Management guide | Resources – ANU Sustainable Farms

Managing natural assets: Enhancing farm dams

amber.croft@anu.edu.au — Wed, 03 May 2023 06:27:20 +0000

Natural wetlands have been highly modified or removed from many agricultural regions in south-eastern Australia. By enhancing dams through managing livestock access, farmers can play a role in restoring biodiversity by providing habitat and resources that were once present in these natural wetlands. Enhancing dams has also been demonstrated to lead to improvements in water quality and water persistence, which in turn have benefits for stock health and overall farm productivity. Enhanced dams also have reduced greenhouse gas (methane) emissions compared to typical dams.

This 8-page management guide shares Sustainable Farms’ research on the multiple benefits that arise from enhancing farm dams and how to undertake a dam enhancement project.

The post Managing natural assets: Enhancing farm dams appeared first on ANU Sustainable Farms.

Managing natural assets: Shelterbelts

Suzannah — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 02:36:50 +0000

Shelterbelts are generally linear strips of vegetation, intended to provide shelter, shade and wind breaks. Well-managed and diverse native shelterbelts can have productivity benefits for cropping and grazing enterprises while supporting hundreds of species of birds, mammals, invertebrates, frogs and reptiles.

This guide details the science behind shelterbelt management and outlines how to create effective shelterbelts on farms.

The post Managing natural assets: Shelterbelts appeared first on ANU Sustainable Farms.

Managing natural assets: Scattered paddock trees

Suzannah — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 02:48:41 +0000

Often the oldest, largest trees remaining after clearing, paddock trees may be hundreds of years old. However, these iconic trees are disappearing from the landscape and if this trend continues, scattered paddock trees across most of the south-eastern agricultural region may be gone in as little as 40 years. With them will go the benefits they bring for farm productivity and biodiversity.

But all is not lost: farmers and other land managers can be instrumental in protecting and restoring these elders of the Australian landscape.

Download the PDF document for information on managing scattered paddock trees.

The post Managing natural assets: Scattered paddock trees appeared first on ANU Sustainable Farms.

Managing natural assets: Rocky outcrops

Christiaan — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 00:52:27 +0000

When protected from grazing and revegetated with groundcovers and low shrubs, rocky outcrops can help filter and slow runoff, leading to increased soil moisture and reducing erosion.

They are also valuable habitat for a rich variety of plants and animals, including threatened and specialised rock-dwelling species. The cracks and crevices among rocky outcrops protect vulnerable plants from grazing by livestock and other herbivores, meaning that many plants that were formerly widespread now find refuge among the rocks.

Download the PDF document for information on managing rocky outcrops on farms.

The post Managing natural assets: Rocky outcrops appeared first on ANU Sustainable Farms.

Fire in farm landscapes: Keep your fallen timber and dead trees

Christiaan — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 00:41:38 +0000

Fallen timber and dead trees are essential to healthy, functioning ecosystems. They provide refuge, shelter and resources for plants and animals. This shelter is particularly important for animals during fire and to support ecosystem recovery after fire.

The post Fire in farm landscapes: Keep your fallen timber and dead trees appeared first on ANU Sustainable Farms.

Riparian Restoration guide

Christiaan — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 00:31:35 +0000

Healthy riparian ecosystems improve water quality throughout the entire catchment area. They also provide livestock with shelter, reduce erosion, regulate flows, provide critical habitat for wildlife and are aesthetically desirable.

The post Riparian Restoration guide appeared first on ANU Sustainable Farms.

Ten ways to improve natural assets on a farm

Suzannah — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 22:38:00 +0000

The Ten Ways booklet highlights how improving the management of natural assets on a farm can create new habitat for native wildlife, while supporting sustainable agriculture. The publication is underpinned by 20 years of long-term research into biodiversity on farms.

The booklet covers: paddock trees, waterways & wetlands, farm dams, native pastures, shelterbelts, creating connectivity, rocky outcrops, renmant vegetation, plantings, and farm planning.

The post Ten ways to improve natural assets on a farm appeared first on ANU Sustainable Farms.

Farm Dam Enhancement brochure

Christiaan — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 04:22:39 +0000

Farm dams are an important asset in many farming systems, providing drinking water for livestock or water storage for irrigation operations.

This management guide outlines the benefits of enhancing farm dams, and the management changes required to achieve these outcomes.

It can be used in conjunction with the farm dam planting guide, available here.

The post Farm Dam Enhancement brochure appeared first on ANU Sustainable Farms.