Yan Yan Gurt West Outstanding example of multipurpose farm trees Your host: Andrew Stewart

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My family settled here over 100 years ago and my children are the 5^th generation to live on this land. After studying, working and travelling I returned to the farm in 1992 with my wife Jill. We now have 3 children and supplement our farming income with part-time off-farm work. Today, our 230 ha farm looks completely different to what it was like 16 years ago. The property has been transformed from 3.5% tree cover (plantations and remnant vegetation) in 1992 to 15% tree cover in 2008.  About 36,000 trees and shrubs have been established over the past 16 years. The farm is not only a much more aesthetic and pleasant environment to work in, but more productive due to changes in stock and pasture management and protection of land and livestock with revegetation.

By 2003, the farm produced 1600 prime lambs, joined 82 heifers, maintained 3.5 ha of remnant vegetation and 30 hectares of plantations. More than half of the plantation area is being managed for commercial timber production. These plantings are growing into a source of farm income whilst providing other benefits to the property and the sheep and cattle enterprises. The integration of farm forestry with Landcare has generated some income by running tours for various groups including universities and international study groups. Other than the sale of Christmas trees, our first commercial timber harvest in 2007 of pulpwood grown under a joint venture yielded almost $30,000.

What we have found

Whilst we know we are receiving many benefits from the trees it is difficult to measure the benefits. With all the variables involved it has not been practical to establish experimental controls and besides  we simply do not have the time and resources to perform rigorous scientific studies. However, we are confident about making certain statements based on observations and some real agricultural production measurements:

• With 15 % revegetation our stocking rates have not declined.
• The plantation system has offered considerable benefit to deep rooted, perennial herb summer fodder crops such as chicory and plantain by reducing evapotranspiration from hot north westerly winds. This allows us to better meet prime lamb production targets and hence improve marketing options and profitability.
• 104 species of birds have been recorded on the property including magpies and large numbers of  ibis which have been eating  insects such as grass hoppers and cock- chaffer grubs.
• We scan ewes 90 days after joining. Twin bearing ewes are placed in the best sheltered paddocks with the best alpacas (to reduce fox predation of newly born lambs). The twin bearing ewes are gaining significant benefits from the tree shelter. The plantation system also gives us greater flexibility and confidence for choice of lambing time.
• Fencing out creeks and drainage lines has made the property safer for stock, easier to muster and a healthier environment. The wet and boggy areas, which are more prone to harbouring diseases have been eliminated from the grazing system. Fortunately, these areas are often the best places for productive trees because they are low in the landscape thus offering seedlings some protection and commonly have greater moisture and nutrient concentrations.
• In wet years waterlogging is reduced, which makes the property more trafficable and healthy.
• A badly salt scalded area has now been transformed from a scar on the landscape into a bird haven and place of beauty as well as providing a safe haven for off-shears sheep; turning a problem into an opportunity. There are now a number of off-shears havens scattered through out the property ready for use when the big bad event comes. And it will occur as it is only a matter of time.
• The aesthetics of the property has improved greatly over the past 14 years and the property is a far more enjoyable place to work leading to better psychological health and probably  physical health for all those involved.
• Strategic and biodiverse revegetation has had a significantly effect on increased property value thus improving equity percent and borrowing power.
• The biodiverse plantations may increase the populations of predatory spiders that predate red legged earth mite that can devastate legumes  such as clover. Parasitic wasps living in the plantations may be predating cock-chaffer grubs, which can destroy pastures.
• I can remember a big blow shooting our top soil out to the ocean. Now that we have 15 % of the property revegetated with trees and shrubs it is far less likely to happen.
• The web of plantations throughout the property reduces spray drift.
• In drought times it is much easier to find a “stock sacrifice” paddock that is low in the landscape and well protected by plantations from all directions.
• Commercial trees can provide useful income and on-farm employment options whether it be from the sale of timber, seed, Christmas trees or from conducting farm tours for students, farmers, government agencies and international groups.

Traditionally, farmers consider risk management in terms of insurance, fodder and water conservation or alternative investments off farm. By the same token, farmers would generally view commercial tree growing as a risky investment that takes a long time to mature. We’ve found that, by integrating multipurpose trees, agroforestry is a means of reducing risk and turning time into an opportunity.

Given that we intend to stay and pass the farm onto our children in a better state we need to balance the short term need for income with the long term goals of environmental sustainability, management flexibility and income diversification. We look to turn or current land management problems into solutions which address environmental issues and increase farm productivity in the short medium term whilst, at the same time, developing a resource (timber, seed, carbon, aesthetics or other tree products and services) that we, as a family, can farm in the future. By first identifying and reducing risk and then focusing on supporting agricultural production any future return from the trees is really a bonus.

READ MORE - Farm Planning for agroforestry on Yan Yan Gurt West

For information on tours of both Yan Yan Gurt West and Bambra Agroforestry Farm contact Rowan (below).
Specially designed tours with optional workshops led by Rowan and Andrew are available on request for groups.