Agriculture the Global Winner

Years of economic growth have hit two walls at once: the availability of cheap resources to feed the economy, and the ability of the earth's ecosystem to absorb human impacts. As a result, sustainability, not growth, will become the new driver of global economics, and agriculture occupies a commanding position in the new economics. "Industrial emissions are only a small part of the entire carbon cycle, so we will need major tweaks to industry to make a difference on that count. You can make minor tweaks to agriculture to increase carbon sequestration in the soil, and have a very large impact."

Grazing Soils Can Mop Up CO2

Simple changes in grazing practices could soak up millions of tons of carbon a year, helping fight climate change, improving farm productivity and earning farmers carbon credits. "Most carbon-sequestering practices also have other benefits. Increasing soil carbon content will generally improve soil fertility" a World Agroforestry Center report says, leading to increased livestock productivity.

An Unfolding Holistic Story

I have posted up Ochre Archives over the years which tracks the adventures of a farming couple in Grenfell NSW. The adventure of course continues, but a consolidated story about their progress so far has been posted on the Holistic Management International Australia website. Some great observations, and improvements that may trigger ideas for many others.

Carbon Cocky at Braidwood

Braidwood farmer Martin Royds has embraced progressive farming techniques and been rewarded for them. Not only does he have long native grasses, fat cattle and water in the soil, he's also received the "Carbon Cocky award for East of the Divide ". He and Trish Solomon are using holistic management, biological farming, biodynamics, natural sequence farming and Landcare. What a magic combination!!

Comparing Agricultural Journals 1775 - 2005

Modern Australian agricultural periodicals rely heavily on the language of conflict; ‘Winning the War on Weeds' is a recent headline that would not cause any raised eyebrows...in contrast the 400 page ‘The Compleat Body of Husbandry' published in 1759 has a mere four pages devoted to weeds. The underlying theme of improvement through nurture leaps off the page. It is interesting to ponder that war is the armed conflict that follows a breakdown in communication between two states that have become hostile towards each other because of competing interests. Wonderful food for thought.

Green Revolution Collapse

Farmers in the state of Punjab abandoned traditional farming methods in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the national program called the "Green Revolution" and were pressured to only grow high-yield wheat, rice and cotton instead of their traditional mix of crops. But these thirsty crops needed much more water than natural rainfall could provide and now groundwater supplies are drying up and more salt is being brought to the surface. And suicide is coming through national policies that reward farmers for the very practices that destroy the environment and trap them in debt.

US Govt Subsidising Drought

Two Depression-era US government programs have been paying some of the nation's biggest farms hundreds of millions of dollars to grow water-thirsty crops in what was once desert, and are now the most seriously drought-stricken states in the West. One program pays farmers for planting water-needy crops such as cotton and rice, which are largely grown by flooding the fields. The other provides cut-rate water for irrigation. As the recession intensifies and mandatory water rationing hits some cities, the issue is taking on new urgency.

The Beauty of Damaras

I am constantly learning new things. I was recently sent the latest newsletter from Vic and Judy Forbes talking about their obvious love affair with Damaras - I must say the conversation is rather convincing - they even have pinups. Compared to sheep, Damaras certainly appear to be robust, and their eating habits seem to protect them reasonably well from worms. 

Germany Bans GM Corn

Germany has thrown its weight behind a growing European mutiny over genetically modified crops by banning the planting of a widely grown pest-resistant corn variety. Their Agriculture minister said there was enough evidence to support arguments that MON 810, which is the only GM crop widely grown in Europe, posed a danger. Lobbyists for the biotechnology industry in Germany warned that it would prompt biotechnology companies to relocate to other parts of the world. But isn't that the same threat being made in all countries? Who's bluffing who?

Direct Witness Evidence of GM Crops

ISIS have exposed the lies and half-truths concerning the performance of GM crops in the past partly by asking protesting citizens to photograph field trials or problems caused by GM crops near them, which they make available to the public and policy-makers. This kind of direct witness evidence is very important; but is inadequately and only sporadically documented. They are now asking for your help in assembling witness evidence that may be just what's needed to make the case for a global ban on environmental releases of GMOs. It makes sense and is likely to work in a court of law - read on.

