Pinchgut Creek Pastoral is located on the South Western Slopes of the Riverina region of NSW, approximately 30 kms west of Cootamundra. The sub-humid climate is characterised by hot summers and evenly distributed annual rainfall, however water management is crucial for farming. Land use in the area is mostly winter cereal and fodder and canola cropping, and sheep and cattle grazing on improved pastures. 

Most of the soils in the vicinity of the Pinchgut properties have formed on recent alluvium (deposited by rivers) or colluvium (deposited under gravity), derived from siltstone, sandstone, shale, and minor occurrences of volcanics. The major causes of land degradation in the area is moderate to severe gully erosion where flows are concentrated, streambank erosion along drainage lines, and sheet and rill erosion of some cultivated lands. Localised salinity may also occur.

The native eucalypt woodland has been extensively cleared for agriculture with only remnants remaining along road corridors and fence reserves. Common species include Blakely’s red gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi), white cypress pine (Callitris columellaris), and belah (Casuarina cristata) on the heavy clay soils on some lower slopes. The sparse understorey can include a variety of shrubs, tussock grasses, sedges and annual forbs, including acacias (Acacia spp.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and bromes (Bromus spp.).⁴

Image 2. An aerial view of cattle grazing at Retreat. Source: Rachael Lenehan.

⁴Much of the soil and landscape information in this section is sourced from Soil Landscapes of the Cootamundra 1:250 000 Sheet Report and Map (McNamara, et. al., 2008).

Soils and landscapes

Maintaining topsoil especially in dry times

Since adopting high-intensity rotational grazing, Chris has witnessed ‘incredible results’ and greater drought resilience. During recent dry years, particularly 2019, Chris recalls witnessing massive amounts of topsoil blowing off neighbouring properties, and observing how well his property responded in comparison. He notes, ‘We weren’t losing all that topsoil during those really dry spells … that was a big thing I noticed.’  These experiences have helped Chris feel confident about what he can achieve in dry years.

Species diversity and increasing soil health

Chris has observed a significant increase in flora and fauna species diversity on the property since 2015, and he says this is supported by Land to Market monitoring that showed an increase in the number of species from 10 in 2018 to 25 in 2023. There are now many different ‘grasses, clovers, legumes etc that have come up in paddocks that were bare stubble when I took over, all from allowing the land to regenerate rather than from anything I have sown.’ Chris says that the same Land to Market monitoring found the amount of bare ground went from 12.94 % to 0.8 %. Chris and his brother have also observed numerous bird species, including rare nesting birds, and that a wide array of spiders and other beneficial insects, and an increase in worms, have appeared in recent years. 

‘Walking through the paddocks and seeing all these different species of grasses come up and ground nesting larks and quails. There are heaps of those in the paddock now when you walk along, and there are spiders everywhere. It’s a different vibe in the paddocks when it has got all this life in it and the feeling of the soil is spongier.’ Chris Main

Carbon sequestration

Chris feels there are a range of ‘co-benefits’ that flow from the approach he is taking to improve soil and landscape health since taking over management in 2015. Importantly for Chris – carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. He notes that he has ‘run my numbers using Ruminati, and my emissions are 839 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per year. If I increase my soil carbon by 1% over 25 years, I will sequester 4,263 tonnes of CO2e per year.’

Farmer and Farm

Professional skills and personal growth

Participating in the RCS Executive Link program helped to build Chris’ confidence and develop his long-term strategic thinking. It has supported him in managing the stresses of farming and enabled Chris to better track production levels and business outcomes. Through the program, Chris developed business skills, while also learning more about himself. He notes that as well as developing applied knowledge, the RCS program (and others like it that he has participated in) are importantly about inner-development, ‘It’s not just a technical thing that you’re learning. You’re learning about yourself.’

Lower running costs

The production benefits of Mains’ approach include very low running costs, as Chris notes, ‘I don’t have any running costs of tractors and diesel and all that sort of thing. I use a contractor for pasture work and our running costs are very, very low.’ When he contrasts that with the costs involved with intensive cropping, Chris feels that there are very clear differences in their long-term financial outlook and the resilience of the farm.

‘Last year when fertiliser prices were going through the roof and there were worries about getting access … it was still raining and the cost of that didn’t go up, and the sun was still shining. So, our inputs are being provided for free.’ Chris Main

Because the farm was leased out prior to Chris taking over, Chris has no previous running costs to compare with. However, based on estimates from a local consultant, the cost of production for the top 20% of producers in the area is approximately $486/ha (excluding interest). This is significantly higher than Chris’ own estimates, ‘My costs excluding interest and wages for 2023 was around $90/ha.’

Community networks and wellbeing

Since returning to the farm, the Main family have been actively participating in a local regenerative farming network called The 2AM Group. Every six weeks they go to a member’s house and get together to socialise, share information and network. As Chris says, ‘We’re connecting with like-minded people because most of our neighbours think we’re weird and you know you don’t have a huge amount in common.’ The benefits of this informal group have been invaluable for the Main family in providing peer-to-peer interaction, accountability, support and validation.

‘We are no longer battling nature to make a living, and we can see huge beneficial changes to the farm environment.’ Chris Main

Physical health benefits 

Chris loves the sensory experience of being in the paddock, and notes the exercise involved, ‘You get a much better understanding of what’s happening in the paddock if you’re walking it and it’s good exercise.’ He notes how regularly walking the property enables him to closely observe what is happening with his animals, in the soil and across the landscape, which he believes has multiple benefits in terms of his own knowledge and responsiveness to conditions.

‘One of the best things in life is when you’re moving cattle every day. You go and wind up the hotwire to let them into the next section of grass and they are all just standing there waiting patiently; then they move in and the noise that they make when they’re grazing happily, there’s just something about that.’ Chris Main

The Mains are currently implementing an upgraded water system at Retreat with the intention of improving water quality and hydration across the landscape. Chris has recently become more interested in how water moved in the landscape historically prior to European arrival. He is also looking into ways that farmers can influence hydrological cycles now and the restoration of wetland habitats in the area.

‘One of our landscape goals is to get the wetland area back again so it holds that moisture. It’s starting to look a little bit better in places, but there is still a long way to go on that journey.’ Chris Main

The Mains would like to introduce First Nations cultural burning practices onto their property in addition to what they are already doing in collaboration with the local Aboriginal community in the region. They are looking into how to make this happen and are curious as to whether it will further help improve the soil and landscape health of the area.

In recent times, the extended Main family led by Chris’ father Jim, have worked together to build an equitable succession plan, which attests to the importance that the family now places on social cohesion, a positive legacy, and a long term, viable vision for Pinchgut Creek Pastoral.

Chris is aware that climate change is a contentious issue in the farming community but he wants to do his bit in trying to change attitudes, particularly in relation to how regenerative agriculture is communicated as a ‘climate solution’ because of the multiple benefits that he believes it can provide. Chris feels like he has a role to play in mitigating climate change, saying:

‘With climate change, this is something that I really feel is something that we can help with. I can’t help much with the energy transition and I can’t help much with over-consumption and the hype for consumerism and all that sort of stuff. But I can help on our little patch and pull carbon out of the atmosphere and secure it underground.’ Chris Main

In late 2023, Chris was unexpectedly offered a role as CEO of Australian Soil Management, and accepted the offer. He is now balancing life on the farm with his new job. Chris is concerned about climate change and perceives carbon markets as a viable way for the agriculture industry to be effective in mitigation (if managed properly). He has hired a farm manager who will continue to implement the management plan for Pinchgut Creek Pastoral Company, along with ongoing input from Chris.