Q and A

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What are the best ways to increase carbon sequestration on farm ?

  1. Having farmed on Bimbadeen for 70 years, building up carbon without knowing it for 45 years. Our trials over the last 25 years by carbon farming has increased our carbon capture. Bimbadeen has been building carbon with cattle by time control grazing with a minimum 45 days rest where possible. We have a paddock M6 that has 235 tonne (TOC) Total Organic Carbon per hectare. This equates to 862.45 tonne of CO2. M4 has not being carbon cropped. Paddocks can be rotationally or strip grazed. Leave as much dry matter residue as possible for carbon.
  2. Sowing multi species crops with differing root levels. Refer Bimbadeen “Latest News” on site for a full description of our present M16 Trial.
  3. Planting of trees and vegetation to a lesser amount than soil carbon sequestration. Planting of 45,000 trees and vegetation, now 20% of Bimbadeen with widening of tree lines and recent plantings is covered. There are 59 paddocks by average 2 to 3 hectares in area.

What are the main areas/ practises in a farming business that use carbon.?

  1. A farms main GHG emissions are cattle numbers for methane which is small compared to the benefit of cattle grazing. Total emissions on a well managed property would be about 3% of carbon sequestered through trees and soil.
  2. Electricity, gas, fuel, fertiliser, waste, to a much lesser extent especially as we have solar power. All water on Bimbadeen is on site and all is moved by reticulation, wind and solar.

What practises/ can I do to limit/reduce my carbon ?

Good genetics and management of livestock. Superior genetics by ET and AI will give you superior growth rate and faster turnoff of cattle or sheep, and less methane emissions. Solar and wind to power your farm and bore pumps. Use the lightest tractor/vehicle to do a job. Use EV quad bike if possible.

What risk management practises can I put into place re a carbon farming enterprise ?

All of the above answers to Q3 will reduce risk. Irrigation if possible will reduce risk. We have access to Recycled water for multi species carbon crop irrigation from Westernport Water that would normally be pumped to ocean outfall.

What expenses and income do I have to include in a cashflow budget ?

Your biggest outlay to carbon farm is Carbon coring testing to 1 metre in depth. This with new techniques will change in the future. At the present time you have to carbon core test, which I would say will place most farms in Victoria and NSW carbon neutral. You are allowed to use your carbon below baseline to Offset your farms GHG emissions as it is not being traded. Once CN you are able to trade and that is when your income arrives. Trading price is set at the moment at A$25 per tonne. Price overseas is increasing daily and can be from US$90 to US$100 per tonne CO2E. We are guaranteeing for a 2 year period at the present time. The price of carbon is increasing daily refer to the spot price.

Are carbon emissions taken into account when carbon farming ?

Yes all emissions have to be deducted from your Total TOC/SOC on farm. We are able to organise an auditor for you which, if you have the required information ready Online, will be very reasonably priced. Currently $200. All Bimbadeen GHG emissions, trades, donations and change of TOC/SOC are deducted from the total TOC spreadsheet as they happen.

How do you audit your farm GHG emissions ?

You supply a detailed account of your power with Smart metre readings, fuel usage, number of stock which must be the maximum number on any one day per annum. The only exemption to this is dairy farmers who sell their calves at an early stage. Beef farmers must be the maximum at any age. All figures must be signed off prior to an audit. We can recommend an auditor who will advise you if more information is required. It is pretty simple if you provide the details and can all be done online.

The current price for an Online Audit is $200. Email bimbadeen@nex.net.au

If you only wish to reduce your GHG footprint and not trade you do not require an audit.

How can we trade carbon ?

You can trade through an agent and produce ACCU’s which are sold on the auctions by the Governments ERF program. I do not do this. We trade under the Voluntary Contract scheme under the Bimbadeen program.

All our CN Certificates and records are held by TRPI, WPCLN, and PI Landcare, independent parties.

Is it important to be a Regenerative farmer ?

Yes it is but you must be a Sustainable farmer first. You must be able to fix any mineral deficiency. On our carbon pilot paddock M16 we have 200 trial strips to detect a deficiency. It depends on your actions as to the amount of carbon you can sequester. This trial will at least double our growth in M16.

Which mix is the best for growth and carbon sequestration ?

A multi species crop which has been trialed on Bimbadeen for over 10 years by Mark Roberts of Basix at Warragul.

Refer to the Bimbadeen Carbon News onsite for full details to your questions.  

Army worm spray.

Re request Bass Coast Landcare Network, Joel by email, for Michael.

