 1,040 ha grazing and dryland cropping property near Illabo, east of Junee, which also produces lambs, wool and dryland cereal and oilseed crops. John and Nicole Hopkins are a typical farming family of the region. They both work full time on the farm and employ casual staff.
John is on the State and National Council for the Simmental breed. He champions the concepts implemented on Allawah through these forums, and particularly when people come to see their livestock, as well as through their involvement with Landcare and their connections to neighbouring farms.
The Hopkins have battled devastating fires on two separate occasions. After the second fire, instead of re-fencing in the same places as his father had done, they changed where the fences were located. They have since planted extensive areas of native trees and shrubs on Allawah, fencing off corridors and allowing waterways to regenerate John and Nicole are active Landcare members and have hosted a number of field days with Landcare in the past, including workshops for training LLS staff, and trialling rabbit control methods. John also has participated in some short film clips on sustainability with the ANU and Landcare, and is actively involved in supporting policy proposals developed through Sustainable Farms.
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Paul and Rachel Graham, Bongongo
Bongongo provides excellent example of riparian and wetland area restoration for species specific management (Booroolong Frog and Macquarie Perch).
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Sam and Claire Johnson, Windermere
The Johnsons have implemented shelterbelts, riparian restoration, management and enhancement of native and mixed native pastures, and management of wooded pastures.
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Tony and Vicky Geddes, Yallock
Yallock provides examples of restoring and managing existing woodlands, farm dam enhancement and shelterbelts and presents a good example of woodland management conservation in an agricultural landscape.
Read moreTechnological innovation in ecological monitoring
A new Sustainable Farms study is testing how technological advancements have the potential to enhance our capacity to monitor biodiversity.
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New research highlights benefits of enhancing farm dams for frogs
A new study at the Australian National University demonstrates that well-managed farm dams have the potential to serve as vital habitats for frog populations.
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2025 calendar available now!
This year’s wall calendar features stunning images of the flora and fauna of the Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands of the sheep-wheat belt. It also highlights our research on how to optimise the management of native woodland on farms.
Be quick – calendars are available to order for one week only from 10-16th Dec!
Sustainable Farms 2018-2023: Achievements & Outcomes
An independent evaluation of Sustainable Farms highlights the significant achievements and contributions of the initiative over the past six years.
Sustainable Farms 2018-2023: Achievements & Outcomes
Farmers have great stories.
Like to share yours?
Have you managed natural assets on your farm and seen results? Perhaps you’ve planted trees or fenced a creekline. What did you notice?
Share your storyWhere we work
Sustainable Farms works in the NSW South West Slopes, Central West, Murray-Riverina and north east Victoria. Our project area overlaps extensively with the Murray, Riverina, Central Tablelands, Central West and South East Local Land Services in NSW, and with Goulburn Broken and North East Catchment Management Authorities in Victoria.
Latest News
Farewell to our Project Director, Michelle Young
After nearly eight years as Project Director for Sustainable Farms, we bid farewell to Michelle Young whose vision and leadership have guided the project to become a leading force in conservation on farms.
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New research shows grazing management at farm dams improves bird biodiversity
Research by Sustainable Farms demonstrates how managing farm dams through grazing control and revegetation significantly boosts bird biodiversity.
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Technological innovation in ecological monitoring
New research on technological advancements in ecological monitoring, led by Dr Jessie Buettel at the Australian National University.
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