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Farmers leading the way

Individual farmers have played a leading role in improving natural assets on their farms. Some of these farmers have shared their insights and experiences with us, and with others around them.

There are farmers who planted shelterbelts before they were common. Farm managers who planted new paddock trees and now can see the result. Landholders who wondered what would happen if they protected their dams from stock ten years ago, and now have an oasis on their farm during drought.

Some farmers have made just one small change, while others have undertaken a decades-long program of natural asset management on their land. All of these farmers have demonstrated that an individual can make a difference to our native wildlife and to the health of our agricultural landscapes, through just a few small management actions on their farm.

Explore farmer stories

This page features stories from some of our farmer partners. Explore them using the map at the right, or scroll down. Stay tuned for new farmer stories to come.

Cindy and Steve Scott, Glen Elgin

Henty, NSW

Cindy & Steve Scott are planting and protecting native vegetation on their farm near Henty NSW, with benefits for both livestock and wildlife.

Derek and Murk Schoen, Killeneen

Corowa, NSW

Father and son, Derek and Murk Schoen, discuss their strategic approach to planting shelterbelts and the benefits they’ve seen on their farm.

Marcus Richardson, Larakoona

Table Top, NSW

During the drought, Marcus Richardson saw an opportunity to enhance his property’s dams, with the aim of protecting these vital assets into the future.

Tony and Vicky Geddes, Yallock

Holbrook, NSW

Yallock provides examples of restoring and managing existing woodlands, farm dam enhancement and shelterbelts and presents a good example of woodland management conservation in an agricultural landscape.

John and Nicole Hopkins, Allawah

Illabo, NSW

Allawah, a 1,040 ha grazing and dryland cropping property near Illabo, provides excellent examples of enhancing existing remnant vegetation and management of riparian areas.

Sam and Claire Johnson, Windermere

Murringo, NSW

The Johnsons have implemented shelterbelts, riparian restoration, management and enhancement of native and mixed native pastures, and management of wooded pastures.

Paul and Rachel Graham, Bongongo

Adjungbilly, NSW

Bongongo provides excellent example of riparian and wetland area restoration for species specific management (Booroolong Frog and Macquarie Perch).

Featured farmers:

Meet some inspiring farmers in the Sustainable Farms network

Hear the stories from some of the many farmers who are leading the way in natural asset management on their farms.

Cindy and Steve Scott, Glen Elgin

Cindy & Steve Scott are planting and protecting native vegetation on their farm near Henty NSW, with benefits for both livestock and wildlife.

Derek and Murk Schoen, Killeneen

Father and son, Derek and Murk Schoen, discuss their strategic approach to planting shelterbelts and the benefits they’ve seen on their farm.

Marcus Richardson, Larakoona

During the drought, Marcus Richardson saw an opportunity to enhance his property’s dams, with the aim of protecting these vital assets into the future.

Paul and Rachel Graham, Bongongo

Bongongo provides excellent example of riparian and wetland area restoration for species specific management (Booroolong Frog and Macquarie Perch).

Tony and Vicky Geddes, Yallock

Sam and Claire Johnson, Windermere

The Johnsons have implemented shelterbelts, riparian restoration, management and enhancement of native and mixed native pastures, and management of wooded pastures.

John and Nicole Hopkins, Allawah

Allawah, a 1,040 ha grazing and dryland cropping property near Illabo, provides excellent examples of enhancing existing remnant vegetation and management of riparian areas.

Farmer stories from our region:

Stories in your words

Are you a farmer or land manager in the south-eastern sheep-wheat belt? Sustainable Farms invites you to share your story in your own words. Help give other farmers an insight into what you’ve tried on your farm to work towards a sustainable farming future — what’s worked, what hasn’t; what you’ve noticed and what’s been surprising.

Hear directly from other farmers in the stories below, or submit your story here.

George Main, Junee Shire

Reducing erosion along Pinchgut Creek

These photos show Pinchgut Creek, an intermittent waterway that flows through Retreat, the property owned by our family in the Junee Shire. The photos of the bare, degraded channel were taken in the 1980s. The other photos, of a well vegetated creek, were taken recently. In 2008 the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority managed a project […]

17th September 2021

David Simons, Yass, NSW

Enhancing our farm's environmental credentials

My parents bought Euralie in 1982. The property is located at Good Hope south of Yass and is just over 1100 hectares in size. The Yass river forms it’s northern and western boundaries and the bulk of the property is undulating country which original supported red gum yellow box woodland. The annual rainfall averages 620 […]

10th March 2021

Share your story of managing natural assets on your farm

Help give other farmers an insight into what you’ve tried on your farm to work towards a sustainable farming future. Have you planted trees or fenced a dam? What have you noticed? What’s worked and what hasn’t?

Submit your story