Using livestock manures to boost pasture growth
Livestock manures can be a cost effective alternative to inorganic fertilisers but must be applied at rates which counter growth limiting nutrients.
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Alternative fertiliser trials highlights pasture phosphorous response
The soil treatments with the lowest cost of producing extra pasture were those that addressed first limiting nutrients.
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Gap between soil carbon abatement science and trading credits growing wider
Two new publications about the science of soil carbon abatement do not align well with the optimism amongst carbon project facilitators for achieving permanent, commercially large increases through changing land management practices.
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Roadkill update: another wombat killed
Wildlife road kills continue on minor rural roads west of Romsey which have a default 100km per hour maximum speed limit when the safe speed for wildlife, pedestrians and cyclists is less that 50km per hour.
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Farms natural capital importance recognised by NSW government
Natural Capital improvement on farms has been recognised as an important component of management by the NSW government.
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36 year wait ends in road kill
Wildlife taking advantage of improving natural capital on Moffitts Farm are being killed by vehicles on surrounding roads.
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Carbon neutral shedding ewe lambs on AuctionsPlus
Moffitts Farm is now selling Wiltipoll ewe lambs and prime lambs with carbon neutral credentials.
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Shire’s Romsey growth options are missed opportunity to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gases
The Romsey Structure Plan Options and Scenarios fail to account for their housing estates greenhouse production and the lost opportunity to sequester greenhouse gases and recover biodiversity with enlightened farm land use change around the town.
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Textile Exchange Analysis injects division among farmers, brands and consumers
The Textile Exchange’s Regenerative Agriculture Landscape Analysis contends there are significant difference between farmers who adopt RA while CSIRO’s Mark Farrell says the approaches to soil health and quality are similar.
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Soil carbon double dipping not on
When carbon credits are sold off the farm to a third party, the farm business cannot then claim them for accessing carbon neutral markets.
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More emphasis on pasture quality and lower methane emissions – Spring update November 2021
By managing pasture species and mass we are able to minimise our sheep flock’s methane emissions as well as improve growth rates. Plus interesting developments with bull ants and echidnas.
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50km per hour limit on minor rural roads – Key to Macedon Ranges pedestrian and bikers safety
Shire town residents are increasingly using nearby minor rural roads for exercise and nature observation, it means a new era of vehicle speed restrictions is required to protect public safety.
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The search for healthy soil biology indicators
Historically soil health mostly meant how much organic matter is in soil. But organic matter changes slowly. Microbes change fast.
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Soil biology revealed
This FAO report provides an important scientific account of the role of soil biota in the soil food web and carbon flow between the atmosphere, plants and soil.
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US scheme used by Australian farmers reveals dangers of trading soil carbon
Changing grazing and land management practices to bolster ecosystem functions is positive for the environment but may not necessarily lead into trading soil carbon.
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Significant omissions in MRSC draft Road Management Plan 2021
The Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s draft Road Management Plan takes no account of increasing numbers of pedestrians on some minor rural roads and increased wildlife population on roadside verges and surrounding farm and public land. It provides no data on vehicle road maintenance diesel use and their greenhouse gas emissions trends.
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Adding tonnes of manure and compost to perennial pastures didn’t change soil carbon
Anecdotal examples of increasing soil carbon stocks by changing livestock grazing and pasture management are common, but long term statistically significant trial data demonstrates making a significant change is likely to be difficult especially in perennial pasture paddocks where the existing carbon level in above 3%
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Macedon Ranges Shire Council Draft Roadside Conservation Management Plan has missed environmental health opportunities
Patrick Francis provides feedback to the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s draft Roadside Conservation Management Plan.
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Victoria’s rural road speed guidelines ignore wildlife existence
Victoria’s state government departments responsible for maximum speed limits on minor rural roads and safety and welfare of wildlife do not recognize vehicles travelling to fast to avoid collisions with wildlife on minor rural roads, are the cause of an increasing number of wildlife road kills and injuries.
