Heytesbury Focus Project

This Project is currently unavailable

Heytesbury Landcare with funding from the Australian Government's "Caring for our Country" program created a new project called "Heytesbury 'FOCUS' project: Boosting production, resilience, environmental gains using best management practices". The funding, for 2008/09 financial year, engaged 18 farmers from the Lower Curdies and Lower Gellibrand Catchment in a nutrient mapping and management project.

This project allows landholders to test the current nutrient levels over their farm and better understand current fertilizer and nutrient management routines. Previous projects have found very high levels of nutrients. Identifying this allows farmers to reduce their inputs which saves money, reduces animal and soil health issues and minimizes environmental risk.

The project asks participating farmers to complete an "Environmental Assessment" of their farm and create a future action plan. Most or all paddocks on the farm are soil tested and those results overlaid on a paddock map. This allows the farmer to determine any adjustments to their nutrient routines.

DemoDairy also participated in the project so farmers who weren't able to participate can see the results.

While funding for this project is no longer avaiable the HDLN are currently seeking future funding opportunities for nutrient mapping.

Any farmers interested in the project can contact the Landcare Office for more information.