Presiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha elections
Sustainable Farm Practices - Policy
1. Sustainable Farm Practices - Policy Presented by: Paul McNamara, General Manager, Grants and Sustainable Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
22. Presentations Kimberly Green, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Dr Michele Barson, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Ken Garner, Senior Milk Supply and Farm Services Manager, Bega Cheese Limited Rob Egerton Warburton, mixed systems farmer, Kojonup Western Australia Q&A session
Editor's Notes
Good afternoon.Welcome to this workshop examining the Australian Government’s work on sustainable agriculture and our current policy and future developments in this area.
Broadly, today’s workshop will explore four areas. It will:Look at the Australian Government Caring for our Country initiativeExamine the policy, science and monitoring that underpins the program designProvide real examples from Bega Cheese and Rob Egerton WarburtonDiscuss future directions for sustainable agriculture
As Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly mentioned this morning:Australian farmers are working in one of the harshest, most unpredictable and varied environments on earth, with climatic variability and generally poor fertility of Australian soils providing significant challenges.
Australian government intervention comes in a number of forms:R&D through a suite of Research and Development Corporations which are funded through matching dollar contributions from government and industryProgram support – through Caring for our Country and other initiativesCommunity involvement through initiatives such as LandcareFacilitators who are out on the ground, talking with farmers, farming groups and regional natural resource management bodiesMonitoring and EvaluationOf natural resource condition, such as Dustwatch and groundcover monitoringUptake of practices through the Caring for our Country program and long-term, ongoing surveys through the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences Tax incentives, andRegulationThe Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is also working on a range of initiatives such as the National Food Plan, a Sustainable Agriculture Framework, and the Carbon Farming initiative and Clean Energy Futures.But today’s workshop will focus on the program support element the Australian government provides, particularly through the Caring for our Country initiative.
In 2008, the Australian Government launched the five- year Caring for our Country initiativeThis initiative aims to achieve an environment that is healthier, better protected, well managed, resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate. Caring for our Country is broken down into six national priority areas: the National Reserve Systembiodiversity and natural iconscoastal environments and critical aquatic habitatssustainable farm practicesnatural resource management in northern and remote Australiaand community skills, knowledge and engagement.Of these priorities, we’ll be focussing on the Sustainable Farm Practices element of the program today.
We’ll be hearing from four speakers today who present on the following topics:Sustainable Farm Practices: its contribution to productivity and a better environment – Kimberly GreenMonitoring and evaluation of Australian Government investment in improved land management practices, and the impact on soil condition and ecosystem service outcomes – Michele BarsonBega Cheese, helping our dairy farmers secure a sustainable future – Ken GarnerIntegrated Livestock Cropping Systems – Rob Egerton WarburtonA 30 minute facilitated question and answer session will conclude the workshop and I hope that we will get some healthy discussion from the audience regarding sustainable agriculture policy.Please welcome our first speaker, Kimberly Green.
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