How the Archers took a step toward saving the planet while making a profit, building resilience and leaving a legacy to remember.

Tom and Antoinette Archer run a grazing operation just outside the town of Goondiwindi on the Queensland-New South Wales border. Over the last 18 years they have successfully transitioned two properties to regenerative grazing practices. This case study examines their journey.

Challenge

Livestock farmers, Tom and Antoinette Archer acquired their Rexton property in 1998. The property was in poor condition, severely overgrazed and had sub-optimal carrying capacity (approximately 8SDU/ha/100mm).

Rexton's soils suffered from poor rainfall utilisation, with most being lost to runoff. Ground coverage was poor and consisted of undesirable grass species, a lack of biodiversity and poor vegetation resilience.

Ground coverage was poor and consisted of undesirable grass species, a lack of biodiversity and poor vegetation resilience.

Tom and Antoinette were spending a lot of money on supplementary livestock feed in poor seasons and realised that to make the property more profitable, something needed to change. They were not confident in the legacy they were leaving for future generations of the Archer family.

Snapshot

Farm/Enterprise Name: Archer Pastoral

Farm/Enterprise Location: Goondiwindi, Queensland

Type of Enterprise: Cattle backgrounding

Primary Markets Served: Domestic feedlots

Property Size: 8,500ha

Property Elevation: 217m

Average Annual Rainfall: 526mm

Climate: Humid sub-tropical

Solution

Tom and Antoinette began exploring research and alternative methodologies to try to find a better way to manage the property. They participated in a holistic management course, then invested in further education with the RCS Grazing for Profit course. This period of research and education resulted in their 2003 decision to implement time-controlled grazing methods on Rexton.

Dr Terry McCosker and Tom Archer inspecting soil quality on Rexton Station.

The pair dramatically increased the number of paddocks on the property, reducing them to an average size of around 20 hectares each. An existing bore was used to supply new water points. New lines of 63mm Poly Pipe were laid to supply water to a mixture of cup and saucer, and standard tank points. These were positioned in radial patterns with access controlled by electric fencing. The paddocks were primarily marked out using single-strand electric fences. Some paddocks were tilled and fertilised with manure, however most had little to no soil intervention.

The pair dramatically increased the number of paddocks on the property, reducing them to an average size of around 20 hectares each.

Set up costs for the required time-controlled infrastructure on Rexton averaged $220 per hectare. This included the set-up of electric fencing, exclusion fencing, water points, the raking of debris and additional labour. While structural implementations proved to be relatively easy, the greater challenge was transitioning into the new methodologies and processes time-controlled grazing requires, many of which fly in the face of existing practices.

Rather than spraying weeds, undesirable species of vegetation were for the most part ignored. Desirable species were encouraged with sufficient rest periods, while cattle were used as a tool to maintain grass height within the optimal zone to maximise photosynthesis.

Desirable species were encouraged with sufficient rest periods, while cattle were used as a tool to maintain grass height within the optimal zone to maximise photosynthesis.

Another key component that led to the Archer's success was the implementation of feed budgeting to create projection estimates of future ground feed. Observation, as well electronic and paper grazing charts were used to monitor, track and project ground feed levels. This dictated the number of cattle allocated to paddocks and the amount of time they were left to graze. Low-stress stock handling systems were also implemented to help ensure cattle weight gain and calving rates were as productive as possible.

Outcome

Several years of using time-controlled grazing methods resulted in significant improvements to the Rexton property. As their primary operation became more successful the Archers purchased an adjoining property, Rainmore, in 2016. At the time of purchase, it was in a similar condition to the original state of Rexton. The Archers immediately began employing the same methods to this new property to maximise its productivity.

Both properties have seen marked improvements in ground coverage and carrying capacity.

Paddocks on both properties have seen a marked and obvious improvement in ground coverage and amount of feed available. Visually, the paddocks look significantly different from their original state with greater species diversity and overall amounts of coverage. Desired grasses, which were previously sparse, are now the dominant species. Mitchell Grass, a native grass species which hadn't been seen in the area for decades is now present in large areas.

The improvements to ground coverage and vegetation species diversity has resulted in Rexton's carrying capacity increasing from 8 up to 23 Stock Density Units/Ha/100mm rain, an almost three-fold increase.

One key improvement was in drought resilience. After 2018 and 2019 - two of the driest years on record - the Rexton property, which had been managed using time-controlled grazing for many years, fared noticeably better than Rainmore, which had been managed using the same methods for only a short time.

With the greater ground cover and resultant soil improvements, the property's water utilization has improved significantly with much less runoff. When runoff does occur, the water is clear and does not carry away topsoil; this can be clearly seen during significant rain events where clear run-off from the property can be seen entering local creeks.

Overall, the soil structure, fertility, biodiversity, and water holding capacity of the land has been significantly improved.

Overall, the soil structure, fertility, biodiversity, and water holding capacity of the land has been significantly improved. Now that the infrastructure has been put in place, the management of this system is relatively simple, with only a few hours a day needed to move the cattle.

After investing approximately $220 per hectare to set up Rexton's infrastructure, the current annual return is $48 per hectare. It took around 7 years, which included 2 years of drought, for this investment to be returned.

In addition to the increased resilience and profitability of both properties, Archer Pastoral are participating in one of the largest carbon soil sequestration test projects in the country. So far, findings have indicated that the time-controlled grazing method adds significant amounts of carbon to the soil. The selling of carbon credits will allow the business to have additional income, which will provide additional financial stability. Other income opportunities that are likely to be available in the longer term include biodiversity credits, which can be sold to buyers who are required to offset vegetation clearances in the same region.

Tom now provides consulting services to other pastoralists, advising fellow graziers so they can implement the methods that have worked on his properties. Tom and Antoinette's children are now studying agriculture and business at university. The family is looking forward to a bright future in agriculture with their business set up to be resilient, sustainable and profitable.

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