The Western Australian Government has unveiled $2.15 million in funding under the Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program to help farmers capture carbon and build soil health while increasing business vitality.
Murray and Adele Grey’s Grazing Soil Carbon project at Yathroo, southwest of Moora, is one of eight grant recipients for carbon farming efforts across the agricultural region.
The Grey family will receive $166,901 in co-investment to capture carbon at depth, where it will be more secure and stable, and improve soil organic matter by increasing grazing rest periods on tagasaste and pastures.
The funds will help the family lease property and establish water points, allowing them to boost stocking rates and grazing intensity without endangering soil erosion. They’ll also be able to grow subtropical perennial plants, multi-species shelter belts, and cover crops.
“The Greys’ Yathroo project will be ground breaking, providing new insights into sequestering carbon at depths of at least 1.2 metres, as well as alternative grazing management strategies – paving the way for others to learn from their experiences,” Minister for Agriculture and Food Jackie Jarvis said.
Other recipients are investing in soil amelioration using clay, compost, and manure, mixed species legume fodder crops, revegetation, cell fencing, and synthetic calcium treatments to promote long-term deep root growth.
According to the State Government, the activities will generate co-benefits such as improved soil health, agricultural productivity, salinity mitigation, biodiversity and conservation, and Aboriginal economic and cultural prospects.
The projects cover a total of 26,390 hectares and are expected to remove 423,103 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere during the following decade. This will expand on the efforts of round 1 grantees, who removed 240,000 tonnes across 7,000 hectares.
Several of the round 2 successful applicants received Carbon Farming Vouchers from the State Government to engage professional advice to establish land management strategies for soil and vegetation carbon sequestration initiatives.
“I encourage all landholders to find out how carbon farming can benefit their businesses by attending an upcoming carbon farming workshop or webinar or apply for a Carbon Farming Voucher later this year, to reap the rewards of participating in the carbon marketplace,” Minister Jarvis added.
