From 1990, Harden Murrumburrah Landcare Group has been a highly active, inclusive organisation that has supported local growers while collaborating with the latest science.
The Group’s reputation within the Landcare network is formidable, built by local members, with the support of long time local coordinator Louise Hufton, who has recently retired.
HMLG has been cited by the wider movement as a shining example of what is possible in agricultural landscape learning. We have been lucky to have the consistent expertise of local agronomists, advisors and CSIRO scientists.
Our achievements have included swathes of revegetated landscape, wildlife corridors, revitalised and protected waterways and collaborative agricultural scientific studies, including a 20 year CSIRO trial, with the support of the O’Connor family.
We have run extension sessions as diverse as Grazing for Profit, soil health, mental health care, stubble management, how to negotiate bank interest rates and Ladies on the Land.
We can see the results of 30 years of learning in our own businesses and landscapes. We believe that our agricultural production, our local farmers and landscapes are more resilient and healthy as a result of Landcare’s work.
HMLG is single minded in its focus on its members. We are primarily local farming families, whose current and future generations face a combination of exciting developments (think agtech, data sharing, smart farms) and challenging issues (think climate change, trade threats, social licence).
To remain vibrant and relevant, our current executive committee is looking to re-set and re-define the group for the future. We are embarking on a planning process to determine what our members need to function best. In short, we want to be the best farmers and landcarers we can possibly be. And we believe if we combine our energies, ideas and connections, we can grab the opportunities and face the challenges.
We will be holding two half day sessions at the Harden Fire Control Centre on Tuesday May 25 (8.45am-1.15pm) and June 1 (8.45am-1.15pm) to workshop what we want to achieve for the next generation. Tea, coffee and morning tea will be provided and all local Landcare members are welcome.
Without members, we are nothing. So we hope you will join us to design a fit for purpose support group to face the next 30 years of farming and landscape stewardship.
RSVP harden.landcare@gmail.com