EMS Newsletter - August 2006 edition

An eNewsletter from the EMS Team - Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry

• Welcome to the EMS Newsletter!
• EMS National Pilots – what can we learn from them?
• Pathways to Industry EMS Programme Mid Term Review l Sustainable Industry Initiatives Programme
• Sustainable Industry Initiatives forum, Brisbane, July 19 – 20, 2006
• Queensland Farmers’ Federation and the Queensland Government MoU
• AWIS – A robust blend of regional NRM planning and the Australian wine industry
• Bega Cheese and the Southern Rivers CMA
• Small is Better – Whole of Farm Risk Management (EMS)
• Upcoming Events
• Feedback and contact 

Welcome to the EMS Newsletter!

Welcome to the August EMS Newsletter!

This month’s newsletter has a “linkages” theme and we have pulled together some articles from a number of Pathways and Pilot projects that have successfully linked their EMS projects with other organisations including government programmes, state governments and Catchment Management Authorities. We have also included in this edition an article on the outcomes of the EMS National Pilots Programme, which ended in June 2006, and an update on the mid term review of the EMS Pathways Project.

Finally, we extend a warm welcome to the Sustainable Industry Initiative (SII) Project Managers to our EMS newsletter. To introduce them, a background article on the SII Programme and an update on their recent SII Forum held in Brisbane is included.

EMS National Pilots - what can we learn from them?

The 16 EMS pilots have each recently completed their three year projects and the results from the internal evaluation are just in. Over a thousand farmers and fishers were supported through the EMS journey as part of the programme, with each pilot managing to successfully complete their projects despite facing some challenges along the way, not least being the continued drought during most of the programme.

The lessons from the Pilots show that the benefits for implementing an EMS are diverse including:

• providing participants with a better understanding of the impacts of their production system on the natural resource base, both at the farm and catchment level;
  
• providing a framework within which producers can better manage their environmental risks, gain a better understanding of and improve their skills in managing natural resources;
  
• assisting Landholders to be more aware of their legal requirements and the necessary steps toward compliance;
  
• reviewing and monitoring of business practices as part of the EMS process allows producers to streamline inputs,
  
• assisting producers to be better placed to demonstrate compliance with regulation and in turn develop stronger relationships with regulators avoiding red tape and managing the threat of further regulation; and
  
• the development of strong EMS “support networks” arising from participant involvement in the pilots. 

The three year life of the Pilot programme made it difficult to determine the tangible benefits of EMS. However the Pilot experiences do suggest that the benefits of undertaking at least the initial stages of an EMS outweigh the costs – especially if only self- or second-party audits are utilised.

Similarly, although there is little evidence that the majority of markets for agricultural products currently require environmental assurance through an EMS many Pilots believe this is likely to change in the future. The Pilots felt that putting an EMS in place now means that they will be better prepared if and when markets, regulators or community start looking for evidence of sustainable production systems.

The overall key message from the review of the way the pilots went about developing and implementing their EMS is that there are a large number of ways in which primary producers can approach EMS. These tend not to be mutually exclusive, and there is no one ‘best way’ to tackle EMS. The pilot groups each operated in different regulatory, industry, catchment and community settings, and so their EMS had to reflect this local variability. Put simply, diverse circumstances demand a diversity of approaches.

To find out more about the range of other benefits, lessons and challenges experienced by the pilots, a copy of the EMS National Pilot Programme Final Report will be available on the Department’s website: www.daff.gov.au/ems.

Pathways to Industry EMS Programme Mid Term Review

The Pathways Programme is currently half way through its life and a mid-term review was completed in early 2006. The review reported satisfactory progress against objectives and the programme is now generating some useful insights which will help industry and government tackle the issue of how to move forward into the future with sustainable agriculture.

At this stage, results indicate that the Pathways projects are producing positive results including:

• Industry specific content (ie. guidelines, tools, training materials and checklists) has been produced or further improved. For example, environmental training materials have been developed for all sectors of the egg industry, and Horticulture Australia Limited has developed guidelines for environmental assurance.
  
