Farming Together Program

02/06/2026

Our colleagues from Southern Cross University have helped develop Australia's first 10-year roadmap to strengthen and grow certified organic horticulture production 🌱

The goal?
To double the value and impact of Australian certified organic horticulture production by 2035. Read more: https://austorganic.com/organic-horticulture-research-strategy-2025/

What's next?
Join the Organic Horticulture RD&I Working Group, and help bring the strategy to life. Applications close 30 June 2026: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/bnBhvh

Australian Organic Hort Innovation

Organic Horticulture Research Development and Innovation Strategy Major First in the Organic Horticulture Sector LIVE: Australian Organic Horticulture RD&I Strategy 2026 – 2035 We’re pleased to share a landmark opportunity for the future of certified organic horticulture in Australia – the Org...

29/05/2026

"Once you start learning about soils, it’s addictive".

We reckon Southern Cross University student Melita Ross is right about that! 😅

We're so proud that she's representing Australia on the world stage next week after being selected for the Australian team competing at the 5th International Soil Judging Contest in Nanjing, China.

Read more about her amazing journey:

Melita Ross is now representing the country internationally

26/05/2026

It's been very dry at our farm dam project in Bingara -- only 11mm of rain since January!

But the Miyay Birray fathers' group has been busy doing some w**d control. SQNNSWHub's Janelle Schafer said they were bandicooting around the roots of the plants and injecting Di-Bak AM.

"The aim here is to kill the w**ds without getting any herbicide in the dam, and consequently any other waterways downstream. There is a capsule and then a dowel inserted into each root," she said.

"At the field day next Wednesday, June 3rd, we will be highlighting this new w**d control method, and the planting arrangement for a windbreak in the Box Gum Grassy Woodland Endangered Ecological Community."

Come along and hear all about it: https://enhancingfarmdams.eventbrite.com.au

Fingers crossed for a bit of rain soon, so tree planting can start with the help of the Armidale Tree Group.

Gwydir Shire Council Northern Slopes Landcare Association Inc.

25/05/2026

Want to find out how Northern Rivers producers are managing pasture dieback?

Join us for two field walks coming up in the first week of June:
🌱 June 2: Alstonville
🌱 June 4: Yorklea

This is a great chance to hear firsthand from local producers managing the impacts of pasture dieback, the results of Southern Cross University research trials and demos, and an excellent overview of from North Coast Local Land Services.

01/05/2026

Say hello to our host for Science at the Feddy 👋

Dr Jay Anderson loves agricultural research because she gets to help farmers and other researchers solve real life problems. Field work is a big perk of the job!🌞

She's interested in how fungi infect plants (aren't we all???) and what we can do to stop losses from fungal diseases.

Her background is in diseases of horticultural crops, like avocado and blueberries, but she also works on crops like tea tree and rice too.

Come along on Thursday night (7th May) and hear more from Jay and her colleagues: https://events.humanitix.com/science-in-the-pub-federal-hotel-may-2026

North Coast Local Land Services SQNNSWHub Southern Cross University Federal Hotel Alstonville

29/04/2026

Beer + science = a fun night out! 🍺🔬

We are getting pretty excited about Science at the Feddy! Come along and learn cool stuff from Southern Cross University researchers, enjoy a bevvie, and meet other science nerds 🤓

WHEN: Thursday, 7th May, 6pm
WHERE: Federal Hotel Alstonville
Supported by North Coast Local Land Services and SQNNSWHub.

15/04/2026

🍻 Science at the Feddy 🍻

If you love science and research, but don't love the big words and technical explanations, then come and join North Coast Local Land Services, Southern Cross University and SQNNSWHub for this fun night out!

When: Thursday, 7th May, from 6pm
Where: Federal Hotel Alstonville

Register here, or just turn up on the night:

Science at the Feddy is an event featuring science, minus the lab coat, no jargon, no slides full of equations. Just interesting ideas and a beverage of choice.

31/03/2026

Great to see Southern Cross University ecology students doing their fieldwork at Banyula recently!

25/03/2026

What a great farm for a workshop! 🤩

Thanks Steve and Steph at Argents Hill for hosting the first of three landscape rehydration workshops organised by Nambucca Valley Landcare and the Lismore Node of the SQNNSWHub.

Gavin from the Hub said the group of farmers and landholders walked around the property, checking out the tree and ground cover, flow lines, soils, and erosion, to get an understanding of how water moves through the landscape.

"We looked at a developing head cut and talked about some potential management options - fencing, structures, design, plants, and improving farm ponds and dams. We built some small structures to repair erosion issues and retain more moisture."

Next time we may even tackle some more ambitious sites on another farm!

24/03/2026

Do you have a small creek or stream on your property?

These workshops will help you with practical, low-cost ways to slow run-off, increase infiltration and rehydrate your landscape.

Great initiative from North Coast Local Land Services, Rous County Council and SQNNSWHub 🙌

Do you want to learn practical steps for rehydration and erosion management?

🌿 Join this hands-on workshop series to learn how water moves across your property and the wider catchment, and how healthy waterways support stream health. These workshops are particularly suited to land managers that have small streams and creeks on their property.

This practical training will help landholders build the skills to:
💧 understand how water flows across your property and catchment, and the ecosystems these waterways support
🌾 learn practical, low-cost techniques to slow runoff, increase infiltration and rehydrate your landscape
🦋 improve biodiversity, soil stability and long-term property productivity

🤝 The NSW Government's North Coast Local Land Services is proud to co-deliver this workshop with expertise from Rous County Council and the SQNNSWHub.

Workshop dates
💻 Introductory online session – date to be advised
📍 Practical session 1 will be held 22 April | 9am–3pm
📍 Practical session 2 will be held 3 June | 9am–3pm

Practical sessions will be held near Boat Harbour in the Lismore region with the exact address to be provided after registration.

🔗 For more information and how to register, visit our events page https://bit.ly/46ZjDke