links to other resources

Online resources by others

Getting started on a small rural property

http://southeast.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/710100/rural-living-guide.pdf
Rural Living Guide from South East Local Land Services is a good place to start. Every time we have hard copies of this guide they get snapped up like hot cakes. You can read the PDF version any time.

http://southeast.lls.nsw.gov.au/livestock/pics
PICs and NLIS – information you need to know about keeping and moving livestock between properties before you buy livestock

Revegetation

http://www.molonglocatchment.org.au/Documents/News%20Page/LookAfterYourNaturalAssets_3rdEdition.pdf
Overview of managing small blocks in the Capital region from Wamboin Gearys Gap Landcare group including an extensive list of plants suitable for planting on rural blocks in our region.

Weeds and pest animals

http://www.molonglocatchment.org.au/Weeds/index.htm
Information sheets and strategies for weeds in our region from Molonglo Catchment Group

http://southeast.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/685460/integrated-weed-management-plan-guide.pdf
Integrated Weed Management Plan – A Land Managers Guide from South East Local Land Services leads you through the process of working out a plan for working with the weeds on your property

http://www.molonglocatchment.org.au/PestAnimals/
Information sheets for pest animals for our region from Molonglo Catchment Group

http://southeast.lls.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-control
Information from South East Local Land Services about pest animal control

Soils and pasture

http://southeast.lls.nsw.gov.au/our-region/key-projects/alternative-fertilizers-field-research-project
Video presentations from the Alternative Fertilisers Trial seminar held in Bookham in 2015. There are many theories about how to improve soil fertility in pastures. Here are results based on rigorous scientific investigation.

http://www.revellscience.com.au/index.html
Dean Revell has a PhD in animal nutrition and was a lead researcher for the Enrich project looking at native forage shrubs in grazing systems. He led the SFN Capital Region’s Fodder Workshop in 2016. His website has links to three online books using about fodder shrubs. (http://www.revellscience.com.au/resources.html)

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/700457/Prograze-ninth-edition.pdf
PROGRAZE (TM) is longer workshop series builds skills in managing pastures and grazing for profit and sustainability. The course runs fairly regularly but if you are in a hurry you can have a look at the manual online.

Poultry

Sheep

http://www.sheep101.info/index.html
A USA based site but good for those interested in all things sheep.

http://www.sheepconnectnsw.com.au
All things Sheep with a great event calendar showing all sheep related events across NSW.

Sheep management calendar template
Lets you plan ahead.

Cattle

http://smallfarmscapital.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Beef-Calendar-of-Operations-NSW-Coast.pdf
Beef calendar of operations by South East Local Land Services – what to do and when – was written for the NSW south coast but a useful guide for the Capital region too.

Horses

Alpacas

http://www.alpaca.asn.au
Email them with your postal address and they’ll send you a free info pack on everything alpaca.

Goats

http://www.gica.com.au/home
Information on options for raising goats.

Fencing

Books

http://www.publish.csiro.au/home.htm
Good range of books, everything from beekeeping to small cattle for small farms.

http://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications
AgGuide and Agskills books – advice on natural resource management and all sorts of farming written by technical experts at Department of Primary Industries. A good place for new small farmers to start.

Rural information from organisations

http://www.southernharvest.net.au
ACT and South East NSW business and community lead organisation focussed on growing local and regional food communities. Recently merged with Permaculture eXchange to create Southern Harvest Education.

https://landcareaustralia.org.au/
Landcare Australia – find your local Landcare group

http://www.rirdc.gov.au
Australian Government Statutory body that works with industry in research and development in the rural sector. Has loads of information and resources on its site across all the rural industries.

http://www.farmdiversity.com.au
A great initiative of RIRDC and allows you to find suitable crop and animal enterprises by entering a type or by entering your postcode.

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
NSW Department of Primary Industries has done a huge amount of research related to farming. Their website has many Agfact sheets written by the researchers about every practical farm related topic you can imagine.

http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/farm-management : Agriculture Victoria has some great information for new landholders, some of it Victorian based, but most of it suitable for all.