Carbon can be confusing, and there are many options for farmers to engage in carbon markets, many of which are still evolving.

Next month’s Farming Carbon 2023 Conference, which will be hosted at the George Kerferd Hotel Beechworth on Tuesday, 28 February 2023 between 9.30am and 4.30pm, meets a growing need to promote awareness of what carbon farming is all about.

The conference will provide insights into a successful carbon farming program, including available opportunities, processes required, issues and pitfalls.

The conference is supported by North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Among the speakers already secured for the event are Julia Waite, MLA; Professor Richard Eckard, Melbourne University; Julian Carroll, Regional Chair Southern Australian Livestock Research Council (SALRC) and Principal, Stellar Livestock; Sam Henty, Agriculture Victoria; Jim Shovelton, Board of Gecko CLaN; Alison Kelly, Agriculture Victoria; Dr Cassandra Schefe, AgriSci; and Sue Briggs, CSBP Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory. Further speakers will be announced.

Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator with North East CMA, Lachlan Campbell, said the Farming Carbon 2023 Conference aimed to support land managers, agriculture industry groups, Landcare participants, and industry staff in north east Victoria in building their knowledge and understanding of carbon farming systems. 

“Among our speakers, Professor Richard Eckard will be examining emerging imperatives for low emissions food production,” Mr Campbell said.

“Dr Cassandra Schefe will be discussing the importance of healthy soil in building soil carbon; and Jim Shovelton will be sharing the outcomes of a regional carbon project in the grazing industry.”

Registrations for the conference are now open at https://events.humanitix.com/farming-carbon

Tickets are just $20 including a booking fee.