Fife Carbon project
The Fife Carbon Project, located near Shepparton, Victoria, marks a significant milestone in Australian agriculture as the first broadacre cropping operation to receive Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) for soil carbon sequestration.
Luke Felmingham, a progressive cropper and hay contractor, alongside his father Ken, manages a 640-hectare farm with 157.6 hectares dedicated to the soil carbon project. The property is a hay and grain producing property, which is part of a larger, multi-farm operation. Lucerne production is a highlight of the wider operation.
Fife Carbon Project has successfully increased soil carbon by 2,000 tonnes in just 12 months. This achievement challenges the traditional belief that soil carbon cannot be effectively built in broadacre cropping.
Fife Carbon Project
The project has generated
Project Highlights:
First Cropping Enterprise to be issued soil carbon credits
Enhanced soil health, improved water holding capacity, and increased farm productivity
Fife Carbon Project
Results
Luke implemented a targeted carbon-building approach to enhance soil carbon and productivity. He used LawrieCo’s DIGEST READY and KICKER bio-stimulants to break down stubble and return nutrients to the soil.
To protect soil biology, he applied F75 Fulvic to buffer chemical impacts. His canola seed was treated with SureCrop PRIME, a microbial seed dressing, to boost carbon drawdown and resilience. Luke also incorporated Humate Granules with MAP fertiliser to enhance root growth and nutrient uptake. Finally, he used targeted foliar nutrition applications to further improve crop resilience and efficiency.
There have also been significant improvements in farm productivity, with increased plant resilience and water use efficiency being key outcomes. Despite an initial investment of $80/ha in carbon-building fertilisers, the long-term gains in soil health and carbon sequestration make it a sustainable farming model.
Luke Felmingham: “The improvements in soil structure and water holding capacity have been game-changers for us, especially in challenging weather conditions.”
“It’s not just about the carbon credits; it’s about building a resilient and productive farm for the future.”
WHY AGRIPROVE
AgriProve uses data driven tools and unique financing mechanisms to make regenerative grazing accessible and profitable for farmers. Partnering with landholders and industry leaders to mutually benefit from carbon project success. Our unique ACCU success fee model removes the risk and creates a true partnership for the entirety of the project.
Utilising AgriProve’s innovative, digitally enabled Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) model project partners benefit from the expedited soil sampling and carbon crediting process.
““We’ve seen clear improvements in soil health and farm productivity. Partnering with AgriProve and LawrieCo has made the carbon farming process manageable and beneficial for our operation.”
“The support from AgriProve has made navigating the complexity of the carbon farming process much easier.””