Nature your greatest ally
Take natural approach to improve your farm
ONE of the primary roles of a farmer is being a custodian and manager of the land.
In recent years, one thing we have seen a lot more interest in from farmers is how to work with our natural systems to get the biggest ‘bang for buck’ so to speak.
Basically, how to put nature to work to improve and strengthen the resilience of the land we farm.
Here are four tips for harnessing the power of natural systems to buffer the fluctuations of climate, input costs and market demands:
■ NURTURE THE POWER OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. Nature has a vast workforce at a farmer’s disposal – don’t be afraid to put it to work for you. Agro-ecosystem farming is being recognised as a way forward, and one that could help combat over-stretched water resources, high levels of erosion and reduced soil fertility. Examples include intercropping (with different species of plants), permaculture and syntropic farming. There are more functions than room to talk about them here, so farmers should do their research and
❝Plant diversity can also be used to diversify your source of income.
selectively foster those that meet their short- and long-term needs.
■ FOCUS ON SOIL. Take steps to improve your soil health, and make use of tonnes of free nitrogen per hectare in the air above your crop. Focus on soil health, particularly managing the carbon to nitrogen ratio of 24:1 (24 parts carbon to one part nitrogen). Nitrogen is delivered naturally into soil in a number of ways – for example nitrogen fixing bacteria in legume roots, or decomposing organisms cause chemical reactions in the atmosphere, which is delivered to the plants through rain. Synthetic nitrogen kills those bacteria and organisms that provide these services to your farm for free.
■ HAVE A SENSE OF HUMUS. Remember that when looking at soil health, humus in the soil is able to hold four times its weight in water, holding moisture in the wet and providing a buffer for the dry times.
■ CREATE STRENGTH THROUGH BIODIVERSITY. Diversity of crops and support plants have benefits both above and below the ground. Above the ground, different plants and canopy structures can house beneficial insects and predators. Below, they encourage microbial life, action and organic matter. Plant diversity can also be used to diversify your source of income (ie you’ll potentially sell more than one kind of crop) and stabilise the flow of funds during fluctuations in market demands.
Reef Catchments (Mackay-Whitsunday) is holding a holistic farm management course in October.
Twenty-five farmers from the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region will work with leaders in holistic and regenerative agriculture to deliver a weekend of training.
A quick one-hour video is available on our Reef Catchments YouTube channel Prepare Your Property for Climate Extremes.