Simon Falkiner – VIC

Simon Falkiner’s 600-acre mixed-enterprise family farm at Freshwater Creek produces meat merinos, cereals and oilseed crops while prioritising farming techniques that preserve the land’s biodiversity. Simon’s focus on maintaining soil health and his integrated pest and grazing management has made him a leading advocate for best-practice Landcare. His farm has hosted long-term trials testing everything from soil acidification and biology to pasture cover and cropping. He’s also undertaken extensive riparian restoration along Thompsons Creek to protect remnant vegetation, while partnership projects have seen him assist in monitoring the threatened Yarra pygmy perch and Growling Grass frog. Simon has also driven research, collaborating with LaTrobe University on livestock performance research and with Melbourne University on the logistics of subsoil manuring. Reducing Carbon Emissions and increasing productivity in the Northern beef herd has also featured in his work.