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Old-growth forest carbon sinks overestimated
Trees age. And at some point, they die. When that happens, decay begins, sending carbon back into the atmosphere as CO2. Other smaller trees will then take over, thereby leaving a fairly stable CO2 stock in the forest.
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Putting more relevant numbers around Australia’s livestock emissions
The Australian sheep meat industry has already achieved a status of green house gas stabilisation.
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Soil carbon to decline from global warming negative feedback loop
This research contends global warming is likely to increase soil carbon losses particularly in regions with high carbon stocks.
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Comparing grasses without grazing them has little value for building climate resilience
Applying artificial climate treatments to pasture species without including different grazing regimes is absurd, it makes the research conclusions around pasture species resilience in face of climate change irrelevant.
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Carbon-chomping soil bacteria may pose hidden climate risk
This research is suggesting that the carbon sequestered in the soil can be released faster than previously thought [and play a role in] future climate change,”
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Soil health farming versus conservation agriculture
Soil health (regenerative agriculture) initiatives must credibly delineate grain yield, grain quality and across farm ecosystem functions outcomes from what is currently being achieved with science based conservation agriculture.
Read More2020 spring update: pasture and lamb bonanza
2020 rainfall has been consistently close to or above average each month ensuring optimum pasture growth and ewe fertility ensuring a record high lamb marking and weaning percentage.
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Unique insight into Merino breeding and pastoral history
“A Twentieth Century Shepherd – The letters of E.H.B. Lefroy” demonstrate the activities and passion of a remarkable Australian who devoted his life to helping others in a science based quest for a more productive and profitable pastoral Merino wool industry.
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Messaging on minimum pasture ground cover quantity is inconsistent and often ignores ecosystem functions
Livestock farmers are being given mixed messages around minimum pasture levels that preserve pasture plant resilience and ecosystem functions.
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Ruminant methane decision pending – GWP100 versus GWPstar
The European Commission is about to settle on a new policy on methane which could have profound implications for ruminant livestock agriculture.
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Phosphorus fertiliser an advantage for specific native grass species
Some native grass species will respond to increased plant available phosphorus, but best practice grazing management is critical to ensure their persistence when fertiliser is applied.
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No meat interview demonstrates “go with the flow” journalism
Too many journalists fail to ask their on-air guests questions about generalisations made, in this case about different types of meat production in Australia versus overseas.
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Summer/autumn rain brings pasture fungi bonanza
Summer/autumn 2020 received the highest rainfall for the period since 2012. The consequences for biodiversity and pastures were enormous.
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Avoidable wildlife road kills continue unabated
Road kills of native animals are avoidable on minor rural roads in the Macedon Ranges and adjacent shires. To achieve this traffic speeds on these roads must be legally limited to a maximum of 40 km/hr.
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Regenerative agriculture’s version of science creates division between farmers
In part two of a three article series on regenerative agriculture Patrick Francis examines why the concept is creating unnecessary divisions amongst Australia’s broadacre farmers.
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What makes a regenerative agriculture farmer
Regen Ag has emerged over the last five years under the misapprehension of providing a more holistic methodology for profitable farming while improving ecosystem functions compared to conventional or agricultural science based farming.
Read MoreNeil Black western Victoria 1839
The excerpts from Neil Black’s diary relate to Western Victoria’s landscapes, pastures, wildlife, livestock, animal husbandry, labour, wages, living conditions and bushfires in 1840.
Read MoreJames Bonwick Western Victoria 1857
Find out what Victoria’s pastoral landscapes, vegetation and wildlife were like before pastoralism. James Bonwick provides an insight in 1857
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Feeds and husbandry to reduce ruminant methane emissions
Ruminant livestock industries are under pressure to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and strategies exist to help do this.
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Soil carbon trading credits questionable on perennial pasture farms
The challenge for agricultural science surrounding increasing or maintaining soil organic carbon level, is to provide farmers with knowledge that gives them confidence that the practice changes being recommended will achieve the desired outcomes under their individual soil type, climate, enterprise and business circumstances.
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