Benefits of boosting farm dam biodiversity
Southern Queensland and Northern NSW (SQNNSW) Bingara-based extension officer, Janelle Schafer, recently spoke about ways to enhance farm dams at two workshops organised by Northern Tablelands Local Land Services.
The first workshop was held at Arrawatta Station at Inverell, hosted by landowner Susan Hendry. The property runs large mobs of heritage Scottish Angus cattle.
Janelle said was great to see that Susan had enhanced three farm dams with exclusion fencing and hardened accessways.
“Susan has found the exclusion fencing worked, but mobs of up to 500 head couldn’t be kept out of the dam in drought times with the hardened accessway,” Janelle said.
“Because stock still has occasional access to these dams, the terrestrial vegetation was well-established, but the aquatic vegetation was still missing.
“I spoke about the Australian National University’s Sustainable Farms research project, Enhancing Farm Dams, which has been running since 2018. This encourages landowners to manage the stock around dams by either fencing to exclude stock, grazing management, or keeping access to a defined hardened access point.
“Vegetation can then re-establish around the dam, providing cleaner water for stock.
“This also enhances the ecological system in the wetland, including macroinvertebrates, and boosts breeding success for birds, bats and larger animals who feed on them.”
Sarah Mika, Head of the Aquatic Ecology and Restoration Research Group at the University of New England, also spoke at the workshop. She said enhanced farm dams had benefits for stock health, production and the natural ecology.
Carmen Laidlaw, a PhD candidate, spoke about how we have lost most upland wetlands. Farm dams can help to provide habitat to those species that previously used the wetlands.
Martin Dillon, Senior Land Services Officer from Northern Tablelands LLS, talked about the benefits to wildlife, and Rachel Lawrence, the Natural Capital Advisor for the Northern Tablelands, discussed natural capital legislation and what it means for farmers.
The second workshop was hosted by Oscar Waugh and his family, at their property near Walcha.
“We were delighted by the excellent condition of the dam and wetland, which he has enhanced,” Janelle said.