Farmers in the Upper Murray are seeking donations to support the recovery of farmland, small rural businesses and communities severely affected by bushfire and floods and they need your help now.

After more than 307, 000 hectares, including large areas of farmland, were razed by the devastating fires this summer, blackened fire-affected pastures have led to a feed shortage, animal health issues and environmental damage throughout the region. Re-seeding has been identified as a critical part of the economic and environmental recovery.

Donations to the Re-seed Farms for Recovery Appeal will pay for farmers to buy seed and resow pastures in time for autumn plantings. Seed will be sourced through local seed suppliers who have been working co-operatively to research quality perennial seed supplies and negotiating bulk orders to ensure donated money goes further.

The Need to Re-seed initiative is not prescriptive but for farmers who see this as an opportunity to reset and build the resilience of their soils moving forward it will assist farmers with the uptake of regenerative agriculture methods. The program will provide information and access to seed blends that bolster soil carbon levels which will enhance long-term environmental recovery.

Matthew Warnken, Managing Director of soil carbon solutions company AgriProve said “We encourage you to donate generously to the Need to Re-seed initiative led by Corryong farmer Stephen Whitsed.” The project aims to support the restoration of 20,000 hectares of farmland and pasture.

AgriProve is offering a 50 per cent discount on soil carbon baselining for any fire affected farmers who wish to start a soil carbon project under the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund.

“We know that multi-species pasture cropping can boost plant productivity, activate soil biology, improve water holding capacity and build soil carbon. If farmers engage in a soil carbon project, they can earn additional income from soil carbon credits”, Mr Warnken said.

“Building soil carbon also helps farms mitigate and adapt to climate change. Drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it in the soil can transform agriculture from a source of greenhouse gas emissions to a carbon sink”, Mr Warnken said.

The projected cost of the Need to Re-seed initiative is $10 million ($500/ha X 20,000ha =$10,000,000).

Tax deductible donations can be made via AgBiz Assist Ltd through its AgBiz Assist Charity Account.

Account Name: ABA Rural Relief and Care, BSB: 063 537, Account Number: 10108271

Please advise donation details and identify its intended purpose Upper Murray Re-seed Farms for Recovery Appeal to [email protected] for a tax deductible receipt to be issued.

Visit The Need to Re-seed Facebook page.

Media contact: Alexandra de Blas M: 0414 509 404 E: [email protected]

The fires

The fire in the Upper Murray ignited with a lightning strike on 29 December and crossed the border into Victoria within days, burning more than 307,000 hectares. Several communities including Corryong, Cudgewa and Walwa were seriously impacted in the Upper Murray region and the fire caused significant loss of property, stock, fencing and other infrastructure. Hundreds of fire fighters and incident management team members were dispatched in response to the fire and to support recovery efforts, including personnel from across Australia, the Australian Defence Force, Canada and the United States.

The value of re-seeding

Re-sowing pastures with quality perennial seed has many benefits:

valuable topsoil stabilisation
provides feed for livestock
builds soil carbon
provides flowering support to native pollinators that have lost their native food source. This will help recovery of native forest as well as agriculture
perennial blends that establish species provide resilience, and encourage adaption to changing rainfalls and drought conditions

How it works

AgBiz Assist working with Stephen whitsed and Upper Murray farmers together with Upper Murray seed companies, is supporting this critical recovery initiative by accepting donations with the aim of distributing raised funds back out to impacted farmers as soon as possible to enable the reseeding of burnt pastures in time for autumn sowing.

Farmers in the Upper Murray who were burnt out will have their farms assessed to determine area, terrain and the quality and types of seed blend. A co-ordinated approach to planting will ensure that farmers who have lost machinery will have their paddocks planted.

Steven Whitsed contacts M: 0434 348 467, P: 02 6076 0539, E: [email protected]

AgBiz Assist

According to the AgBiz Assist Charter the organisation aims to not only assist rural people and their communities to recover from financial hardship due to natural disasters such as drought and bushfires but also to strengthen social capacity and develop stronger local and regional economies.

AgBiz Assist Ltd contacts P: 1300 032 332, E: [email protected], W: www.agbizassist.org.au