  
• Most projects have created or improved linkages within industries, between industries and with external stakeholders. For example, Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Grains Council of Australia are working together on their EMS pathways projects, and the cotton industry has been involved in international collaboration on best management practices.
  
  
• The capacity of industry groups is increasing as mentoring and support networks continue to develop. For example, Seafood Services Australia has established a mentoring programme and Australian Chicken Growers Council has appointed 17 state trainers and auditors who are also acting as on-farm mentors. 

A copy of the Mid-Term Review of the Pathways to Industry EMS Programme can be accessed via the Departments website: www.daff.gov.au/ems

Sustainable Industry Initiatives Programme

The Sustainable Industry Initiatives (SII) Programme, funded under the Australian Government National Landcare Programme, is working in partnership with resource-based industries to encourage sustainable natural resource management and promote nationally consistent approaches. The goal of the programme is to have these industries widely recognised as using sustainable practices and implementing natural resource management excellence. To achieve this, best practice management must be applied at the individual farm level, across catchments, regions and the whole of industry.

A number of partnerships are currently in progress with industries such as cotton, fertiliser, horticulture, wine, sugar, irrigation and drainage, and dairy. Activities undertaken by these projects include provision of technical expertise and resources to growers; Self Assessment Tool development, Property Management Planning, Developing Industry Targets, improving communication and information access.

For further information: Phone: 02 6272 5955 or Email

Sustainable Industry Initiatives forum, Brisbane, July 19 – 20, 2006

Participants in the Sustainable Industry Initiatives (SII) Programme recently attended a two-day forum at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane to facilitate communication between SII projects and share some of the successes and challenges encountered by the different industries involved. Twelve projects were represented along with representatives from Landcare and catchment management authorities. Participants represented a wide range of industries and approaches taken to change and improve on-farm practices.

Participants at the forum were challenged by four provocateurs. While the provocateurs were defined as “a secret agent who incites suspected persons to commit illegal acts” National Landcare Facilitator Coral Love, Winemakers’ Federation of Australia National Natural Resource Management Coordinator Amy Russell, NSW cane grower and McKell medallist Robert Quirk and General Manager of the Australian Government Natural Resource Management Team Mike Lee, simply invited participants to make the most of the opportunity to learn from one another and to take the opportunity to engage with the DAFF staff present.

During the forum, the participants were asked to consider why there has been a push from their industry to improve natural resource management and environmental practices as well as the different approaches used to address NRM issues. Participants then examined how successful these approaches have been and what further support could be given to projects and project managers. The forum provided plenty of opportunity for attendees to network and exchange views and ideas on their projects, progress and challenges, and participants were very positive about their experiences during the two days.

Participants were challenged to consider how their industry can connect with the 56 NRM regions currently funded under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust. During a dinner speech, Andrew Campbell, the Executive Director of Land and Water Australia, explored the myths that surround rural Australia such as the urban/rural divide, being the driest continent on earth and the use of water in Australia. Participants exchanged views on different ways of engaging growers and fishers to increase uptake of changed on-farm environmental practice, including targeting farm and business partners, and different ways of delivering training and education.

Our final provocateur, Mike Lee left participants with a message to consider: "You, as persons reasonably suspected of having excess passion for the care and improvement of our natural resources and the success of our resource-based industries, are cordially invited to commit illegal acts which contravene the universal laws of leaving it all to someone else and the contravention of bureaucracy at all costs..."

Queensland Farmers’ Federation and the Queensland Government MoU

The QFF Pathways Project aims to enhance linkages between QFF and the Queensland Government to progress industry-led Farm Management Systems (FMS) programmes in Queensland.

QFF and the Queensland Government have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide their collaborative work. Because state based legislation and reforms are key drivers for industry programmes, the MoU allows industry and the state government to sit, discuss and progress activities that will give better outcomes for farmers and the Queensland community.

