Trial farm highlights sustainable agriculture practices

"Diversifying our approach to pasture management and water conservation has protected our crops and ensured the health and productivity of our livestock," Mr Wheaton said.

Stranraer Farm primarily produces lambs and meat, recently shifting towards shedders.

A third-generation islander, Derek Wheaton, took ownership of the property in 2015. He now manages the farm with his father, who remains actively involved.

Derek looked at the previous conventional farming systems. He decided to go down a different pathway to develop property-scale water security plans to prepare for future droughts.

"The idea of having your farm covered in green pastures is my idea for the future," Mr Wheaton said, "I don't want to run one that looks like a desert."

CHALLENGES FACED BY THE BUSINESS

Mr Wheaton said Stranraer faced significant challenges due to its location at the bottom of a basin, leading to ongoing inundation and severe flooding in 2013 and 2016, leaving paddocks submerged, killing pasture along with any pasture seed in the soil.

The frequent waterlogging threatened the survival of tall wheatgrass, a resilient plant crucial for maintaining pasture health.

Mr Wheaton said dams were also an issue on his farm.

"We didn't have very good dams; if we dig too deep, we get into saline groundwater," he said.

Along with other farms on the Dudley Peninsula in the 1800s, Stranraer was one of the island's first properties to be cleared.

"An old property also means old trees," Mr Wheaton said.

"We struggle with our shelter belts, which are over 100 years old and overgrazed," he said.

"Plus, there hasn't been a fire for some time, so now trees are falling everywhere."

TRIALING NEW PRACTICES

Mr Wheaton was looking for different solutions, initially through various trials focused on improving soil and plant health.

These trials included monitoring plant sugar levels, lick blocks, sap testing, revegetation, grazing management, and evaluating biologicals in the soil.

Mr Wheaton addressed water management issues by constructing a dam system designed by Ron Watkins based on principles from Percy Yeomans and Charles Massy's work, connecting his top dam to the middle dam, with a contour slowing the speed of the water down, gradually rolling down, taking energy out.

"On the downward side of the contour bank, we planted a row of native species with the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board to stabilize the soil and enhance biodiversity," he said.

"The native vegetation planting has attracted an amazing amount of birdlife, including herons, ducks, eagles, and hawks," he said.

Mr Wheaton said implementing new practices has improved the farm's water security, with water quality now suitable for direct consumption by livestock.

"Now we can efficiently capture the water and store it in dams, totalling 15 ML last year, which means we can survive a drought."

ONGOING ASSESSMENT

Mr Wheaton said some trials on perennial pastures showed promising results and while comprehensive results of the foliar application trial are yet to be documented, he anticipates improved plant health, with pastures more palatable and desirable for grazing.

A detailed analysis of management changes and results will be developed and published in 12 months.

"I'm hoping there will be a breakthrough with our next trial of foliar applications on two perennial pasture paddocks," Mr Wheaton said.

"This involves applying foliar pasture brews using a boom sprayer at 100 litres a hectare, facilitated by the KI Landscape Board," he said.

"This method was chosen over traditional granular or single super fertilizers to see if it would boost plant health and production cost-effectively."

Stranraer was assisted by the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board’s Narrow-leaved Mallee Project Officer, Nursery Manager, Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator, Water Officer and Soil Extension Officer.

If you would like to hear more about how the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board can help you, call (08) 8553 2476.