Managing Your Rural Property Conference

Dr Mary Cole is recognised globally as one of the top experts in the world of plant pathology, biological regenerative agriculture and soil health, with experience spanning research, education and on-ground innovation. She is the 2025 Victorian winner of Agri-futures Rural Women’s Award and national finalist for her work in soil health, education and farmer wellbeing.

A Chartered Agriculturist with the Ag Institute of Australia, honorary membership of the Institute of Ecological Agriculture, and Honorary Fellow at The University of Melbourne. She continues to mentor, consult, and advocate for sustainable food systems rooted in soil intelligence and ecological integrity.

Presented by Jason McAinch

Learn the fundamentals of how a grass plant; grows, changes nutritional characteristics, recovers, and builds resilience. By knowing how grasslands work land managers can adapt grazing pressures to ensure they have healthy soil, livestock, and waterways. This will be applicable to a wide variety of property owners - horses, cattle, sheep, alpacas, etc.

Sarah Gaskill, Melbourne Water

Presented by Gaye Gadsden

Many of us have a property in Yarra Ranges because we like living close to nature.  We enjoy hearing the kookaburras, watching the birds in our gardens and seeing an echidna trundle across the grass.  Now more than ever before, our local nature needs every bit of help we can provide.  Every property has the potential to provide more support for nature.  

Learn about actions that you can take, both big and small, to increase nature on your property.  You will find out how to prioritise management actions to get the greatest gains for nature for your time and effort, and you will discover where you can get the help to support you to support nature conservation.

These sessions run concurrently, attendees must chose one

Future proofing in a changing climate
Melbourne Water
An overview of water resource management, including legislation, licensing, usage, and practical steps landholders can take to manage water responsibly in a changing climate.

Pest plants and animal
ECOSS, Agribusiness Yarra Valley
Gain practical skills in managing pests to protect property productivity and biodiversity, using integrated management techniques and an area wide approach in your community.

Property planning: soils and vegetation
Landcare
A practical look at property management that covers soil care and restoration, the principles of effective revegetation, and holistic property planning.

A down‑to‑earth discussion led by Tim Thompson, bringing together local farm landholders to talk through how they manage their properties and share practical lessons and everyday realities.

More info coming soon