The Skene’s of ‘Torrington’ Cowra have undergone a shift in their farming, which has resulted in the shift in their attitude.

“I’m ecstatic,” Mr Skene said.

“I’m just excited to see what is happening to our property.”

With the growing costs of inputs, constant bad news with weather and markets and concerns about impact of chemicals on the land, Mr Skene said he had been losing his fervor for farming,

The mixed farmer or “mixed up farmer’ as Mr Skene referred to himself had a number of operations including fat lambs, trading cattle, winter cropping and Lucerne growing.

They were also contract farming to justify their machinery purchases.

“I wasn’t enjoying myself; I was very disgruntled with farming,” he said.

On the second day of a seven-day holistic farming course Mr Skene moved all his livestock together into one herd.

“The biggest thing that really hit me was the realization that at that stage the rest of the property was resting,” he said.

Holistic farming recommends a whole-life, balanced approach to farming.

Among the other changes made to the farm, the Skene’s have sold off their machinery and sheep to reduce the workload.

They no longer crop, but don’t rule it out in the future.

Paddock sizes have also reduced with the 26 paddocks now 47, each approximately nine hectares, with the cattle about every two days, leaving a 120 day rest period.

He has also worked out a feed budget to allow for dry times.

The landscape is also reaping the benefit with Mr Skene saying there is more ground cover and the soils have increased in their water holding capacity.

There are also benefits in the bottom line.

“We considered that we used to be good farmers in the past,” Mr Skene said.

“Our bottom line (now) is similar to our good farming years but with a lot less work, less risk and less stress.”

Mr Skene said the holistic approach to farming has also left him with more balance and time for his family.