Duckweed for Ethanol

Duckweed could be a faster and cheaper resource than corn for the production of ethanol, and can be used to clean up animal waste at pig farms, as well as municipal wastewater. Duckweed on pig wastewater can produce five to six times more starch per hectare than corn.

Green Energy vs Coal

Whoops, he told the truth! Two weeks ago Professor Peter Newman, a member of the Rudd Government's Infrastructure Australia body, overstepped the mark and was severely reprimanded. He went public in calling for the government to scrap plans for doubling Newcastle's coal exporting capacity because this will contribute to global warming. Guy Pearse, author of 'High and Dry' has documented how hard and effectively leaders of the resources industry have worked to keep our collective quarry vision alive, magnifying its economic value to Australia's economy, coopting parliamentarians of all political persuasions to the cause and forming environmental ‘front' organisations to ‘greenwash' the industry's image. Looks like coal is the main/real agenda in this country, not alternative energy.

Turning Off Electricity to Prevent Fires

Eager to avoid wildfires, and the ensuing lawsuits, officials of San Diego County's chief power utility have hatched a disputed plan to deal with one potential fire source: downed power lines. If electrical wires can cause fires when winds and temperatures are high, the officials say, then electricity itself will have to go. Power will be turned off when there is low moisture, high temperatures and sustained winds of at least 35 miles an hour.

Greening Up Nanotechnology

The end product may seem sleek, modern and clean, but it takes energy and chemicals to get there. But it is acknowledged that there are challenges - especially when no one knows the fate of nanoparticles - whether they biodegrade or how they interact with the environment.

Greenwashing

The labels on 98% of those good-for-the-earth-and-your-body items you fill your shopping basket with are lying, a new study shows. A new trend involves companies suggesting they have obtained third-party certification, usually by marking a product with an official-looking stamp that includes language such as "eco-safe."

Green Roofs Mandatory

Toronto is poised to become the first city in North America to make green roofs mandatory on most new buildings and set standards for their construction. The benefits include "reducing the urban heat island effect and energy consumption; improving air quality and storm water management and creating opportunities for biodiversity and habitat creation and beautification of the city."

Syntropy vs Entropy

I have just been made aware that Hugh Lovel will be presenting at the BFA Organic Roadshows in Melbourne (12th May) and Adelaide (15th May) - with an emphasis on syntropy, as opposed to entropy....now that is some thing worthwhile getting your heads around!

What's New...

I have just been alerted to some new biological products on the market that sound interesting - TagTeam and JumpStart by Novozymes. TagTeam is a combination of a fungal phosphorus solubiliser and a bacterial nitrogen-fixer (specific to different legume groups). A combination of soil biology that many have been seeking - N and P elaborators together. JumpStart only has the phosphorus solubilisers in it, but is recommended for legumes and some non-legumes (e.g. canola, wheat and sorghum). This phosphorus solubliser is a Penicillum, which is different to other VAM products that I know of on the market.

Pathways to Perfect Health

Nutri-Tech Solutions are holding a 1/2-day seminar that includes prostate empowerment 22nd May in Yandina - FOR FREE! Prostate cancer is about to become the largest killer of Australian men. Discover a group of strategies to maintain prostate wellness and associated sexual health.  Pathways to Health May 09 20/04/2009,02:58 132.56 Kb

Small Farm Field Day

The day will include information on the following issues affecting pigs, goats, cattle, horses and sheep: dealing with worm; vaccinations and drenching; how to avoid diseases; nutrition; NLIS for cattle; the 'pig pass'; what to feed; tagging sheep and goats; fire planning. Inverell 9th May.  Small Farm Field Day  20/04/2009,03:29 25.00 Kb

Bus Trip with Tim Flannery

You are invited on a bus trip with Tim Flannery to two inspiring Bathurst district landholders who have carried out projects with the Central West CMA including biodiversity plantings, riparian protection and salinity control; as well as pasture cropping, no kill cropping, gully control and farming by the sun! 14th May Bathurst.

