Southern Highlands farmers are getting on with the job of planning the long-term future of their farms in a series of workshops running in the local area.

A group of farmers from various parts of the Highlands have been enthusiastically participating in a series of farm management planning workshops organised by Farming For The Future over recent months.

The farmers, from both large and small properties, are very keen to make the most of the resources on their farms and have benefited greatly from the speakers they have heard from and the farms they have visited so far.

Workshop coordinator Geoff O’Connor, from NSW Agriculture, said the group had shown great enthusiasm and eagerness to gain and share ideas.

“By coming together in a group such as this the farmers have had access to a terrific range of people who can offer advice and speak from experience about farming in the area and managing their natural and financial resources for the long term.”

At their most recent workshop the farmers discussed the benefits of vegetation on their farms to both livestock and crops with Greg Stone from Woodlands Revegetation.

Greg Meaker, Beef Cattle officer with NSW Agriculture at Goulburn talked to the group about pastures and discussed a range of grazing strategies in the paddock at “The Pines” at Meryla.

The workshops, which are subsidized through the Catchment Protection Scheme, allow the farmers to prepare a physical plan of their farm to guide the development of their properties over coming years.

The group plans to look at weed management and financial recording amongst other things in the coming workshop sessions.

A new series of the workshops will be starting next month. Anyone with an interest in planning the future of their rural land should make the most of this opportunity.

Further information available from Geoff O’Connor, NSW Agriculture on 4868 3744.