On the family property Talaheni, midway between Murrumbateman and Gundaroo, John Ive is astounded by the regeneration of native grasses after the long drought.
Mr Ive with his wife Robyn and daughter Caroline are specialist superfine wool growers and their light country is admirably suited to that enterprise.
But the family are conscious of being stewards of the country and have aimed at leaving it in better condition than when they bought the 245ha property in 1980.
Mr Ive recognised the property was seriously degraded and had low productivity potential.
"We wanted to reduce the dryland salinity on the flats and lift the standard of the pasture across the property," he said.
"We were also conscious of increasing the soil carbon content of the soil."
To achieve those aims Mr Ive embraced an holistic approach which involved re-fencing along gullys and around tree plantations where some 30,000 have been planted since 1980.
He also noted a further 250,000 trees have naturally germinated along the gravel ridges and all have helped considerably in lowering the water table.
And by moving the sheep by rotation around the paddocks, maintaining ground cover and mulching grass residue, soil carbon content has risen from one percent by weight in 1980 to where the average across the farm is 2.8 percent and in the better paddocks up to four percent.
"The water holding capacity in the soil profile has increased quite considerably and we are having less damaging runoff due to storms," Mr Ive said.
"The rain is soaking into the subsoil and eventually running clear and clean into the farm dams."
When comparing soil content Mr Ive said he is very pleased with the increase and noted on good basalt country the level can be as high as seven percent.
"But on our country the percentage is very good," he said.
"Our country is light but ideal for superfine wool production."
Indeed, the Ive family are the recipients of many prizes awarded for their superfine fleeces; but it is the restoration of the health of the landscape Mr Ive is also most proud.
The carrying capacity has been lifted from one DSE/ha in 1980 to 35 DSE/ha in 2012 before drought caused a reduction in numbers.
"I put it down to appropriate management," Mr Ive said.
"We have lowered the water table through encouraging the prolificacy of deep rooted native perennial grasses.
"And they thrive under our grazing regime of grazing hard for a short period and then allowing a long period for them to recover."
While the pastures mostly consist of introduced species such as Phalaris, cocksfoot, chicory, plantain and sub-clover, Mr Ive is pleased to see natives such as microlena species, yellow suckling clover and Hares foot clover reappearing in strength.
"Microlena is amazing, all you have to do is give it some small amount of moisture and it almost turns green overnight," he said.
"From my experience, the native grasses will return if you give them a chance but because the good ones are highly palatable and nutritious you have to manage the grazing."
During the drought, Mr Ive was prepared to sacrifice a small paddock where he fed the sheep, which allowed the other paddocks to maintain ground cover.
The response following good rain in March 2020 was naturally as good as anything seen in the Yass district.
But it was the response in the sacrifice paddock which has most pleased Mr Ive.
"We fed sheep from October 2019 to Anzac Day 2020 and I was quite prepared to let one paddock be flogged," he said.
"But when we were able to let the sheep out to graze paddocks in rotation, the pasture regrowth from what was bare ground has been remarkable (see photo).
"Especially the native grasses and clovers which will now be allowed to set seed during the summer before I bring sheep back in."
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