Farmers invited to join national regenerative program
Published on 06 August 2025
A new regional partnership is planting the seeds for farmers in the Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter local government areas (LGAs) to strengthen their drought resilience.
Farmers in the three LGAs are being invited to take part in Verified RegenGrown – a national program by farmer-led charity Carbon8 which is building more resilient farming systems from the ground up – as part of a collaboration between the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program, the NSW Environmental Trust and the three councils.
The program follows on from the Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter Regional Drought Resilience Plan, which identified key actions to strengthen drought resilience across the region.
Expressions of interest are now open to join Verified RegenGrown, and virtual information sessions will be held for farmers and land managers interested in finding out more information on Thursday 7 August and Tuesday 12 August at 6.30pm.
The three-month program is designed to:
- Support long-term drought resilience by increasing knowledge in regenerative approaches to soil, water and land management, and
- Build local capacity to adapt to weather variations through practical education, one-on-one support, and peer learning.
Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore said up to 44 places were available for farmers across Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter to participate in the program–normally priced at $1,950 – for the heavily subsidised cost of $195 thanks to funding from the Regional Drought Planning Program and the NSW Environmental Trust.
“We recognise the importance of building resilient systems when we are in times of prosperity. By equipping landholders with the necessary skills to accurately measure and record actual markers on their land, it will help them prepare for uncertain times,” she said.
Mayor of Muswellbrook, Cr Jeffrey Drayton said Muswellbrook Shire is home to a wide range of industries and the program was welcome backing for local farmers by the federal and NSW governments.
“Farmers in our Shire deal with extremes; recently it's floods but they're already planning for the next drought. The more prepared the sector can be in Muswellbrook, the more resilient we are as a community and an economy,” he said.
Mayor of Upper Hunter, Cr Maurice Collison said it was a valuable initiative to bring the three councils together to support local agricultural industries.
“Our farmers and food producers have been well respected for many years, and we’re looking forward to bringing them together to offer practical ways of improving the productivity and resilience of their farms,” he said.
Co-founder of Carbon8, Helen McCosker said the partnership meant farmers could access the tools, guidance, and community they need to work with their landscapes in times of uncertainty.
“This is about more than surviving the next dry spell,” she said.
“It’s about growing stronger with each season, accurately recording observations in the landscape, making informed decisions, and regenerating the land in ways that support both productivity and ecological function.”
For more information about the program and to register for the information session, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/drought-resilience-with-verified-regen-grown