Landcare Learnings Draws a Crowd at the Mudgee Small Farm Field Days!

Published 20th July 2026. Written by Maddison O’Brien

Another fantastic Mudgee Small Farm Field Days is in the books, and what a weekend it was! The Strawbale Building once again became a vibrant hub for learning, conversation and connection, with hundreds of people dropping in to explore practical ideas for healthier landscapes and more resilient farms.

This year’s Landcare Learnings talk series (10th & 11th July 2026) featured an inspiring lineup of speakers covering everything from soil health and regenerative weed management to landscape design, no-kill cropping, livestock behaviour and innovative approaches to farm succession and community living. It was wonderful to see such strong attendance across the sessions, with many visitors planning their day around the talks and even speakers staying to hear each other’s presentations.

Bruce Maynard gave an interesting talk about No-Kill Cropping fundamentals and animal behaviour

The lineup for this year was stellar!

10AM – Dr Aurelie Quade
Soil First: Practical Soil Health for Productive Farms 

11AM – Martin Royds
Regenerative Strategies for Serrated Tussock & Other Weeds

12PM – Grant Maundrell
Reading the Landscape: Designing for Regeneration 

1PM – Bruce Maynard
Smarter Farming: No-Kill Cropping & Livestock Behaviour 

2PM – Bea & Pete from Friendly Farms + Rivers Road Organic Farms guests
Don’t Call It an Agrihood! Succession, Community & the Future of Farming

The enthusiasm didn’t stop there. Our Watershed Landcare Nursery volunteers were kept busy all weekend helping people choose native plants for gardens, farms and revegetation projects. The nursery continues to be one of the most popular attractions at the Field Days, and it’s a testament to the incredible dedication of our volunteers who propagate and care for thousands of locally suited native plants throughout the year.

Beyond the talks and plant sales, the Landcare space provided an opportunity for people to ask questions, discover local projects, pick up resources and connect with others who share a passion for caring for our landscapes. The warm atmosphere, great conversations and genuine willingness to share knowledge reminded us that Landcare is just as much about people as it is about the environment.

Dr Aurelie Quade gave a soil health demonstration as part of her presentation

Events like the Small Farm Field Days simply wouldn’t happen without an incredible team behind the scenes. A huge thank you goes to the Field Days/AREC team, our committee, nursery volunteers, guest speakers and everyone who gave their time to set up, welcome visitors, support the speakers, staff the nursery and pack everything away afterwards. It truly was a team effort, and one that showcased the strength of our Landcare community.

Thank you to everyone who visited us over the weekend, attended a talk, bought a native plant or stopped by for a chat. We look forward to seeing you again at our next Landcare event!