Funds: $8000

Source: Landcare Australia Ltd

Are you ready for rain? What will the next rain bring you? What will you change in preparation for the next dry spell? What are you learning from this one? These are just some of the questions that Dr Judi Earl had local graziers investigating when she returned to the Southern New England on 26th September 2019 to run a three-day course, 'Managing Holistically Out of the Drought'.

Karen Zirkler, Executive Officer at Southern New England Landcare, hosts of the course, said “It’s been a long time since we’ve had the opportunity to work with Judi, and I’m so excited that she is coming to share her experiences and knowledge with a group of local graziers next month.”

Judi Earl completed her PhD on pasture ecology at the University of New England and established the AIMS consultancy in 1998.

She went on to train as a Holistic Management Educator in the United States in 2002.

Judi has run workshops for farmers and graziers all over NSW, Queensland and South Australia ever since.

“During the last eight years, I’ve been implementing Holistic Management on my own property in the Coolatai district in Northern NSW,” Judi said.

“The drought has been very challenging and my property, as all do, has its own set of unique issues. It’s brought home to me the importance of planning,” she said. 

“A very important aspect of supporting graziers during times like these are social occasions where they can talk and have some time out,” said Karen.

“For this reason, we are using some funds donated by the Northern Yarra Landcare Network in Victoria, to host a social dinner called Grass Growers' Dinner Party during the course.

“While we can only accommodate 20 graziers in the course, the dinner and Q&A panel session will be open to additional guests,” she said.

The course is fully subsidised for drought-declared farmers in the Walcha, Uralla, Armidale and Guyra districts, with funding from Landcare Australia Limited.

Course details here. Download a course flier here.

Dinner details here. Download a dinner flier here.