Further Fertiliser Warnings

In a similar vein to last week's opening newsletter article, the UK is forecasting a fertiliser famine with fears that fertiliser supplies may actually completely run out, and it could be 2 years before the problem eases. One distributor claims that 'The answer is to get the orders in early. We are working very closely with our distributors to make sure that we can satisfy as many of our customers as we can.'

In Australia, farmers are being warned that conventional fertiliser prices cannot be set until 2 weeks before a shipment lands, leaving retail prices open to wide fluctuations and influence from international markets.

Fertiliser Research Centre

I wonder what sort of research will happen in this Australia first fertiliser research centre? Will alternative 'fertilisers' and methods be included?

Global Soil Change Acknowledged

"Global soil change" due to human activities is a major component of what some experts say should be recognized as a new period of geologic time: the Anthropocene, or human-made, age. As the amount of depleted and damaged soils increases, global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, and other materials are also being affected. Soil degradation plays much a larger role in climate change, for example, than was previously suspected. That's because organic matter in soils store vast amounts of carbon-more than is present in the atmosphere and in all land vegetation combined. Yes, yes, yes!!

Carbon Tax on Meat?

PETA is holding some very public campaigns pushing for a carbon tax on meat, and the evidence is damning - The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization found in 2006 that livestock production generates 18% of greenhouse gases worldwide - more than the entire transportation sector of cars, trucks, planes, and ships combined. But one organic grower sensibly suggests that repealing subsidies instead of taxing consumption is a better way. It would be good if PETA also distinguished between the carbon footprint of conventional factory farming and sustainable natural farming.

Clean Coal Technology Faltering

Five years ago the Bush administration set out to build a commercial-scale coal-fire plant that would emit no carbon dioxide, but the budget has nearly doubled in that time, and the project is undergoing changes. Despite the coal industry being desperate to see the technology working, many experts say that neither the original plan nor the revamped effort, nor the few projects underway in other countries, are sufficient to set the stage for pumping tens of billions of tons of compressed carbon dioxide into the earth or sea bed starting 10 or 20 years from now.

Drugged Meat

An antibiotic arsenic compound, roxarsone, has been used in the chicken industry since the 1960s to produce pinker, healthier, bigger-breasted birds by promoting the growth of blood vessels, but has been found to be doing the same thing in humans. "It's a process called angiogenesis, a common growth process, but also one that occurs in many diseases and cancers." Of course the industry still argues its safe. I do not know if it has/is used in Australia, but the European Union declared the use of roxarsone undesirable in 1999, and its members no longer use it.

GM Impoverishes Farmers

The vice-president of Canada's National Farmers Union says the introduction of genetically modified canola in his homeland more than a decade ago has impoverished farmers and led to an exodus from the land. He also states that it has been impossible in Canada to segregate modified and conventional canola. The conventional canola was deemed GM because of cross-contamination (hence part of the reason for the decline in conventional canola used to support GM in the last newsletter). "Farmers who embrace genetically modified crops will become slaves to biotechnology companies."

In the meantime the repercussions of the lifting of the NSW and Victorian GM moratoriums are certainly worrying. The BFA has put forward a number of issues that now have to be addressed by the organic industry - but interestingly it shows up some huge holes in the legal protection of GM growers themselves. Of course, at the end of the day the suppliers are pretty much immune to any legal comeback... This bulletin also lists upcoming dates and venues for the Canadian growers talks about their experiences with GM canola.

South Australia Continues GM Moratoria

South Australia has joined Western Australia and Tasmania in extending their bans on genetically modified crops, claiming the move would threaten the "clean green" status of the State's wine and food industry with many new marketing signals suggesting that remaining GM-free would provide substantial benefits.

In retaliation, the experts say Australian farmers should be provided with every technology, whether GM or not, to help overcome the ravaging effects of drought and salinity. Which is curious given that GM is only offering pest resistance and the ability to spray herbicides at this stage, and actual drought and salinity plant improvements are leaping ahead using conventional breeding programs. Besides, I still maintain, why not rehydrate and desalinise whole landscapes, not just a few species of plants?

First Evidence of Pest Resistance in GM

I thought that pest resistance to first generation Bt cotton had already been discovered, but this article states that scientists have only just confirmed that insects have developed resistance to transgenic crops. "This is the first documented case of field-evolved resistance to a Bt crop."

Corporate Agriculture

Could this be the future? Australian agriculture transformed into a giant corporation run by an 11-member board. How alarming at every level of consideration, but the signs are there. Even our local Federal representative sees it coming.

Market Demands

It all about producing what the consumer wants, and times are certainly changing rapidly. Unmulsed wool is suddenly becoming a brand that is going to differentiate growers.

Geomantica Newsletter

The latest Geomantica Newsletter has been posted and covers stories and evidence of ancient Irish gods, natural architecture, the purpose behind ancient balancing rocks and a list of upcoming dowsing events in Victoria, South Australia, NSW, England and Ireland.

