"I would like to congratulate Martin on his efforts. Having seen his property and some of his practices first hand, it's clear that farmers now have the opportunity to increase the drought resilience and productivity of their properties. Importantly, these practices also contribute to less carbon in the atmosphere," Mr Kerin said.

Martin's innovative and progressive farming has evolved from his exposure to the principles of holistic management, biological farming, biodynamics, natural sequence farming and Landcare.

According to Martin, the key components of his farming practices are to understand how plants and animals function. This knowledge is critical to making decisions that promote the sustainability of his farming enterprise. At the core of his farming practices is a focus on encouraging pasture diversity, maintaining ground cover, increasing soil and animal health, and ultimately increasing the carbon content of the soil.

"Improving the carbon content of the soil increases its capacity to hold water and prolongs plant growth. This extends a property's ability to maintain pasture cover and productivity during dry periods," Mr Kerin acknowledged.

"Southern Rivers CMA has programs that encourage farmers to learn about and implement sustainable land management practices similar to those that Martin has implemented. I encourage interested farmers to contact their local CMA office for more information," he concluded.