Per hectare Three litres whole cream milk, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda, 1 satchel of Dipel bacteria. Hardware/Bunnings. Remove half cup of milk from container and add bicarbonate of soda and satchel of dipel. Shake contents. Loosen lid. Let it sit overnight at room temperature. Add to water in spray tank & spray late afternoon or evening.

36 thoughts on “Q and A”

  1. On Friday 18th December 2020, 3 more carbon paddocks were cored and samples taken to a depth of 100 cm. Coring on M16 was taken at the same GPS positions as the initial coring at the start of the Pilot trial. M14 and M4 were also sampled and the results will be known late January. M16 had been mulched and then mown a few weeks prior to carbon testing. Bass Coast Landcare have kindly agreed to extend the trial to December 2021 so we look forward to various methods of improving the carbon content. If you go to The Gallery site on this website and scroll down you will see the treatments required to maximise the production of carbon. Grazing and dung beetles will now come into the picture as well. Hope all had a Happy Christmas with family. Cheers Bob

  2. Bob, as discussed I am interested in getting a farm audit
    We farm about 50 breeding pure angus cows over 250 acres in northern Victoria
    We are working on our genetics and are concentrating on grazing management to help with turn your cattle off faster
    I would love for you to help me with an audit and carbon trading
    Regards
    Mark

    • Hi Mark, Would be pleased to help you. I have your email so will forward an auditor request page. We will pay for your audit and recover it later from your trading. The audit is done online with the required information to be declared as a true account. The report may be 250 tonnes CO2e GHG emissions less tree plantings and solar. You then need to get your property carbon tested to 1 metre depth. We can organise for the contractor to make contact with you for a quote. The tests will come back to you in tonnes of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) per hectare. You will then be carbon neutral by deducting your GHG emissions from the TOC on farm. We will need your property name and address so that it can be viewed on Google Earth. You need to ask your workplace, friends if they know of any business wishing to be CN. We supply the Offsetting certificates, your guarantee of supply and all records of carbon coring under independent 2nd and 3rd parties. Under the Bimbadeen Soil Carbon Sequestration, voluntary contract trading system we will only trade up to 50% of your total On farm TOC, the remainder stays as Insurance, buffer, baseline or whatever you wish to call it. You must supply a 10% buffer, free of charge to any client that trades. We have farmers with Gigatons of carbon. Now business has to step up and become CN from Australian farmers. You will have a substantial amount of TOC in your soils. The price we trade at is $25 per tonne CO2e and $20 per tonne over 100 tonne. Bit longwinded but tried to make the position clear for others to follow. Any questions please reply here. I will organise for the audit after sending you the information required. Stay safe Bob

  3. SORRY, I HAVE TO SCROLL RIGHT DOWN TO BOTTOM OF PAGE TO PLACE A QUESTION,STATEMENT OR COMMENT.YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THE SAME.
    I WILL BE MAKING A STATEMENT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ON VERIFIED CARBON IN A FARMERS SOIL.
    I WELCOME DISCUSSION. Thanks. Bob

  4. Michael Re Army worm dipel spray A to Q.
    Bacillus species in dipel multiply rapidly in an alkaline environment. The target species in plague proportions (caterpillars/army) have an alkaline digestive system. Once the bacillus is introduced they multiply rapidly until the caterpillars pop/explode.
    Hope that explains. Bob

  6. Hi, our family run sheep, cattle, and crop wheat and canola on 4000 acres in the western district.
    Just wondering how one might go about getting a free farm audit?

    • Hello Mark, Wow that looks like one great farm. I would love for it to be involved with the program as the farm WILL BE carbon neutral and after a carbon coring test, which we can organise, will have an extra income from trading carbon. Being mixed makes it really interesting. Your family, will have a free farm audit. This is all done Online by email and is very easy. Our auditor will send a report back and the farm will have a complete Greenhouse Gas Emissions audit. I have only just finalised a requirements for Auditor sheet and will email that to you at the above email. That explains the whole process. We have just finalised audits for two beef properties in Gippsland and have a 650 dairy herd interested as well. I hope your family do this, as it would increase the Gigatons of carbon available to be traded to business from Australian farms. I will contact our auditor as soon as I receive a go-ahead from you. Thanks for that great inquiry Mark. Cheers Bob

  7. Rhys. I know you are busy on the audits. I will have the extra information to you this morning to finalise both farms. I have verified carbon amounts and soil tests from both farms the latter will give an INDICATION ONLY of carbon stored in their soils.

  8. Rhys. Are we close to finishing the two audits for Samantha & Paul and Deb & Fergus. I know Paul has had a carbon test. Can that be included in the audit please ?

