The funding is through the Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program in WA and supports aims to support the agricultural sector to respond to global market forces and adapt farming systems to incorporate carbon sequestration.

The projects also aim to create opportunities to participate in the carbon market and improve long term business viability.

Two of the funded soil carbon and revegetation projects based in the North Midlands include Weelhamby Farm, near Perenjori, which will implement an integrated biodiversity revegetation project and a pasture rejuvenation project from a $738,600 funding boost from the government. 

The property will become a public demonstration farm, hosting field days and sharing updates and economic results to examine how best to integrate carbon farming with conventional farming practices.

The projects aim to improve soil carbon and agricultural productivity, while enhancing wildlife corridors, in exchange for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU).

A further four carbon projects in the South-West, Great Southern and Eastern Wheatbelt will share in the Round One funds, covering more than 7000 hectares and removing a projected 140,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the next decade.

To support soil carbon opportunities, prospective Round One soil carbon projects that have not yet been approved under the program will be offered $10,000 vouchers to develop detailed land management strategies to help demonstrate project feasibility.

A full list of Round One ACCU Plus projects and more information about the Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program is available at http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/CF-LRP

WA Agriculture and Food Minister, Alannah MacTiernan, said: "Through our program we are supporting farmers to explore how carbon farming can future-proof their businesses: improving productivity and profitability, diversifying enterprises, spreading risk and providing a new income stream.

"This program is just one of several initiatives supporting the adoption of land restoration practices in WA, alongside the Southern Rangelands Revitalisation Pilot Project, the new WA Soil Health Strategy and the Soil Systems Master Classes."

Regional workshops for farmers and rural businesses to better understand carbon farming opportunities and prepare submissions for Round Two of the program will be held in coming months.