The following describe the appropriate activities for various land classes in the Upper Catchment to protect agricultural land. They have been developed for the Upper Catchment as it is very diverse in terms of soil types and landforms. Once we have received feedback on this approach we may develop the same for other shires.

Public Land

• Continue to manage under Public Land management plans.

Native vegetation

• Refer to the protection and enhancement priority maps.

Steep slopes

• Ground cover is crucial.

• Large scale tree planting.

• Strategic fencing and grazing regimes.

Granite country (includes granitic land with rocky outcrops and significant slope)

• Grazing preferred over cropping.

• Minimise ground disturbance and cultivations.

• Native pastures.

• Biodiversity plantings.

Towns and exotic vegetation

N/A.

Undulating hills (typically grazing land)

• Annual or perennial ground cover maintained.

• Increased trials for perennial pastures.

• Where cropping occurs minimal or no till practices should be implemented.

• Revegetation for erosions control and shelter belts.

Rising open undulating land (Grazing and cropping land, erodible soil with localised scours)

• Ground cover is important via minimum till and pasture cover.

• Revegetation for erosion control, shelter and enhancing existing vegetation.

• Increase trial of perennial pastures to maintain ground cover to reduce nitrate leaching.

Alluvial flood plain (alluvial plains that are generally subject to cropping or grazing)

• Ground cover through minimal or no till cropping techniques.

• Lucerne and perennials for pasture production.

• Riparian protection, enhancement and revegetation.

• Revegetation for shelter belts and erosions control.