Overview of the Tree Crops for Sustainable Agriculture project

The Tree Crops for Sustainable Agriculture project is an important Avon Catchment Council initiative designed to support developing tree cropping industries in low rainfall areas. The project is focusing on supporting grower groups, increasing industry involvement and enhancing communication between all levels of NRM, agriculture, government, industry and the community.

• 2 year project running until March 2006
• Funded by the Australian Government's National Landcare Program through the Avon Catchment Council
• Focus on the Avon River Basin region of WA
• Coordinated and delivered by Greening Australia (WA)

Expected Outcomes

• Wider scale adoption of integrated tree crops by primary producers and landowners in the Avon River Basin and adjacent areas.
• Increased capacity, knowledge and confidence of primary producers and landowners to implement integrated tree crops into their existing agricultural enterprises.
• Increased government, industry and grower involvement in the development of new tree cropping industries in the Avon River Basin.

Project Objectives

• Initiate the Avon River Basin Tree Crops Communication Plan
• Development and distribution of an investor prospectus
• Provide support to existing and new grower groups
• Coordinate and delivering a series of farm forestry road shows
• Establish farm forestry demonstration sites and maintaining existing demo sites

Achievements to Date

• Development of AVONGRO Wheatbelt Tree Cropping, the new Private Forestry Development Committee for the Avon region
• Production of the inaugural AVONGRO tree cropping newsletter (see attached 1)
• Continued development and coordination of the Avon Sandalwood Network, a growers group focused on the developing sandalwood industry with 67 members (3 newsletters produces and 4 workshops held – see attached newsletters 2,3,4)
• Establishment of 6 farm forestry demonstration sites throughout the Avon region, and management of 3 existing demonstration sites (see attached 5, 6)
• Support for the Oil Mallee Associaiton – produced the most recent edition of the Dinkum Oil newsletter and coordinated a tour of the Narrogin IWP with 70 mallee growers attending (see Dinkum oil attached 7)
• Support for the Avon Catchment Council’s NRM and Investment plans
• Extension and advisory services provided to landowners
• Delivering a range of tree cropping field days and workshops (see attached 8,9)

For more information contact the project coordinator from Greening Australia (WA) on (08) 9621 2400 or temmott@gawa.org.au