Recent progress includes:

• The establishment of a joint working group to define and develop criteria for incentives that accelerate FMS uptake;
  
• The allocation by QDPI&F of 20 "property management officers" to accelerate the roll-out of industry led "property management systems programmes on-farm in partnership with industry and other key stakeholders";
  
• Joint design and implementation of the third round of the Rural Water Use Efficiency Programme, including a specific component for drought stricken south east Queensland;
  
• The formal accreditation of the Cotton Industry BMP Programme by the QDNRMW to deliver state requirements for the preparation of Land and Water Management Plans; and
  
• The development by the state government of a suite of coordinated modules that cover state legislation requirements for property level planning and management (known as OnePlan) and the allocation of administrative staff to progress regional administrative arrangements 

QFF has also been active in promoting a strategic approach to sustainable agriculture in Queensland. This is partly covered by the MoU, but entails a "wider partnership", including regional NRM groups, the broad-acre sector and the Australian Government. A policy forum held in March identified key areas for focus and a "concepts paper" is currently being developed by a key stakeholders working group. The concepts paper will be reviewed by the reconvened policy forum later in 2006.

Another key linkage developed under the QFF Pathways Project is one with the Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective. QFF and the Collective have jointly developed a project titled "Strategic Approach to Sustainable Agriculture in Queensland". The NHT funds will help fill strategic gaps identified in industry programmes, establish an agreed framework for information management between farmers, industry and regional NRM groups, and develop a method for identifying the outcomes delivered by programmes.

Further information on FMS programmes and current projects contact Diana Dawson, QFF FMS Project Officer, diana@qff.org.au telephone 07 3837 4747

Further information on the joint QFF-Qld Government Memorandum of Understanding contact Warwick Squire, Qld Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Warwick.Squire@dpi.qld.gov.au telephone 07 3225 1655.

AWIS – A robust blend of regional NRM planning and the Australian wine industry

Australian Wine Industry Stewardship (AWIS) is founded on linkages - linking export market environmental assurances with regional priorities identified by NRM Boards and CMAs, and linking the wine industry with NRM Boards and CMAs to deliver on these common issues. Because of these linkages, the perpetuity of regional NRM arrangements is crucial to the ongoing validity of AWIS.

AWIS market research has found that wine export market priority issues are greenhouse gas and climate change, biodiversity, water, waste and 'green' procurement. A review of the 34 regional NRM plans relevant to wine grape growing regions across Australia has revealed regional actions and targets that address several of these priority issues. From this, a short list of 11 questions has been identified that show whether a grapegrower is making a contribution to these actions and targets. The questions are included as an insert in wine company spray diaries, and the information is used by the company to demonstrate environmental performance in the wine supply chain.

The spray diary insert was trialled by five wine companies and 468 growers in the 2005/2006 growing season. In recognition of the success of the trial and ongoing work in refining the process, adoption of Australian Wine Industry Stewardship for the 2006/2007 growing season has already exceeded 55% of Australia’s national grape crush, with more companies expected to come on board.

The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia has made use of ‘Pathways to EMS’ funding to develop AWIS, and ‘Sustainable Industries’ funding to provide coordination of both AWIS and the industry Eco-Efficiency Agreement. Funding from both sources will cease in 2007, and industry has committed to resourcing the coordination role beyond this time. Regional presentations are being held around Australia throughout July and August to provide opportunity for companies, especially Australia’s 1700 small and boutique operations, to obtain more information about AWIS.

More information: Amy Russell, Winemakers’ Federation of Australia 08 8222 9255 amy@wfa.org.au

Bega Cheese and the Southern Rivers CMA

We’ve seen a great example in the Bega project of how farmers and catchment groups/regional bodies can work together. The Pilot farms very closely linked rollout and implementation of the EMS with works on-ground. To that end they have developed a strong relationship with the CMA so as to access funds for on-ground works. They’ve negotiated a devolved grant process so that the Bega EMS Steering Committee is able to approve funding. This has involved the development of governance rules, funding guidelines, funding contracts and application forms.