Farming for Resilience

A one-day forum (14th May) and a half-day field day (15th May) in Inverell presenting farmers and consultants who are making the conversion to biological farming successfully. From the small to large, pastures to cropping, temperate to arid. Many speakers are now at the cutting edge of agricultural change because of their observations and experiments, with one farmer even earning a Masters degree and another publishing a book, recently launched by the Wentworth Group. Guaranteed to be an inspiring day.

Health

Don't Kill the Good Bugs

Clostridium difficile, a contagious and potentially deadly bacterium, is often spurred by antibiotics. The drugs wipe out the targeted illness, like a urinary tract or upper respiratory infection, but they also kill off large portions of the healthy bacteria that normally live in the digestive tract and keep C. difficile in check. The rate of C. difficile infection among hospital patients doubled from 2001 to 2005, with internet support groups even starting to flourish.

Allergies to Fruit and Vegetables

Cases of oral allergies to fruit and vegetables are rapidly increasing, and appears to be outstripping even peanut allergies. Whilst allergy to hay fever is seasonal, allergy to fruit and vegetables can continue all the year round. There are suspicions that pollution may be a factor.

Disappearing Males

A trade case with Canada highlights the evidence linking everyday products to the feminization and outright disappearance of males from every species - including ours. The ability to use the precautionary principle is interestingly tested in this case.

Protest Against Drug Money in Education

Two hundred Harvard Medical School students are confronting the school's administration, demanding an end to pharmaceutical industry influence in the clssroom. The students were joined by Dr. Marcia Angell, a faculty member and former editor in chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, who has vigorously advocated for an end to liaisons between academia and Big Pharma.

Big Food Tactics and Obesity

An interest in food, obesity and the strategies used by big tobacco years prior has resulted in a paper entitled: "The Perils of Ignoring History: Big Tobacco Played Dirty and Millions Died. How Similar Is Big Food?" The common strategies include dismissing as "junk science" peer-reviewed studies showing a link between their products and disease; paying scientists to produce pro-industry studies; sowing doubt in the public's mind about the harm caused by their products; intensive marketing to children and adolescents; frequently rolling out supposedly "safer" products and vowing to regulate their own industries; denying the addictive nature of their products; and lobbying with massive resources to thwart regulatory action. Phew!

Gardasil Warning

Imagine the idea of mandating/forcing all girls to be vaccinated with Gardasil? Attempts are already being made in America. This short video methodically steps through all the problems being experienced with this vaccine. 32 girls have already died.

Cartoon

Again, not quite cartoons - but they are posted up as a public service, so you won't have a heart attack when this apparent Japanese fashion rage hits Australia (yes, they are printed skirts!).

Miscellaneous

There are plenty of reasons to hate spammers. Spammers are a scourge to your inbox and the environment, generating an astounding 62 trillion junk e-mails in 2008 that waste enough electricity to power 2.4 million U.S. homes for a year.

Events

The calendar is playing up, so most of the links below are directed back to other websites where possible or to a contact email address. 

For all April events

For all May events

* Small Farm Field Day - Inverell NSW This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

* BFA Networking Dinner - Melbourne Vic 12th May 2009.

* Bus Trip with Tim Flannery - Bathurst NSW 14th May 2009.

* Farming for Resilience - Inverell NSW 14-15th May 2009.

* BFA Organic Roadshow - Adelaide SA 15th May 2009.

* Pathways to Perfect Health - Yandina Qld This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Postscript

Male or Female? - in many languages non-living objectives are considered either masculine or feminine. English has some examples too:

Freezer bags: are male, because they hold everything in...but you can see right through them.

Photcopiers: are female, because once turned off...it takes a while to warm them up again. They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed...but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong button.

Tires: are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated.

Hot Air Balloons: also male objects, because to get them to go anywhere...you have to light a fire under their butt.

Sponges: are female, because they are soft...squeezable and retain water.

Web Pages: are female, because they are constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.

Trains: definitely male, because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.

Egg Timers: female, because...over time...all the weight shifts to the bottom.

Hammers: male, because in the last 5000 years...they've hardly changed at all...and are occasionally handy to have around.

The Remote Control: female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male...but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it...and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push...he just keeps trying.