Moffitts Farm has been transformed from a low productivity and environmentally unsound small grazing property into an inspiring and successful example of modern ecologically sustainable, climate resilient and productive livestock agriculture.

Use the Our Farm menu to the right to learn about:

• the farm history
• the basics of our farming system – Comfortable Farming, water, conservation, carbon, animal welfare and sheep
• visiting us
• agricultural practices on the farm –  biodiversity, livestock, pastures and grazing

Or look up our FAQs

 

 

 

 

Features of Moffitts Farm include:

• Well established habitat corridors along fence lines and the creek which have contributed to the return of wildlife to the farm, including kangaroos, echidnas, koalas, reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders and birds. In 2022 wombats returned, they had never been seen on the farm in the family’s living memory going back to 1953 when Moffitts Farm was purchased by my father. Farm forestry enterprises (some almost 28 years old) producing habitat and timber that is used on the property for fencing, building and firewood. The forestry and habitat corridors ensure the whole farm is a net carbon sink, with a net sequestration around 150 tonnes CO2e using the CSIRO LOOC  C calculator.

• Moffitts Farm Wilitpoll Prime Lambs, a low maintenance, friendly, wool shedding sheep ideal for high quality lamb production.  Our flock performance benchmarks are 150% to 170% live lambs born; weaned lamb growth rates on chicory clover ryegrass pastures between 250 – 350 grams per day; and lamb carcase dressing percentage above 50%.  By understanding animal behaviour and paying close attention to shepherding, our livestock are not stressed by humans. Their behaviour instincts are developed to work with us, so livestock follow rather than being herded. Our approach is more advanced than what is commonly referred to as “low stress livestock handling”.

• High quality grass/clovers/herb pastures that withstand climatic extremes; provide a significant above and below ground carbon store; protects new born lambs; provide highly nutritious livestock feed which minimise livestock emissions through high digestibility and high palatability; over most summers ensures year round green herbage by including summer active grass varieties and chicory;  and, because each paddock is grazed by livestock for only about eight  weeks per year, enhances biodiversity.

• An ecological based management system based on adopting best practices – not just sustaining ecosystem resources, but building them.  Our Comfortable Farming methods ensure we protect and enhance ecosystem services including carbon dioxide sequestration, biodiversity, clean water into creeks and groundwater,  and enhance the farming landscape. Other terms for our farming are holistic grazing management, nature repair farming, agroecology farming, regenerative farming.

• Minimal environmental footprint. We have no mains water or power, all water is collected off roofs, and power is solar generated with battery storage.  Our farming method means very little fuel is required for machinery, and we reuse/recycle products rather than buying new items. 

• A natural farming system. Although we have not pursued organic certification, we do not use synthetic fertilisers or pesticides prefering animal manures as the source for replenishing nutrients removed from the soil through livestock sales.  Herbicide is used sparingly for new nature repair planting and control woody weeds like blackberry and montpellier broome  if it cannot be physically removed. We do not undertake fodder conservation preferring instead to ensure annual livestock stocking rate matches annual carrying capacity. On a small farm this is challenging but possible if moderate carrying capacity is embraced. On the rare occasions supplementary feed is required we purchase high quality lucerne or clover pasture silage. Purchasing means we are importing nutrients and carbon in the silage and not deleting these components in our own paddocks.  

Figure: Multi-species pastures for finishing lambs with minimal methane emissions consist of chicory, three perennial clovers, two sub clovers and perennial ryegrass. Photo: Patrick Francis.

Figure: Wiltipoll weaned lambs are growing at up to 350 grams per day on chicory/clover/ryegrass pasture. Photo: Patrick Francis

Figure: Nature repair as evidenced by regular return of koalas to Moffitts Farm is even more rewarding when the trees they are feeding on are part of the extensive biolinks and agroforestry planted in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Photo: Patrick Francis