McClelland Carbon Project

The McClelland Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria, approximately 25km north of the major regional city of Shepparton and 10km south of Numurkah. The project falls within the Moira Shire local government area, near the rural localities of Kaarimba and Bunbartha. Registered on April 29, 2022, the project covers a relatively focused area of 122.58 hectares.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon (Measurement and Models) methodology, which credits farmers for increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) levels. Unlike earlier model-only methods, this approach requires physical soil sampling to establish a baseline and verify subsequent increases. To achieve these gains, the project has implemented specific land management activities including the application of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies, the retention of crop stubble, and a conversion from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage practices.

The surrounding region is a significant agricultural hub known as the "Food Bowl of Australia," heavily utilized for irrigated cropping, dairying, and horticulture. The local climate is temperate to semi-arid, with an average annual rainfall between 450mm and 500mm, necessitating irrigation for intensive farming. The soils in this area, situated on the riverine plains of the Goulburn River, are typically Red-brown earths (Chromosols) or clay loams (such as Goulburn or Lemnos loams), which are fertile but can be susceptible to structure decline if over-tilled. By moving to no-till and retaining stubble, the project aims to improve this soil structure and water retention while sequestering carbon.