Conservation Corners

Tight corners in cropping paddocks can be problematic, they are difficult to access with large machinery and you can damage fencing or even get bogged. Why not plant a few trees and make your cropping operations more efficient.

What are tight corners?

Tight corners are areas that farm machinery struggle to access in cropping paddocks. They include acute corners where angled fences intersect, the boggy margins of swamps or dams and borders of rocky outcrops.

Tight corners may be large or quite small, but can be real headaches when maneuvering large sprayers and seeders. These awkward areas disrupt the efficiencies of auto-steer fitted machinery and controlled traffic farming, and are often problem areas that may result in damaged or bogged machinery.

The irregular shapes of tight corners affect spraying efficiencies, promoting weed growth and pest insects that can invade crops and require maintenance to control. On top of all that, these areas generally do not add much value to your cropping operations.

What are Conservation Corners?

Transforming tight corners into pockets of native flora can reduce crop input costs and save time. Cropping operations can be streamlined by shaping the Conservation Corners to you’re A-B lines or by simplifying your headlands. 

Planting native trees and shrubs within the agricultural landscape provides many production, economic and biodiversity benefits for landholders. Native vegetation enhances soil health by sequestering carbon, opening up compacted soils and improving water retention. Trees and shrubs attract beneficial pollinators and insect predators. They can provide shelter for livestock and serve as a source of firewood or timber. They also promote biodiversity and aesthetics in the landscape.

Benefits of Conservation Corners

Create efficient paddock boundaries

Simplify headlands

Create habitat for beneficial insects

Provide shelter for livestock

Make your farm more attractive

Improve habitat connectivity across the landscape

Establishing your Conservation Corner 

Beyond Bolac CAG can assist with planning your project. We have staff who can give advice on selection of tree species and methods for site preparation. Financial assistance if often available for seedlings and guards for native vegetation.

As you work around your farm see if you can pinpoint some Conservation Corners and start improving your farming operations as well as creating diversity in the agricultural landscape.