WestVic NRM Focus Farms

The WestVic Focus Farm program is based on participatory research where farmers work with each other to try and understand the real questions that need to be answered to ensure their businesses are sustainable into the future.

The objective of the Focus Farm project is to accelerate the rate at which dairy farmers embrace and execute Natural Resource Management (NRM). It aims to achieve this objective by forming self-directed farmer learning groups that meet about ten times over three years to integrate environmental best practices with profitable and productive farming. The group self directs much of its own learning but does this around the plans and action on one member’s farm, the Focus Farm.

One hundred and seventy farmers in the WestVic Dairy area have already been involved in Focus Farm groups over the past three years and the results have been substantial. 100% of participating farmers have made change to their management practices. These changes have included planting shelter belts, fencing, effluent system upgrades and improvements in water use efficiency.

For further information contact the WestVic Dairying for Tomorrow Coordinator Mike Weise: email: mike@westvicdairy.com.au

Case study-NRM Focus Farm- Rod & Libby Swayne, VIC 2007.pdf

The WestVic Focus Farms Manual: A Guide to running Natural Resource Management farmer groups is available as a PDF. See Reports.