  9. Rob, I posted your email above. When Prossy visited Bimbadeen we gave her a gift for Uganda Landcare of 10 Tonne CO2e. Landcare Uganda wished the carbon to be traded to receive some monies for further projects. We traded the CO2e for $250 = $25 tonne and forwarded the amount yesterday. Thanks for your help with this Rob.
    Have a good day. Bob

  10. Re Prossy from Uganda Landcare.
    email received from Rob Youl Global Landcare.
    Landcare is now a National program in Uganda
    There are several Landcare networks which the Ugandans call chapters. Farming communities are very good at sharing resources, so Australia’s Landcare philosophy comes easy to them. For instance, they sometimes organise extensive beekeeping along forest and park boundaries to provide extra income and prevent vandalism, illegal logging and boundary incursions. They also practise agroforestry and group marketing of farm products. Because they are so well organised the concept of broadacre soil carbon sequestration is worth looking at, perhaps initially working with one of the Landcare chapters, utilising Prossy’s university connections. By the way, Ugandans are very good at incorporating Landcare into schools. Copy email sent from Rob Youl, Global Landcare

  11. Thanks for your comments Gil. Visitors After Covid-19 are welcome. We had groups here all the time schools, beef groups, and USA and China (Refer Bimbadeen Carbon News) visitors visit the Bimbadeen café where permaculture courses are run. During Covid-19 restrictions people can drive right alongside our present M16 trial paddock. View map last section under payments. The site has only been up since the 14th September and we have been swamped with inquiries, and farmers wishing to be audited with 2 happening now. I do intend to place more information and links on site. I intend to place 3 fact sheets up 1. Requirements for your farms audit. 2 Details of your farms carbon testing, with two local operators 3. Details of why you are carbon neutral including pie charts from auditor. All you farm audits will be free if you trade through the Bimbadeen Voluntary Contract system. I am not interested in the ERF system but will gladly put you in touch with Louisa Kiely.
    Read the book which I suggested to Blake. “The Carbon Club” I will gladly answer questions on that subject. Thank you for your comments Gil. Stay safe. Bob

  12. Great site. We will spread the word with information to networks we are involved in.
    I reckon that workshop requests should be invited – topics, farm visits opportunities, , …
    In other words the whole farmer/public education side (eg fact sheets, govt. sites, regen farmer sites, organisations (eg OAA), books, …) of things looked at and given an analysis and plug where needed.

  13. Thanks Rhys. I have 2 new farmers that should have contacted you today as they are in your area. I have had an inquiry from a dairy farmer today milking 650 cows. I am pretty sure both farms will need a verified carbon test signed off before trading can begin. We have more farmers every day and now need Big Business to stand up for Australian Farmers.

  15. This is a great opportunity to reduce the carbon impact of a home, business or farm.

    I am an energy auditor and will supply Bimbadeen with the carbon emissions (including those from liquid fuel, electricity, stock and waste) from any farmer or business to be audited.

  16. STATEMENT. I would like to offer persons and business anywhere on our Planet the opportunity to Reduce or Remove their carbon footprint greenhouse gas emissions from carbon grown, sequestered and held in the soils of Australian Farmers. If you do not wish to be online please email me at bimbadeen@nex.net.au
    We will give any BUSINESS in Australia a FREE AUDIT in October if they guarantee to reduce or remove their greenhouse gas emissions by Offset from carbon sequestered in the soils by Australian farmers.
    If you are in Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, SA, WA, Qlnd or the Territory we will find a farmer in your area to make you carbon neutral by the Bimbadeen Soil Sequestration, Voluntary Contract Trading System.

  17. Hello Prossy from Uganda. If the soil in Mt Elgon region can be tested for carbon content that is the first step. Say a small group of farmers joined a group to get a test. Once you know how much carbon you have per hectare you deduct the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from that group. That would be small as possibly little power, fuel and number of animals compared to Australia. Once you have excess carbon you can trade it, so that a business can be carbon neutral and make some money to increase your carbon farming. I am sure that Rob Youl from Global Landcare in Australia and Bimbadeen will assist you. If you can determine if anyone can measure the amount of carbon you have we will help you. Exciting to hear from Uganda. Please keep in touch. Bob

    • Hi Prossy from Landcare Uganda. I do not know your particular farming methods, but if it is a small cattle farm carbon will build up just with grazing with the dung enriching the soil. If it is a vegetable grower it is important to place as much dry matter material back to the soil. 45% of this weight of any material that breaks down will turn to carbon. Please keep in touch and let me know how your farming works. What type of farming is in your area?
      Thanks Prossy for your inquiry. Bob

    • Hi Prossy. If it is possible to grow legumes, they will pull in nitrogen to increase the growth of your next crop. Your next crop could be a multi species with root levels at differing depths to take in nutrients for growth.
      We use in our mix a deep rooted Graza Radish that we found roots at a great depth. Approximately 45% of the dry matter that returns to the soil will be carbon, including the roots when the plant finishes the cycle. Thanks Prossy. Have a good day tomorrow, night now. Bob Covid-19 Distance hug. We have a lovely photo of you here at Bimbadeen Prossy which I have sent.

