Davies Farming Carbon Project

The Davies Farming Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Central West region of New South Wales, approximately 35km southwest of Forbes and 45km northwest of Grenfell. Registered on May 16, 2024, the project covers a registered area of 1,637 hectares. The region is characterized by a mixed farming landscape, predominantly utilized for dryland cropping (wheat, canola) and livestock grazing.

This project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology allows proponents to earn carbon credits by adopting new farming activities that store carbon in the soil, quantified through a hybrid approach of physical soil sampling and modelling. A key eligibility requirement is the implementation of at least one new management activity; in this case, the project explicitly focuses on applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material nutrient deficiencies, thereby promoting plant growth and subsequent carbon capture.

The local environment in the Weddin and Forbes Shire area typically experiences a temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 550mm to 600mm. The soils in this region are commonly Red Chromosols (red-brown earths) and clay loams, which are productive for agriculture but can be susceptible to acidification and structure decline if not managed carefully, issues that soil carbon projects often aim to mitigate.

An administrative note for the project indicates a variation scheduled for March 6, 2025, involving the removal of certain areas from the project's original footprint. The project is managed by Loam Carbon Pty Ltd, a developer specializing in soil carbon projects that often works with farmers to integrate microbial fungi inoculums alongside standard nutrient management to enhance soil carbon stability.