From ‘bitumen road’ to biodiversity for free range pork producer
Channel: Central West Local Land Services
Date: 27/04/2016

Free range pig producers Michael and Alex Hicks from Extraordinary Pork are making an extraordinary change to the environment on their Eumungerie property.

The Hickses are working with Central West Local Land Services to undertake a major tree and shrub planting program on their farm ‘Trenton’.Michael Hicks said ‘Trenton’ had been heavily stocked in the decade before he and Alex took ownership and began running pigs on the property.

“There was essentially no feed on offer. It was more like a bitumen road than a farm,” said Mr Hicks.However the Hickses have since made significant improvements in grazing management and groundcover.“When we started here we had about 40 per cent ground cover and now we’re probably up to around 65 per cent,” said Michael.

Central West Local Land Services Officer, Libby McIntyre, said Michael and Alex Hicks have a demonstrated a long term vision looking at both environmental sustainability and production.

“We’re working with Michael and Alex to do a major planting in a creek line that runs from one end of the property to the other. The aim is to enhance existing stands of remnant vegetation and to restore a more diverse range of native species, particularly in the shrub layer,” said Ms McIntyre.

“Local Land Services is also supporting the Hickses’ ability to control grazing pressure through fencing and water infrastructure.”

The project is supported by Central West Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government. 

The funding is targeted at making the landscape more resilient by restoring native vegetation and improving pasture management, resulting in more habitat for native species such as birds, lizards and insects.

Michael Hicks says Local Land Services has played a key role in helping him to achieve greater productivity and rejuvenate the landscape on ‘Trenton’.

“Local Land Services has been really good to work with. They’ve helped us with funding for extra fencing and to establish more of the tree cover that we so desperately need on this property,” said Mr Hicks.

To find out more about how Local Land Services is working with farmers to improve our environment visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au/centralwest