Farmers in the Goulburn Broken Catchment who are looking to challenge themselves and improve their farm profitability, soil health and quality of life are encouraged to participate in an intensive short course in holistic management to be held in Tatura over eight days, between October 2016 and January 2017.
The course will be run by Goulburn Murray Landcare and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA).
Holistic management is a decision-making framework that ensures decisions are economically, environmentally and socially sound - i.e. the triple bottom line approach.
Goulburn Murray Landcare Facilitator Jo Doolan said holistic management was gaining recognition nationally and internationally, with farmers employing innovative practices such as planned grazing, cover-cropping, pasture cropping and the integration of livestock into cropping systems.
“Farming is a constantly changing industry, with variations in weather patterns, market prices and input costs occurring every season,” Ms Doolan said.
“To be successful farmers need to be regularly adapting their management. This requires good forward planning, robust farming systems and close monitoring for early feedback.
“This course aims to provide participants with practical, hands-on skills and strategies to monitor land health, prioritise tasks and farm improvements, and develop a financial plan that puts profit first.”
The course will cover a range of topics including:
• Achieving your dreams and turning your passion into a profitable business
• Increasing business profitability through holistic financial planning
• Building better soils and pastures with planned grazing
• Successful time management and communication strategies.
• Developing a decision-making framework
• Understanding the basic tools for land management
Previous course participant, irrigated cropper Fraser Pogue from Ardmona, said "The course gave me a good understanding of the tools we have available to manage our land. It helped me to take the emotion out of deciding which ones I should and shouldn't use.
"I also really enjoyed creating our Holistic Context, our vision of what we want our future to be.”
Courses fees are valued at $2,000, however thanks to support from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme, farmers and land managers will be able to participate for $650 per person. This fee will include:
• Workshops over eight days
• Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
• Networking dinner
• Course notes, guides and planning templates
• A diverse network of key contacts and ongoing peer support group.
Applications close 10 am Monday September 5.
For more information or to apply, head to our website or phone Ashley Rogers on 03 5764 7507.