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Pastoralist shares life with urban audience

Countryman
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An East Kimberley pastoralist has joined a national initiative which brings the stories of Australian livestock producers to urban audiences through video and social media.

Target 100 aims to deliver "sustainable cattle and sheep farming in Australia by 2020" and involves a 12-month campaign with a target audience of 1.5 million people.

Beef producer and joint station owner Jane Sale lives with her husband Hayden and children on Yougawalla Station near Halls Creek.

Mrs Sale's story is part of the campaign which features Target 100 producers from around the country explaining why they feel it is important to invest in sustainable farming practices.

Her video tells viewers how the there had been an improvement in native fauna on the property "because of the waters we put in".

Target 100: What's it all about? |

"Our property has the capacity to produce 4.2 million meals annually for Indonesian consumption," she said. "We run with minimal staff, low power and strive for a low impact on the environmentand economical production.

"Five years ago, we basically started from scratch at Yougawalla with 800 head of cattle, three waters and not a lot of fencing. We also had to build homes, sheds, all utilities and infrastructure, which we made sure wasenvironmentally sustainable down to the lights. Not long after we also took on the neighbouring station Bulka.

"Last year we turned off 6500 calves and are steadily building our numbers. To look after our cattle, we put in 50 waters, 300km of fencing, and built cattle yards.

"We also have lots of laneways so we can strategically manage our impact on the landscape with less staff and vehicles required to move the cattle along.

"You really can't run cattle up here without looking after the environment and landscape."

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