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Post by richardw on May 24, 2013 0:53:23 GMT -5
Most interesting talk,basically what Graeme Sait is saying that those who use nitrogen which decrease humus levels in soils should pay carbon tax and then farmers who manage to increase there humus levels get paid carbon credits. This would put organic growers on a level playing field with there non organic counterparts tedxtalks.ted.com/search/?search=Graeme+Sait |
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Post by steev on May 25, 2013 0:19:35 GMT -5
The basic point is that humus helps bind nitrogen; without such binding, it dissipates into the atmosphere or is washed below the root-zone of plants. This is why application of excess Nitrogen actually reduces humus, although it encourages rapid, weaker growth in "higher" plants (annual field crops).
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Post by raymondo on May 25, 2013 6:25:19 GMT -5
The farming sector alone could lock up enough carbon to avert climate disaster. Combine that with what people like Allan Savory and John Liu propose and we could transform the planet.
It won't happen though. Vested interests won't allow it.
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Post by MikeH on May 25, 2013 8:06:29 GMT -5
Vested interests won't allow it. Yep. Inertia: "We've always done it this way.", being locked in: "I can't shift to that kind of agriculture without going bankrupt. How do I manage the transition cheaply?" and risk aversion: "Better to stick with what I know than to take a chance with what I don't." We all struggle in varying degrees with each of these. |
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Post by richardw on May 25, 2013 14:40:09 GMT -5
Problem is the 'Vested interests' will loose out in the end anyway Any transition seems to be easier for some farming sectors while not so for others,here in NZ there's a growing number of diary farms converting to organic,but they are lucky enough that the payout for milk solids are high enough to see them through that two-three year period of poor animal heath due to drug dependency. A sheep farming friend of mine who runs a 3000 head mob watched the video talk by Allan Savory www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpTHi7O66pI he was so impressed by what he had to say that he i going to run his farm based more around mob stocking of his paddocks instead of spreading out the animals over his farm. |
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Post by raymondo on May 25, 2013 21:56:23 GMT -5
... A sheep farming friend of mine who runs a 3000 head mob watched the video talk by Allan Savory www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpTHi7O66pI he was so impressed by what he had to say that he i going to run his farm based more around mob stocking of his paddocks instead of spreading out the animals over his farm. Many of the sheep and cattle farmers in my region have moved over to holistic management as defined by Allan Savory. Courses here are run by the Landcare groups. Those who have converted are more than happy with the results - healthier pastures, sometimes dramatically so, fewer health issues with the stock, reduced costs and therefore better profits and, importantly, a good level of drought-proofing. Farmers here talk about visible changes to pasture health after only a single year. Your sheep farmer friend won't regret the move, but he should find himself a course in holistic management so that he goes into it well-armed with knowledge. |
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Post by richardw on May 26, 2013 1:01:45 GMT -5
It sounds like you fella's are way ahead in thinking out side the square than the average kiwi cockie,i suppose because the ozie farmer has to deal with far greater environmental extremes than here.
I dont know if there are any courses in holistic management Ray,there may well be but i haven't heard of any.
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Post by MikeH on May 26, 2013 3:05:38 GMT -5
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Post by rowan on May 26, 2013 4:06:50 GMT -5
Problem is the 'Vested interests' will loose out in the end anyway. Yeah but that doesn't matter as it will be someone elses problem then  |
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Post by richardw on May 26, 2013 14:32:05 GMT -5
Top marks there Mike,amazing what you can find when you go looking ;D .i'll forward on those links a me farmer mate |
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Post by MikeH on May 27, 2013 2:29:15 GMT -5
Top marks there Mike,amazing what you can find when you go looking ;D .i'll forward on those links a me farmer mate No really. Ever since watching the Allan Savory video, I've been on the Holistic Management mailing list. There was something in my in tray that led directly to the NZ sites. Nonetheless, hopefully your friend will find something useful. It certainly seems to be a productive and land healthier approach to raising livestock. |
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Post by raymondo on May 27, 2013 4:32:20 GMT -5
It sounds like you fella's are way ahead in thinking out side the square than the average kiwi cockie,i suppose because the ozie farmer has to deal with far greater environmental extremes than here... The farmers around where I live have been looking at this sort of thing for a good number of years, thanks in large part to the Landcare movement. However, the same cannot be said elsewhere in the country. In general, take up among farmers is slow. Many have to be at the brink before they'll look at change. I guess that's true about all of us. Change is easiest when catastrophe strikes. |
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