2009 Conservation Farmer of the Year is...

MEDIA RELEASE: Tablelands-based farmers take out 2009 Conservation Farmer of the Year Award

At the 2009 Conservation Agriculture and No-till Farming Association (CANFA) conference dinner last night in Dubbo, the winner of the 2009 Conservation Farmer of the Year Award was announced as being Murrumbidgee tablelands farmers, John and Robyn Ive from Hall, near Yass.

One of the award judges, Ian Packer from the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority said that this year’s group of eight regional finalists was very diverse, from stock only through to cropping across every landscape and soil type possible, from three regions within the catchments being the slopes, plains and tablelands.

The Central West, Lachlan, Murray and Murrumbidgee catchment-based farmers were judged following nomination, with on-farm inspections by representatives of CANFA, the Catchment Management Authorities and the 2008 Conservation Farmer of the Year winner, Matt McKenzie.

The Ives were selected from a group of three regional winners who included:

Slopes: Andrew and Delwyn Clifton, “Fairfield”, Corowa
Plains: Tony and Tanya Wright, “Bundy Downs”, Peak Hill
Tablelands: John and Roby Ive, “Talaheni”, Hall

Mr Packer said they saw evidence of a vast array of innovate ways to reduce inputs, monitor systems, address climate change and develop unique markets, and for all, soil health was a high priority.

“Stubble maintenance and no till was high on the agenda to address soil structure, organic carbon and compaction,” he said.

In accepting the award last night Mr Ive said that while being focused on superfine wool production on their Yass Valley property, in order to achieve those ends they need to look after the land to the greatest extent possible.

“We believe that if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”

Receiving the award on his birthday, Mr Ive also won a $5,000 GPS guidance system at conference, donated by gps-Ag.

For more information about the Conservation Farmer of the Year Award contact: Neville Gould on 0427 452 488 or 02 6845 1044 (CANFA office)
www.canfa.com.au

The Conservation Farmer of the Year Award is supported by CANFA through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country, the Central West Catchment Management Authority, Lachlan Catchment Management Authority, Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority and Murray Catchment Management Authority.