Land to Build Up Organic Cattle

I have been alerted to an unique opportunity for a young couple or family to build up their own cattle herd on a beautiful intensively developed 530ha organic property 65km east of Armidale NSW. The conditions are fully negotiable - the last family stayed for 10 years and are now moving into town to educate their teenagers. The idea is to build up their herd alongside the owners. Contact me for further details.

Farm Day Hosts Needed

Farmer-hosts are being sought for Farm Day 2008, where city dwellers visit a farm for a day.

E-Concepts by GRDC

Innovators from the public and private sectors are encouraged to submit an E-concept proposal, outlining ideas that may contribute significantly to GRDC objectives. Innovation is defined as a new idea, methodology, practice, technology, product or service not previously considered for implementation by the grains industry.

NSW Grassland Annual Conference

The NSW Grassland Annual conference will be held at Tamworth, July 21-23, but unfortunately no further information is available yet on their website.

Tropical Grass Tour

Lester McCormick, Technical Specialist Pastures with the NSW Department of Primary Industries is organising a tour of tropical grass research and commercial sites. Dates to be confirmed in April. Contact him on 02 6785 1790.

International Year of Planet Earth 2008

On February 12-13, the International Year of Planet Earth will be officially launched at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, and includes a soils brochure titled ‘Soil - Earth's living skin'. The Australian Society of Soil Science and the New Zealand Society of Soil Science will hold a meeting from December 1-5 in conjunction with the International Year of Planet Earth 2008 of the same theme.

Mental Health Forum

Sofenica - Part 30

Another feature we were very keen to have incorporated into the landscape was an open fire pit for a few reasons. Firstly, an open fire brings back wonderful camping/outdoor memories and is an excellent way to get a group of people together on a cold winters night to swap yarns. We were also conscious of the fact that we have daughters growing into show ponies who love to pull a concert together, and a mum who can take centre stage every now and then!

Copeton Dam, a recreation park outside Inverell has some sunken fire pits with circular seating that really appealed to us, so we started to concoct a functional outdoor entertainment area. We have ended up with a sunken fire pit (dark grey) which rolls out into a stage (medium grey), with wrap around raised seating (light grey) for our appreciative audiences...

The beauty of the placement of this feature in the architectural plan is that it can be viewed from our house verandah and becomes one with our overall gardenscape, but also makes the water feature a backdrop to the stage.

With a few night cicadas, crystal clear starry nights and a cool breeze the performance will no doubt be spectacular!

Health

Science Used to Aid Big Business

There is an investigation into claims that a science consulting company "manufactures uncertainty" on behalf of chemical companies to help keep their products free from government bans or other restrictions. Many of their clients are large multinationals who manufacture a range of chemicals already under scrutiny.

Aspartame Banned?!

A set of bills before the Hawaii State Legislature would ban aspartame - known also by brand names NutraSweet and Equal - as soon as Jan. 1! Public hearings are taking place, which include many of the anti-aspartame stories. Of course science is saying there is no evidence that it is unsafe, but amusingly a diabetic has stood up to say that if aspartame was taken away from him - what would he do? Personally, I would suggest he reduce his 'sugar craving' habits and get to the bottom of the problem.

Saccharin and Weight Gain

Rat trials are confirming the unexpected association between obesity and diet soda found in recent human studies. That study showed that people who drink diet soda have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome - a cluster of symptoms including obesity - than do people who drink regular soda.

Austim is Not Just Genetic

There is a swath of news items linking autism to genes, but in fact only 1% of autistic children fit this theory. Given the dramatic increase in autism in recent years, the likelihood of environmental triggers is overwhelming.

Further Cholesterol Myths

Apart from very misleading advertising, the manipulation into lowering acceptable cholesterol levels has created enormous profits for the pharmaceutical companies, but left a path of human destruction behind. Drugs should always be an absolute last resort. Doing some research would be an ideal first step - for example, cholesterol is made and used by the body for very good reasons (producing cell membranes, hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help you digest fats) - so low cholesterol is likely to produce problems.

Early Puberty

And following on from changing levels to fit a purpose - as more and more girls are starting to hit puberty earlier and earlier, there is interest in changing the definition of what is considered the 'normal' age for puberty onset down to 8 years old....bizarre really. This will effectively mask the fact that any changes are occurring too.

Creating a Market for a Drug

A New York Times article has stirred up controversy about a new drug hitting the market. It proved unsuccessful for diabetic nerve pain, so has been repackaged for a completely new 'disease' - fibromyalgia, an essentially untapped market for drugs and huge profits.

Acrylamide Dangers

It is not just trans-fats that are a concern in cooked food, but a chemical acrylamide, which is being linked to breast cancer. Acrylamide is a carcinogen created when starchy foods are baked, roasted, fried or toasted.

Mixing Food and Drugs

Kraft Foods is developing a food which will de-worm humans and is targeting its product to developing countries. It doesn't sound too appetising to me!

Events

For all February events

For all March events

* Mental Health Forum, Warialda NSW 15th March 2008.

* NSW Grasslands Annual Conference, Tamworth NSW 21st - 23rd July 2008.

* Soil, The Living Skin of Planet Earth, Palmerston, New Zealand 1st - 5th December 2008.

Postscript

Installing Love