Howson Carbon Project 9

Howson Carbon Project 9 is a soil carbon sequestration project located on the 'Tarramba' property, approximately 30km south of the township of Banana in Central Queensland. Registered in March 2022, the project covers roughly 260 hectares of a larger cattle grazing aggregation operated by the Gunthorpe family. The region is defined by its agricultural focus, specifically beef cattle production and stud breeding, situated within the productive Brigalow Belt.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology, which credits increases in soil organic carbon stocks resulting from new management activities. To achieve this, the proponents are implementing rotational grazing strategies, matching stocking rates to carrying capacity, and rejuvenating pastures through seeding and legume introduction. By subdividing paddocks and improving water infrastructure, the project aims to increase grazing intensity during short periods followed by adequate rest, facilitating soil health improvements.

The local environment in the Banana Shire is characterized by a semi-arid, sub-tropical climate with summer-dominant rainfall averaging around 620mm to 670mm annually. The soils in this area are typically fertile cracking clays (Vertosols) and clay loams, which are well-suited to holding water and supporting vigorous pasture growth when managed effectively.

An interesting aspect of this project is its integration into a broader 15-project aggregation across the 20,000-acre Tarramba property. The Gunthorpe family, well-known Brahman breeders, use the property as a Producer Demonstration Site for Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) to study the impact of soil carbon on grazing enterprises. Other projects in this aggregation have already successfully generated ACCUs, demonstrating the viability of the soil carbon model in this landscape.