U8J Cattle Co Carbon Sequestration

U8J Cattle Co Carbon Sequestration is a soil carbon project located approximately 15km northeast of Dalby in the Western Downs region of Queensland. Registered in August 2021, the project covers roughly 804 hectares of agricultural land situated along the Dalby-Nungil Road. The project is operated by Megan and Warren Salter, who run U8J Cattle Co, a family-owned Angus stud breeding operation known as MCJ Angus.

The Dalby region is a significant agricultural hub in the Darling Downs, widely recognized for its rich soils and mixed farming capabilities, including intensive cropping and livestock grazing. The area experiences a sub-tropical climate with summer-dominant rainfall, averaging around 670mm annually in nearby Kaimkillenbun. The soil landscape is dominated by Vertosols, the fertile, black cracking clays for which the Darling Downs is famous. These soils have high water-holding capacity and fertility, making them ideal for both pasture and crop production, though they require careful management to maintain structure.

The project operates under the Carbon Farming Initiative - Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems methodology. This method requires landholders to implement new or materially different management activities to increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. For this specific project, the proponents have elected to apply synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies and to establish and maintain pasture on land that was previously cropland or bare fallow. By converting land to permanent pasture and optimizing nutrient levels, the project aims to build soil organic carbon stocks over the 25-year crediting period. The Salter family emphasizes regenerative agriculture practices in their broader operations to enhance soil health and biodiversity alongside their cattle breeding program.