The funding is open to people within and out of the Pilot group, although a majority is within the group (70%). Having the funds held by the industry rather than the CMA has created enormous demand, way beyond what they currently have funding for. The group have estimated that $10 million worth of works have been undertaken to achieve river health in the Bega catchment alone. They aim to capitalise on the momentum that the EMS project has generated. This will continue beyond the life of the Pilot Programme and back up the management process that has been developed.

Small is Better – Whole of Farm Risk Management (EMS)

The WAFarmers EMS Pathways project in WA was faced with the problem of ‘How to simplify a Whole of Farm risk management and decision making system for a mixed enterprise farm?’

The purpose of the simplification process was to incorporate a tool to use in the workshop series for WA’s broadacre area that would both explain and enthuse farmers in the Whole of Farm Environmental Management Systems arena and enable some to start on the pathway of use.

An exhaustive study search of all the known EMS tool sets and other farm decision support systems was undertaken and none of them fitted the bill. A link with FARMBIS played a positive role in assisting the WAF project to develop a tool set that combined everything they required.

Kay Bodman, WA FARMBIS Coordinator was able to provide sound advice on change management and extension and the manner or mode of putting the message into the farming community of WA as well as the use of the priority tool for the farmer, developed by FARMBIS, to assess their training needs. Drawing on this tool from FARMBIS and others, a simple but self-explanatory tool set was put together for the purposes of issue prioritisation around the EMS whole-of-farm concept.

The tool set comprises two areas, one that outlines the relative issue in question and the other that allows the individual to prioritise where to concentrate their efforts on-farm.

The first component is about simplifying what are the issues a farmer faces from the point of view of inputs; process; outputs; and outcomes. This approach helps the farmer identify what he or she is currently doing, and clearly indicates to the farmer that they are already addressing a lot of the issues.

The second part of the toolset kit comprises a summary of the issues table in a spreadsheet with a simple input of where the farmer currently sits with each issue, the desired position and the degree of importance that the farmer places on each of the issues. Through these three attributes and ranking or priority rating, areas of real concern for the farmer are fleshed out and hence clutter removed from the whole of farm approach (problem simplified).

Through the use of these two tool sets the numerous issues surrounding EMS and the whole of farm are broken down into individual point issues that a farmer can visualise. It also allows the farmer to start the learning journey and tackle those issues that will provide the greatest benefit now, plus learn about identifying risks and making tactical decisions for a profitable and sustainable farming system.

More information: Ross Hardwick WA Farmers Federation, (08) 9486 2100, rosshardwick@waff.org.au

Upcoming Events

International Landcare Conference
8-11 October 2006, Melbourne Victoria

This Conference will bring together people interested in creating future landscapes, lifestyles and livelihoods to communicate with each other, learn from each other and contribute to building networks for natural resource management.

Natural Resource Innovation Grants

Funding is currently available through the NLP Natural Resource Innovation Grants to individuals, incorporated community and other “not-for-profit” groups or businesses with links to natural resource management and/or the agricultural, food, aquacultural or forestry (or related) industries who wish to develop and/or implement, and promote innovative practices, production techniques, technologies or products. Total grant funds are limited to $3 million in 2006-07.

For further information on the programme pls call 1800 657 220 or visit the website www.daff.gov.au/ naturalresourcemanagement/landcare

Applications for the 2006-07 funding round close on Monday 18 September 2006.

Community Water Grants Programme

Round 2 opened on 1 July and closes on the 25 August. Apply for a grant to help your organisation save, recycle or improve your community’s water.

The Community Water Grants Programme will provide grants of up to $50 000 to communities to promote the wise use of water. This programme is administered by the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

For information about the programme, call 1800 780 730 or visit the Community Water Grants website www. communitywatergrants.gov.au.

Applications for funding under Round 2 close on Friday 25 August 2006.

Next edition of EMSNews

EMSNews will be issued quarterly with the next editions scheduled for October and January.

Feedback and Contact

www.daff.gov.au/ems

GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601