The Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (SAF) role is an important point of contact for farmers, landholders, industry and community groups in southern Tasmania. At NRM South, this role is shared by Tim Ackroyd and Dr Yolanda Hanusch. Our SAFs play a pivotal role in sharing information and looking for opportunities for our agricultural communities. In this quarterly update we’ll be taking a look at what our SAFs have been up to over the summer-autumn period – including workshops, attending events and supporting Australian Government representatives as part of a video showcase.
SAF VIDEO SHOWCASE
As part of a filming day for a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) showcase video, Tim Ackroyd visited Coaldale Walnuts in Richmond with representatives from DAFF. The aim of the forthcoming video is to get a better sense of the SAF role and how it supports landholders in adopting climate-smart, sustainable agriculture practices. Thanks to Coaldale Walnuts manager and co-owner Sophie Milic for hosting this visit and participating in the video. Sophie provided some valuable insights and explained how working with NRM South’s SAFs has helped landholders in the Coal Valley advance their sustainable land management goals and contribute to an important agricultural network.
‘I think if farmers have the opportunity to tap into their SAF and build that relationship, they won’t regret it, because this is how you get information about farming sustainably and it enables that continuous improvement.’ – Sophie Milic
One of the standout examples of how building connections with grassroots agricultural community groups has led to highly impactful outcomes for farmers across Tasmania was through the Farming Forecaster project, a project that started with a conversation between our SAFs and members of the East Coast Primary Producers Association (ECPPA). The Farming Forecaster tool had been around for many years, primarily used by graziers in NSW. The ECPPA saw the great potential benefit and impact that this tool could bring to graziers across Tasmania, and through concerted efforts from our SAFs, NRM South was able to access Australian Government funding for a pilot project, which quickly evolved into a $1.4 million statewide project.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS
As part of our aim to keep community groups informed about topics including best practice natural resource management and supporting biodiversity, Dr Yolanda Hanusch recently ran a series of Integrated Pest Management workshops in and around Hobart, where participants learned all about how to sustain beneficial insects. These workshops taught participants all about insect identification and lifecycles, sustainable pest control, and how to support beneficial insects, including native bees, hoverflies, wasps, and beetles, in community and home gardens.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLANNING WORKSHOPS
In March, we also saw the return of a new round of Property Management Planning (PMP) workshops. Part of our Climate Smart Farming Systems project, and supported by our SAFs, Tim and Yolanda teamed up to run the first of five PMP workshops in the Huon Valley. Tailored for smallholders, these workshops help landholders with farms ranging from 5-100 ha develop and document the visions and goals for their properties, with a focus on natural resources. The workshops take a practical, and where possible ‘hands -on’ approach, and include presentations on a range of topics such as soil and water health, pasture management, the values of native vegetation and weed control. Over the course of the workshops, participants develop a Property Management Plan with support and guidance from the project team.
COMMUNITY, PARTNER AND INDUSTRY EVENTS
Our SAF team regularly joins in on agricultural events happening around southern Tasmania, ensuring we maintain a presence in the community, connect with stakeholders, partners and the general public, and share advice and information. Over the past quarter, our SAFs attended the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme Field Day, run by Tasmanian Irrigation, two Farm Dam Enhancement events (train the trainer event and a field day), both run by Landcare Tasmania and the farmer-focused Grounded Festival in the Huon Valley.
Yolanda also attended an Australian Rural Leadership Foundation – Changemaker Workshop, examining different challenges rural communities face across Tasmania. Attendees explored how change happens and how to overcome resistance and the importance of storytelling and were given a range of tools that can be used to create change in our communities.
COMMUNITY, PARTNER AND INDUSTRY EVENTS
Tim and Yolanda will continue to run this year’s round of Property Management Planning workshops, which will wrap up in June 2025. While Yolanda will be on extended leave from May 2025, Tim will continue to maintain the SAF role, supported by Jacinta Leys.