Swartz Carbon Project located in Moronish Queensland - Photo: Verterra
The Swartz Carbon Projects 4 and 9 in the Fitzroy Basin region of Queensland have been issued 3,176 and 2,976 ACCUs respectively under the ACCU Scheme.
The projects were registered with the ACCU Scheme in March 2022 and cover a combined 2,109 hectares utilizing rotational grazing practices.
Soil carbon project has allowed stocking rate to double while improving soil health and building carbon at depth
Landholders Nathan and Mark Warnock’s investment into infrastructure including fencing and waterpoints to enable rotational grazing demonstrates how carbon projects benefit from capital investment and management change.
AgriProve now has 63 projects with validated measured increases in soil carbon across its portfolio under the 2021 methodology.
29 July 2024: The Swartz Carbon Projects, managed by the Warnock family, incorporate 11 individual soil carbon projects over 2,109 hectares in the Fitzroy Basin region of Queensland. The first two projects to show validated measured increases have generated a combined 6,152 ACCUs issued by the Clean Energy Regulator in partnership with AgriProve.
The Warnock family have managed the Calliweera Farm property for over five generations with the first pieces of land acquired in 1879. The farming enterprise now totals nearly 4,000 hectares of land, with more than half the area under soil carbon projects, managed by Nathan and Mark Warnock.
Their land management strategy focuses on rotational grazing to allow the land to recover, having converted from set stocking methods. Rotational grazing was implemented with stocking rates adjusted from set stocked levels of 500 head to now carrying approximately 1,000 cattle. Rest periods were introduced and tailored to the cattle management schedule to facilitate the establishment of desired natural grasses and legumes. The Warnocks have invested in infrastructure including 75 kilometres of electric fencing and the installation of 56 additional watering points to enable the rotational grazing program.
Utilizing AgriProve's innovative, digitally enabled Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) model, the projects benefited from an expedited soil sampling and carbon crediting process. The SOC model combines satellite imagery with ground-truthed measurement to more accurately predict changes in SOC attributed to on-farm management practices. As a result, the Swartz Carbon Projects were able to generate ACCUs in just two years instead of the typical five-year timeframe. This demonstrates significant improvements in soil carbon levels, with the paddocks showing excellent recovery under the high-density grazing regime and a notable reduction in sediment runoff.
AgriProve partnered with Verterra, a leading environmental services contractor, to conduct the soil sampling for the Swartz Carbon Projects. Verterra's team of experienced field technicians followed the rigorous sampling methodology required under the ACCU Scheme to collect soil cores across the project areas. AgriProve’s unique financing model allowed for the baselining costs to be offset with future ACCUs, meaning there was no upfront capital outlay for the project. The success of the Swartz carbon projects are testament to the dedication of Australian farmers to tackle climate challenges and improve their land and farming outputs in a sustainable and profitable way. AgriProve is proud to partner with such innovative and committed primary producers.
Quote attributable to Swartz Carbon Project landholder Nathan Warnock
“I’m focusing on regenerative grazing and adjusting cattle numbers to work with the land, so my business is more sustainable over the longer term.” “Since beginning the transition from set stocking to rotational grazing we have been able to increase our stocking rate by around 100% starting at 500 and now sitting around 1,000 head.”
“Verterra introduced us to AgriProve and we were able to defer the cost of the baseline soil sampling. Essentially, the credits that we've been issued are sitting in our account and can pay off 99% of our original baseline soil sampling costs.”
“The AgriProve team have been really good to deal with. If I've got a question, I have no problem ringing and the team will answer any questions that I've asked.”
Quote attributable to AgriProve Managing Director Matthew Warnken
"At AgriProve, we believe in 'your property, your call'. We provide landholders with the flexibility to implement land management strategies that work best for their specific situations. Whether it's rotational grazing, improved pasture management, or infrastructure investments, we support farmers in making choices that not only increase soil carbon but also align with their broader farm management goals. The success of the Swartz Carbon Projects demonstrates how this approach can deliver both environmental and economic benefits."
Media contact: Daniel Wortmann 0448 187 650 [email protected]