Alex Demeo is taking part in the Federal Government’s Climate Positive Farming Initiative, incorporating mixed species into their pasture crops.
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On a mixed cropping and sheep property that has been in the family for more than 160 years, Alex Demeo and his father Leo Demeo are bridging the gap between tradition and innovation.
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Situated in Kamarooka, in a low-rainfall zone receiving about 400mm annually, the Demeo enterprise is typical of the district: a blend of dryland cropping and fat lamb production.
Wheat, barley, oats and canola form the backbone of the operation, a mix that has long been proven in the region.
But while the core enterprise remains familiar, the thinking behind it is evolving.
Through funding from the federally backed Climate Positive Farming Initiative, the Demeo family is trialling a multi-species pasture crop designed to improve soil health while maintaining strong livestock performance.
“It’s a way to boost soil balance after cropping, while also providing good feed,” he said.
Alex Demeo runs sheep on his property in Kamarooka.
The trial involves sowing a diverse mix of 16 plant species, combining cereals, legumes, herbs and forbs, vastly different from the single-species forage paddocks commonly used in the area.
The seeds are being sourced from DownUnderAg, a business based in Lockington, which is at the forefront of the regenerative pasture cropping movement.
The Demeos are aiming to stimulate soil biology through increased plant diversity, supporting a wider range of microbial activity beneath the surface.
While the concept is not entirely new, its adoption marks a step forward for a property that has relied on traditional practices for generations.
“It’s not completely out of the box, but it’s definitely something we haven’t done before on this place,” Alex Demeo said.
The three-year trial, supported by the North Central Catchment Management Authority, includes baseline and end-point soil testing, along with ongoing comparisons of feed quality and biomass against standard oat paddocks.
However, the motivation behind the project extends beyond short-term results.
Jack, Winnie, Des, Bill and Frank Demeo. The Demeo’s farm at Kamarooka has been in the family for over 160 years.
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After recently returning to the family farm following a career in vineyard management, Alex Demeo brought with him a growing interest in regenerative agriculture and soil function.
“I’ve been interested in multi-species cropping for a while,” he said, tracing that interest back to a workshop with soil scientist Christine Jones several years ago.
His experience in viticulture, an industry subject to strong environmental scrutiny, also helped shape his perspective.
“There’s probably more of an environmental push in vineyards because it’s a very visible, consumer-facing sector,” he said.
Now, he is applying those insights back home, with livestock integration playing a key role.
“Having livestock in the system is critical for us,” he said.
That integration sits at the heart of the trial, with the multi-species pasture used for grazing lambs, while also improving soil structure and nutrient cycling.
Over the next three years, the project will measure whether those benefits translate into measurable gains in both soil condition and feed performance.
For a fifth-generation farmer working land held by his family for more than a century and a half, Alex Demeo sees the trial as part of a broader journey, one that balances respect for tradition with a willingness to evolve.
“I just found the grant, applied for it, and gave it a go,” he said.
The Demeo farm is demonstrating that even the oldest operations can look forward, testing new ideas and adapting to meet the challenges of a changing climate.
