Thursday, August 13, 2009
MEDIA RELEASE Cradle Coast farmer participants sought for ‘Climate Ready Farming Leaders Project’ Gaining knowledge and technical farming skills specifically for “climate readiness” on the Cradle Coast, is the aim of a unique three-year project now open to farming applicants who are young, or young at heart. According to Cradle Coast NRM Executive Officer Richard Ingram, this project represents a great opportunity for our region’s future farming leaders to work together with consultants and other farmers to increase understanding of how climate change may impact their farming business and industries. “We are seeking farmers who are committed to attending regular group activities and are prepared to show leadership through the practical application of learned skills on their own farms,” Mr Ingram said. The project team will work with two groups of young farmers in the Cradle Coast NRM region in the Devonport/Sassafras and Forth/Ulverstone areas. The participating farmers will determine the topics they wish to address as a group and skills will be gained through hands-on, practical activities and training workshops. While funding for the project was secured by Cradle Coast NRM through the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Farm Ready Program, the practical activities and workshops will be conducted in partnership with Serve-Ag and RM Consulting Group, using consultant experts as required. Serve-Ag Sustainable Agricultural Services manager Stephen Welsh said that, a major goal would be to support the farmers in their decision-making processes and weighing up of economic, social and environmental aspects that drive their farm business management. . “When growers implement new practices on their farms they will receive training on how to monitor, evaluate and continue to add to their knowledge – the group approach will encourage the exchange of ideas and engender support from within the group for each other during the learning process,” Mr Welsh said. “The idea is to build knowledge within the groups so we are better placed to pass what has been learned onto wider industry groups in the Cradle Coast region”.
Further information: Cradle Coast NRM: Anna Renkin - 6431 6285 Serve-Ag: Rebecca Clarkson - 6498 6800 Cradle Coast Authority Media: Allison Hicks
Download an information sheet and/or application form: www.nrmtas.org/whatsNew/cradle/latestNews.shtml ahicks@cradlecoast.com or 0414 077356