Guilfoyle Carbon Project 3

Guilfoyle Carbon Project 3 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Buloke Shire of Victoria, approximately 15km northeast of the town of Birchip. Registered in September 2022, the project covers 294.87 hectares of agricultural land. It appears to be part of a larger aggregation of carbon projects managed by the same landholder, as a "Guilfoyle Carbon Project 5" was registered on the same day with identical activities.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology, which rewards farmers for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels through improved land management. Specifically, this project involves applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies, retaining crop stubble after harvest, and converting from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage practices. These activities are designed to minimize soil disturbance and enhance biomass production, thereby sequestering more atmospheric carbon into the soil profile.

The region is situated in the Victorian Mallee, an area characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 330mm to 370mm. The landscape is dominated by broadacre cropping (cereals and pulses) and livestock grazing. Soils in this area are typically calcareous earths, sandy loams, or clay loams, which can be prone to wind erosion if not managed with ground cover, making the project's focus on stubble retention and no-till farming particularly relevant for both soil health and carbon storage. Historical records suggest the Guilfoyle family has been farming in the Birchip district since at least the late 19th century.