As El Nino predictions loom, a West Vic landcare course is teaching farmers to prepare their soil for drier conditions

South west Victorian farmers can now sign up for a $5,000 resilient farming course for just $300, with 10 heavily subsidised places available through the Heytesbury District Landcare Network.

What course? The Resilient Farming Course will help producers build practical skills in areas including soil health, grazing management, nutrient use and water management.

• Landcare projects are often funded through government grants or private donations; the Resilient Farming Course is subsidised through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust. 

• Each participating farm will receive soil, microbiology and plant tissue testing to better understand the health of their farming system.

Looming El Nino conditions: The program comes as farmers grapple with increasingly variable seasonal conditions. Climate forecasters are watching for a possible El Niño event later this year, which typically means less rain for Victoria.

• Heytesbury District Landcare Network vice-president Chris Hibburt said making the most of available water was becoming more important than ever.

🗣️"Water is a really challenging commodity now for many of us who don't have access to underground water. 

• “We have to work out how we manage to make the most of the water that does land in a very unreliable rainfall that's becoming less reliable as climate change seems to bite in”, Hibburt told the Brolga.

What’s involved? Running between August and November, the course combines expert-led workshops with on-farm learning and will guide participants as they develop a tailored farm action plan. 

• The course is being delivered by the Heytesbury District, Central Otway, Upper Barwon and Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare networks, with 10 places available in each region.

Farming for the future: Hibburt said there was growing interest in how farming businesses could improve environmental outcomes while maintaining productivity.

"There's certainly a lot of questions being asked now about how our farming community can contribute in a positive way, both for themselves and for the environment," he said.

Applications close on June 30. Farmers interested in joining the course can contact Landcare Facilitator Debbie Dalziel at [email protected].