Location: “Karalee”, 10 km east of Enngonia, North-West NSW
Property size: 71,567 ha
Average annual rainfall: 320mm
Enterprise: Beef cattle breeding, and harvesting rangeland goats
Achievements:
Drivers of Success:
RCS services used:
Martha Lindstad and partner Robert James are farm managers on ‘Karalee’, Enngonia NSW. Both have travelled different paths to being where they are.
Martha is originally from Norway, growing up on a three hectare farm before travelling to New Zealand and eventually the Pilbara in Western Australia.
It was here that she saw the benefits of sustainable farming for the country and livestock.
“When I came to Australia I worked on Yarrie station in the Pilbara, working for five mustering seasons,” Martha said.
“My boss at the time, Annabelle Coppin, was very passionate about land management and land conservation, which opened my eyes to the opportunities to improve the country through grazing.”
It was there that she met Robert, a Western Australian local with a long history in agriculture.
“I grew up as a bush kid across Western Australia and in the Northern Territory”, Robert said.
“Mum and Dad have always been station managers or managing pastoral properties — I just wanted to stay in the bush and work on the land.”
In 2022, Martha and Robert had the opportunity to move across the country to manage ‘Karalee’ for SLM Partners – a farm management group focusing on building regenerative, resilient and profitable land systems.
Picture: Martha Lindstad and partner Robert James are farm managers on ‘Karalee’, Enngonia NSW.
Martha’s farming experiences in Australia and Norway are quite different.
“Here in Australia, the environment can be unforgiving and very harsh, with droughts, fires and floods,” Martha said.
“You really need to excel your management — don’t get anything for free in a sense.”
Martha and Robert joined the RCS Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes Program in 2022 to improve their land management knowledge and grow their grazing network.
The program saw them join 23 other grazing businesses across the southern Queensland and the northern NSW rangelands to develop drought-resilient practices.
Since then, they have utilised grazing tools and implemented better management into ‘Karalee’, with a focus on matching stocking rate to carrying capacity.
The RCS Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes program gave Martha and Robert access to training, mentoring, business tools and a supportive network. Through the program they were able to:
This project is supported by RCS, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
The RCS Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes Program has given Martha and Robert the tools and knowledge to better manage their grazing and groundcover.
“The program and grazing clinic was a big paradigm shift and helped us better budget our feed — it’s been a massive help,” said Robert.
Martha, too, has found the program transformative.
“I’ve never experienced a drought, so I’m trying to learn as much as I can,” she said.
“Through the program and coaching, we now have our feed budgets in place and aren’t stressing about what’s ahead of us.
“We’re not constantly thinking about what we need to do — we know how many months of feed are ahead of us.
“The Soil and Landscapes project is certainly helping us improve our grazing management and making better decisions.”
Through the course they have also had access to MaiaGrazing; a tool to plan and manage their grazing.
“MaiaGrazing has been very useful in actively managing our grazing and groundcover, especially being able to update the data while in the paddock,” Robert said.
RCS mentor, Raymond Stacey, has been working with Martha and Robert to help put their learnings into action.
“The Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes project is about supporting graziers to manage their country and businesses better,” Raymond said.
“It’s about supporting graziers to build resilience in their landscapes and in their businesses.
“We’re moving away from the perpetual cycle of boom and bust. The droughts are not a disaster — they’re just a low patch to be managed.”
Robert and Martha have worked closely with Raymond on their grazing management in particular.
“It’s been fantastic, the coaches have a very broad experience across different landscapes and vegetation,” Robert said.
“We’ve had regular catch ups every month to six weeks with a mentor and can ask questions any time.”
Find out more about the RCS Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes Program.
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The season in SA and Tassie is particularly tight right now with little or no useful rain since early January and a generally failed 2023 spring prior to that. Right now, across southern Australia and much of the eastern NSW, you won’t need to drive far out into the countryside to see cattle and sheep grazing (and lying on) hay and silage trails lined across paddocks.
Martha Lindstad and partner Robert James are farm managers on ‘Karalee’, Enngonia NSW. Both have travelled different paths to being where they are. Martha is originally from Norway, growing up on a three hectare farm before travelling to New Zealand and eventually the Pilbara in Western Australia. It was here that she saw the benefits of sustainable farming for the country and livestock.
The Prince’s RCS mentor, Raymond Stacey, sees a strong future ahead for Simon and Laura. “The Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes project is about supporting graziers to manage their country and businesses better,” Raymond said. “I see an operation here where they’re working hard on their planning and putting their plans into action to leave their country, business and people in better shape.”
John Kempf, a visionary in regenerative agriculture, founded Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) to revolutionise farming practices. A respected expert in biological and regenerative systems, John's mission is to empower farmers worldwide with the knowledge and tools for a healthier, more sustainable food system. AEA's impact extends from healthier soils to thriving communities. John hosts the acclaimed Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, sharing cutting-edge insights from scientists and leading growers on implementing these transformative practices. Prepare to be inspired as John delves into the profound connections between soil health, human health, energy, and economics.
Unlock the Secrets to a Thriving, Sustainable Grazing Operation! In this video and blog post, David McLean, RCS's Chief of Delivery, spills the tea on building a successful grazing business. It's not just about cows and grass (although those are important!). Discover how to find the perfect balance between practical skills, smart choices, and a long-term vision. We'll dive deep into the foundational principles and strategies that can make your grazing operation both profitable and environmentally responsible. Learn how to: Maximise your profits (without sacrificing your land!) Make sound decisions for a healthy herd and ecosystem. Plan for a thriving future in the grazing industry. Ready to take your grazing operation to the next level? Watch now!
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