Backyards to Broadacres; Delivering innovative and forward-looking solutions to Tasmanian producers

RMCG was engaged by Tamar NRM in Tasmania to deliver a series of four ‘Backyards to Broadacres’ workshops under the National Landcare Program – Sustainable Agriculture Small Grants Round 2015-16. The workshops focussed on innovative, forward-looking solutions, to deliver best practice, and regionally relevant information that caters to all producers in the region.

As part of the project, RMCG partnered with Tamar NRM and the steering committee to:

• Shape the workshop topics, advising on relevant issues for Northern Tasmanian producers, advising on speakers to engage and sourcing learning materials.
• Providing a Tasmanian based keynote speaker for each of the topic areas, that were well known by local landholders.
• Advise on best practice farms and trial sites to visit in order to maximise the target audience.
• Promote the workshops to our existing networks.
• Recommend focus areas for the program’s remaining workshops.

The four workshops ran from January to March 2017 across the region. The initial ‘taster’ workshop focussed on soil biology and health and included a discussion-based soil theory session followed by a hands-on soil assessment. It was held at Armidale Stud in Carrick. The second event, held at Greenhythe, focussed on pasture management, with guest speakers including producers, agronomists and pasture seed retailers, rounded off with an in-paddock session. The third and fourth events focussed on animal health and production, held at Pipers River and Winkleigh, with guest speakers including producers and animal health specialists.

For more information of the project, head to the Tamar NRM website here.