  20. How do we get more people in the land lkted Mt. Elgon region excited and active in the carbon build up.

    Also, how does one start up business in carbon?

  21. Sorry Deb & Fergus. We have the farmers with carbon sequestered on board now. The amount of carbon will increase weekly with more farmers carbon testing. We can arrange this.
    We need BUSINESS to support Australian farmers by reducing or removing their carbon footprint or GHG emissions.

  22. Hi Deb & Fergus. No we have not heard from any politicians but I am not surprised at that. We started trading in 2017/18 and the only support is from Landcare and Totally Renewable Phillip Island. (TRPI) and Western Port Landcare Management Network.
    Our local Bass Coast Shire, local community and organisations on PI are all supportive as shown on our Offset Certificates.
    2.After your audit determines you are carbon neutral you are able to trade. We hope to be able to attract private & business investors wishing to help Australian farmers improving their, properties by removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Certainly, farmers have sequestered carbon to Offset. We just need Corporate business to Offset their Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
    All our own carbon trading has come from the soils of Bimbadeen and we have found our own buyers. We now have farmers from Vic to the Northern Territory so we need more traders removing GHG emissions.
    Thank you for your Questions. Bob

  23. Hi Bob,
    This is a great initiative. Thank you. We have two questions.
    1) Are you getting support from politicians interested in the process?
    2) if we establish that we are sequestering carbon, how do people wishing to purchase carbon credits get in touch with us?

  24. Hi Bhavani. Sorry for late reply been with Joel from Landcare on carbon & control paddocks today. Funding been extended 1 year for M16, M14 and M4.Includes droning by infrared and high resolution photography by Drift Media. The infrared, we hope will match soil moisture to carbon content in the trial paddock.
    Now back to the question. Yes I did hear Alan Finkle and last Wednesday I had a zoom webinar with Ross Garnaut who was in Queensland. I thought Alan was going along the present Government lines. He did say the following. Hydrogen only if not from fossil fuels. 25 scientists say that climate change is real. (You only need to look at the airport in Iceland to see that is now an area of rocks barely able to drive over). To the ? has gas a role to play. A. Yes just to keep up the supply. Need to keep up the gas fleet already here not build new facilities. I am pretty sure he also said that soil carbon sequestration had not been proven and that business would not invest. We have proven that this is not the case and more business is coming on board.
    Our last trade was with Dineamic Australia Pty LTD to Inset 1227 tonnes of CO2e. Acacia Environmental Management & Luminary Pty Ltd are all carbon neutral from soil carbon.
    Ross Garnaut was a delight to hear and see speak. Very positive about the huge possibilities with soil carbon sequestration .As were his previous articles in The Age. Sorry to be so long winded Bhavani, and it is as I remember it.
    Please read The Carbon Club by Marian Wilkinson and all the Ross Garnaut books. Thanks for the interesting question.
    Cheers Bob

  26. Hi Elliot. You can certainly build more carbon by mulching crops back to the soil than grazing. Approximately 45% of dry matter including roots turn to carbon. If cattle graze they need to be strip grazed to retain the nutrients in the paddock.
    A multi species mix that we use can be found in the Bimbadeen Carbon News page. It is important to have species with different root levels drawing in the nutrients. Thanks for questions Bob

  28. Yes Blake. Different soils do store carbon better but has little to do with larger amounts. On Bimbadeen clay soils hold carbon better than our H paddock volcanic soils.
    In a 2 year Carbon trial on H8 (Refer Bimbadeen map) 52 million year old volcanic soil paddock we were able to improve TOC by a minimum of 30 tonnes per year over the 2 year trial. The actual start was 160 tonnes per hectare and 228 tonnes at trial finish adjusted down to 220 tonne for some gravel content. Thanks for your questions Blake.
    Bob.

    • Yes Blake, if you are interested in why Australia has gone from a leading Nation with a price on carbon to a country still pushing coal and gas and perhaps hydrogen from fossil fuel sources read ” The Carbon Club” by Marian Wilkinson and see how the politicians have set us back.
      Another read is “Against the Grain by Bill Hampel published in 2015 about 14 farmers adapting to Climate Change. A must read are all books by Ross Garnaut who is a firm believer in soil carbon sequestration and a price (Not tax) on carbon. Bob

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