A federally funded program - the Future Food and Fibre Project ran across Gippsland region last year and the Freranger farm took part . The Project's focus was to increase the uptake of Environmental Management Systems and sustainable management practices in the region.
Thge case study relating to this farm can be downloaded at
Over nine months, the Project:
held field days and workshops to explore different producers' views of sustainability, and how they implement EMS within their businesses; ran a leadership program for nineteen individuals who were already demonstrating a real commitment to EMS or sustainability.This program included the development of a strategic plan for sustainable agriculture in Gippsland;
held strategic meetings with CMAs and industry representatives (dairy, wine, seafood, vegetables, beef, eggs) for increasing the uptake of sustainable agricultural practices across the three CMA regions; offered EMS training, whole farm plan training and ISO14001 EMS peer auditor training.
Phil Westwood, of Freeranger eggs is already an environmental auditor as well as an auditor of the National Egg Quality Assurance Program
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Monday, January 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The Strzeleckis in jeopardy
It's hard to understand the motives of some people in underming actions which can generate a huge environmental and community benefit. But John Gunson, the current chairman of the South Gippsland Conservation Society appears to be hell-bent on derailing the agreement between Hancocks, the Victorian Government and the Community.
Why? We have no idea, but hopefully he will be in touch to expain!!!!!!!!!
Why? We have no idea, but hopefully he will be in touch to expain!!!!!!!!!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Did we come from Mars?
With each passing year we (the human race) seem to get better at stuffing up this planet. To some this suggests that we have experience.
So does this mean that we moved here from somewhere else - such as Mars?
That is a pretty dry and dusty planet which seems to be the model we are hell-bent on re-creating here.
It doesn't take much of an intellect to work out the problems we are causing with deforestation. One of man's greatest achievements was the creation of the Sahara Desert - and we want to create more in Australia, the Amazon Basin and just about everywhere, all in the name of progress and the ultimate God - development.
So does this mean that we moved here from somewhere else - such as Mars?
That is a pretty dry and dusty planet which seems to be the model we are hell-bent on re-creating here.
It doesn't take much of an intellect to work out the problems we are causing with deforestation. One of man's greatest achievements was the creation of the Sahara Desert - and we want to create more in Australia, the Amazon Basin and just about everywhere, all in the name of progress and the ultimate God - development.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Aussie drought is biting
The drought is biting pretty hard in most parts of Australia and even here in South Gippsland we are not immune. The town water supply is dwindling fast and farm dams are running low. People on Phillip Island are starting to panic with the tourist season fast approaching.
One of the pathetic things though is the way some farmers just have to whinge!
One local was in the paper last week saying he had to sell cattle at a third of their market market value.
What a load of cr*p. He sold at the market price. If he'd had the sense to sell a month or two earlier he may well have received two thirds more for his cattle.
The biggest impact so far for us is the price of feed. It's already risen 25 - 30% and as feed is our biggest input in the cost of producing eggs we will have to pass that on to consumers.
For us the Christmas holiday period is truly the 'silly season' because the population increases so remarkably that we have no hope of meeting demand for free range eggs.
One of the pathetic things though is the way some farmers just have to whinge!
One local was in the paper last week saying he had to sell cattle at a third of their market market value.
What a load of cr*p. He sold at the market price. If he'd had the sense to sell a month or two earlier he may well have received two thirds more for his cattle.
The biggest impact so far for us is the price of feed. It's already risen 25 - 30% and as feed is our biggest input in the cost of producing eggs we will have to pass that on to consumers.
For us the Christmas holiday period is truly the 'silly season' because the population increases so remarkably that we have no hope of meeting demand for free range eggs.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Strzelecki Forest Buy-Back
Although this doesn't relate directly to our farm, I reckon it's an important topic - and as this is my Blog here goes!
An announcement by the Victorian Government to buy back 8000 hectares of forest in the Strzelecki Ranges, which had been earmarked for logging (mainly for woodchips) confirms the great result for protecting the areas identified as the Cores and Links.
There are always people who are disatisfied with any negotiated conservation agreement - but by any test the Strzelecki agreement is a top result! The State Government has committed to Provide $7 million to buy back the iconic Cores and Links area to be vested with the Trust for Nature for future conservation. The previous Kennett Government privatised much of the Strzelecki ranges when it sold the Victorian Plantations Corporation.
The current Government worked with the local community and Hancock Victorian Plantations to ensure the protection of the high biodiversity sites in the Strzelecki Ranges. As a result, the Government and the community reached agreement with Hancock's to buy-back over 8,000 hectares of native forest and hardwood plantation, funded through existing resources.
This high value Cores and Links forest will be gifted to the Trust for Nature for on-going conservation and management so it can be enjoyed by all Victorians. It really is a 'win-win' as there will be no job losses resulting from the protection of these key areas and Hancock Victorian Plantations timber requirements to feed the pulp- mill will be met through accessing timber supplies identified with the community, including once only harvesting of 1,500 hectares of hardwood plantation within the Cores and Links area (remember that's out of the 8000 ha buyback). The deal may not be perfect but it's a damn sight better than most people thought was achieveable.
An announcement by the Victorian Government to buy back 8000 hectares of forest in the Strzelecki Ranges, which had been earmarked for logging (mainly for woodchips) confirms the great result for protecting the areas identified as the Cores and Links.
There are always people who are disatisfied with any negotiated conservation agreement - but by any test the Strzelecki agreement is a top result! The State Government has committed to Provide $7 million to buy back the iconic Cores and Links area to be vested with the Trust for Nature for future conservation. The previous Kennett Government privatised much of the Strzelecki ranges when it sold the Victorian Plantations Corporation.
The current Government worked with the local community and Hancock Victorian Plantations to ensure the protection of the high biodiversity sites in the Strzelecki Ranges. As a result, the Government and the community reached agreement with Hancock's to buy-back over 8,000 hectares of native forest and hardwood plantation, funded through existing resources.
This high value Cores and Links forest will be gifted to the Trust for Nature for on-going conservation and management so it can be enjoyed by all Victorians. It really is a 'win-win' as there will be no job losses resulting from the protection of these key areas and Hancock Victorian Plantations timber requirements to feed the pulp- mill will be met through accessing timber supplies identified with the community, including once only harvesting of 1,500 hectares of hardwood plantation within the Cores and Links area (remember that's out of the 8000 ha buyback). The deal may not be perfect but it's a damn sight better than most people thought was achieveable.
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