Balancing Productivity and Preservation 

Insights with Tim Thompson

Farmers have always played a crucial role in protecting natural habitats, recognising the need for balancing effective production systems and the natural world. In Australia, effective pasture and animal management are not only essential for improving livestock production but also for preserving the unique biodiversity of the land.

Gallagher partner Tim Thompson shares insights from his conversation with Matt Stephenson, a beef and sheep farmer near Bairnsdale in East Gippsland, who has successfully integrated conservation efforts with livestock production. 

Farmers across the world are increasingly doing their part to prioritise pasture management strategies that involve a more balanced approach, whether it is resting pastures, protecting water quality, or allowing natural corridors to flourish. While under constant scrutiny from the public, farmers are ever-more conscious of their role as stewards of the land, respecting local ecologies and rising to the challenges to get the balance right.

Matt Stephenson’s family farm serves as a prime example of prioritising effective pasture management and land preservation. Through a Landcare Australia fencing grant, Matt has implemented an exclusion fence to protect a significant conservation area on his property. This fence was designed to exclude not only domestic livestock but also deer, which had been causing damage to the fragile ecosystem. 

Matt’s East Gippsland property has a long history of farming, previously home to two dairy farms, remnants of which can still be found in the reclaimed bush areas. Now, Matt runs a beef production operation as well as a handful of dorper sheep. With a sandstone gorge, dry valley forest area and creek running through the middle of his farm, the property is also home to several bird species, platypus, and Gippsland water dragon. 

From an early age, Matt has always been very respectful of conservation areas on farms and has always looked for ways to protect those areas alongside remaining profitable. “The exclusion fence has really mitigated a lot of our previous issues. We did have a lot of livestock and of course large deer numbers going through the gorge and along the creek. The two most pronounced issues we had with livestock and deer in those sensitive conservation areas were through soil erosion and the browsing of native plants”. 

The exclusion fence has been in place for about 12 months, and the results are promising. Matt has observed a significant increase in the recruitment of native plants, and the trees are thriving without the threat of large populations of animals.  

“With this grant, it allowed me to develop a property management plan that's more conducive to this landscape. I’ve got the woolshed block, the exclusion fence, the gorge, another exclusion fence and then another productive section of the property. It’s allowed me to move stock around, do rotational grazing, and just manage the property more effectively.” 

Matt Stephenson’s story shows how farming and conservation can work together. His approach not only protects his family’s land but also keeps its natural beauty intact. His journey is an inspiration for other farmers and land managers looking to balance productivity and preservation. 

Check out the full video to take a look at Matt's beautiful property here.