A FOCUS on long-term sustainability is seeing one northern Tasmanian farming operation undergo some major changes. Marcus and Eleanor run Junction Farm which sits not far form the outskirts of Launceston. Mrs James has had a long family association with farming and the couple purchased the 1012ha property about seven years ago.
Since then, the couple have set about diversifying their operation to make the most of the property’s location and natural advantages, while focusing on long-term sustainability. The farm now runs up to 100 Angus-cross breeding cows. Charolais bulls are used over the cows to producer weaners, which are sold as stores.
The farm has Global Animal Partnership and Never Ever accreditation with Greenhams Tasmania so the calves can be sold to producers who are also registered with those quality assurance programs.
“We have a lot of people who regularly buy calves from us which we really like,” Mr James said. “We do a lot of our work with them on horses too, so the cattle are really quiet, sometimes the truck drivers complain they’re too quiet.”
The farm also runs a flock of 1400 Merino-cross ewes. Lambs are bred using terminal sires and the lambs are sold as stores. Traditionally the farm also grew potatoes, but most of the cropping production area now is under a soil carbon arrangement through AgriProve.
Mr James said being involved with the carbon program also gave them a good starting point. “When farmers talk to me about it, I say get in now and get your base line because you’re already practising those changes,” he said. “You’ve really got to come in and get started.”
As a result, Mr James said they are now trialling different methods to establish mixed-pasture species in an effort to increase soil carbon. “We went into that with more of a longer-term view, so we’ve taken it as more of a low-risk option and a way to get a base line and track how we’re going, while we work out what is actually going to work,” he said.
“We also look at it a bit differently because it’s not just about carbon. It’s also about things like fertiliser use, which at the moment is extraordinarily expensive, as well as water and having pastures that are more resilient and able to perform without irrigation if needed.”
A 60kW solar system to power the farm’s centre pivot was installed in 2019. “It made economic sense on the numbers,” Mr James said. “I did look ahead and think the regulatory system would have changed to be more supportive of using the power and how we wanted to use it, but unfortunately the single meter and single tariff system is still here.”
Mr James said the current system is a major deterrent for farmers to invest in more on-farm power generation and something the State Government needs to address. Not long after they purchased the property the couple started offering basic horse agistment services.
Since then, they have developed the property to include a large riding arena and purpose-built educational building which now also includes a state-of-the-art riding simulator.
“Very early on the decision was made to recognise the production limit of the farm, its location and its value relative to its location,” Mr James said. Like all other aspects of their operation the couple are focused on sustainability when it comes to management of the agistment areas. The paddocks are regularly rested and rotationally grazed with other stock to ensure they are not over grazed. “It’s not set paddocked agistment, so we rotate the paddocks and look at how we use the other animals we have in the whole system,” Mr James said.
All the horses are regularly worm tested. Mrs James has a long history with equestrian and the farm now offers lessons and services to clients of all ages and levels of ability. The riding simulator can help students and visiting riders improve their riding techniques or learn the basics before they transition to a real horse. Purpose built for eventing, the simulator can operate in different modes, including jumping, to assist riders with varying levels of experience.
The couple also run a business offering premium trail riding holiday experiences to clients in Tasmania and on the mainland. Junction Farm sits alongside the Meander River and has about 10km of river frontage.
The couple recently finished fencing off a major portion of the river through a Natural Resource Management program. Now they are also about to embark on a new Enhancing Remnant Vegetation project which is being funded by the Federal Government. About 800ha of the property will soon operate under different management systems.
Mr James said the three key aspects of the project are protecting the existing remnant vegetation, weed control and replanting native vegetation. This will include removal of gorse and hawthorns and the planting of about 120,000 native plants, trees and grasses. The plantings will include 15 different species, which match the remnant vegetation. Weed management is also a crucial part of the program and Mr James said they have a 10-year commitment and funding to tackle the weeds. There will also be about 20km of fencing installed to protect key areas.
Mr James said while restoring remnant vegetation on the property had been a long-term goal, the project has enabled them to fast track those plans. “It really was something we wanted to do but the cost was huge, so we would have done it over 20 to 30 years,” he said.
“This project has really allowed us to super charge it and it ties in with our diversification of the property. It will just fundamentally change the landscape in these areas.”
Mr James said over time the extra trees would provide more shelter for the stock in the adjament, so we rotate the paddocks and look at how we use the other animals we have in the whole system,” Mr James said. All the horses are regularly worm tested.
Mrs James has a long history with equestrian and the farm now offers lessons and services to clients of all ages and levels of ability. The riding simulator can help students and visiting riders improve their riding techniques or learn the basics before they transition to a real horse. Purpose built for eventing, the simulator can operate in different modes, including jumping, to assist riders with varying levels of experience.
The couple also run a business offering premium trail riding holiday experiences to clients in Tasmania and on the mainland. Junction Farm sits alongside the Meander River and has about 10km of river frontage. The couple recently finished fencing off a major portion of the river through a Natural Resource Management program.
Now they are also about to embark on a new Enhancing Remnant Vegetation project which is being funded by the Federal Government. About 800ha of the property will soon operate under different management systems. Mr James said the three key aspects of the project are protecting the existing remnant vegetation, weed control and replanting native vegetation. This will include removal of gorse and hawthorns and the planting of about 120,000 native plants, trees and grasses.
The plantings will include 15 different species, which match the remnant vegetation. Weed management is also a crucial part of the program and Mr James said they have a 10-year commitment and funding to tackle the weeds. There will also be about 20km of fencing installed to protect key areas. Mr James said while restoring remnant vegetation on the property had been a long-term goal, the project has enabled them to fast track those plans. “It really was something we wanted to do but the cost was huge, so we would have done it over 20 to 30 years,” he said.
“This project has really allowed us to super charge it and it ties in with our diversification of the property. It will just fundamentally change the landscape in these areas.”
Mr James said over time the extra trees would provide more shelter for the stock in the adjacent paddocks and also enhance the experience for trail riding clients.
Mr James is also one of two Tasmanian farmers who have won a Farmers for Climate Action climate-smart farming scholarship worth $3000. The scholarship includes a course through the University of Melbourne on carbon accounting which Mr James said he will find highly valuable.
He said finding the right tools to navigate through carbon accounting and trading is a challenge that a lot of farmers are facing. Part of the scholarship will also focus on biodiversity accounting. This will help to assess the land for its biodiversity values and any improvements over time. Mr James will also take part in a trip to Canberra with 19 other scholarship recipients from across the country.