Sustainability - Case studies

Sustaining our forests

See Forests NSW Bush Telegraph Magazine, Autumn 2005 issue, pp. 14-15 (www.dpi.nsw.gov.au).

Rainforests and crops

We only have to look at rainforests in Australia to understand more about sustainability.

Over the past two hundred years large areas of Australian rainforest have been cleared for agricultural, industrial and urban development. Early settlers thought that if lush green rainforest could grow in an area, their crops were sure to succeed in its place.

The diversity (large variety of plants) and density (large number of plants in an area) of rainforest suggests that it occurs on very fertile soil, but often this is not so. In tropical and subtropical areas where high rainfall occurs, the soil nutrients are rapidly carried away or leached from the topsoil by rainfall. A large proportion of rainforest nutrients are released gradually into the soil and the plants' roots rapidly absorb the nutrients again and recycle them.

When a tropical or subtropical rainforest is cleared and burnt for crop or pasture development, the crop or pasture will typically grow well for a year or two until the soil nutrients are leached away. However, crops do not store and recycle soil nutrients, making future crop growing very difficult and expensive.

The clearing of tropical or subtropical rainforest for cropping was unsustainable. Crops failed and rainforests were depleted.

Rainforest communities are today considered special biologically diverse areas with very large numbers of plant and animal species. Rainforest in Australia covers a very small amount of land, and conservation of rainforest and other unique environments involves the careful planning and management of our natural resources. Rainforest in NSW is now protected and clearing is no longer permitted.

Source: NSW DPI

Pyrolysis technology an environmental and award winner

The results of a research partnership between NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and BEST Energies grabbed national attention for their exciting environmental potential and won the partners the major 2007 World Environment Day Awards category ‘Meeting the Greenhouse Challenge’.*

The partnership was established to investigate a renewable energy technology known as 'pyrolysis', that BEST Energies had developed.

Pyrolysis involves decomposing green waste or other biomass at high temperatures without oxygen. It generates clean renewable energy plus a stable form of solid carbon called 'biochar'.

Glasshouse and pilot field trials conducted at NSW DPI’s Wollongbar Agricultural Institute have shown that biochar can significantly increase crop biomass production, while improving many soil fertility indicators.

Recent work has indicated potential for biochar to reduce soil emissions of greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide. Most importantly for the environment, soils can hold biochar long term, thereby acting as a carbon sink and reducing climate change.

The benefits of pyrolysis are such that noted Australian scientist and former Australian of the Year Tim Flannery has listed ‘fostering pyrolysis-based technologies’ in his five steps for saving the planet.

For further details see the website at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/topics/climate-change.

* The awards are run annually by the United Nations Association of Australia'

Dairy farming for the future

For dairy farming, the biggest environmental challenges are managing soil health and nutrient balances, minimising the escape of nutrients into natural water bodies, protecting on-farm waterways and remaining bushland, and avoiding excessive on-farm water use. Dairy farmers are finding new, more efficient and environmentally friendly ways to manage their land, their stock, and their business.

In areas of low rainfall, some dairy farms use irrigation to water their pastures. The main environmental risk of irrigation is soil salinity. Better irrigation techniques and salt management are aimed at reducing the risk of salt build-up in the soil, and greater conservation of water resources.

Cattle produce methane in their stomachs during the digestion of food, and release it into the atmosphere, mainly through breathing and belching. Methane emissions from livestock make up 11% of Australia’s total greenhouse emissions. Farm researchers are investigating ways to reduce greenhouse emissions by using different types and combinations of fodder. Another greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide, is being reduced by farmers by regular soil testing and using fertiliser only where it is needed, and running less stock on paddocks that are waterlogged.

Australian dairy farmers have taken the lead in environmental self-assessments, riverside restoration projects and big scale studies on minimising fertiliser use while still being productive.

Working so closely with their land and their animals has brought dairy farmers to a point where they are more aware of their responsibilities to improve and enrich their farm’s ecology.

Eighty per cent of Australia’s land area is managed by farmers, indigenous communities, and other private land managers. As a result, effectively protecting Australia's environmental resources requires managing environmental assets on private land, and engaging private land managers in this effort.

Clean water

'Clean water' is about managing our waterways and the land near our rivers and streams to make for healthier animals and healthier farms.

When riverside areas are managed well, you see less soil erosion - the soil stays in one place and doesn't trickle or slip away.

Farmers reduce soil erosion by planting trees, shrubs and grasses to increase river bank stability and then fencing off the riversides to stop stock trampling the plants.

When the soil stays put it means all the goodness is locked up in it, and the nutrients stay put too … exactly where they're needed to grow grass.

When soil and nutrients fall into rivers, the rivers become murky and it upsets the food balance for all the water-dwelling animals. Sometimes it encourages the growth of algae that can poison animals. Sometimes the murky water means that fish and other water-dwellers can't pull enough oxygen out of the water and they die.

Dairy farmers are careful to stop mucky water that has been washed down from dairies getting into rivers, streams and dams. Instead, they divert this water (it's often full of cow poo) into settling ponds to let nature clean it up. It can also be processed and recycled to irrigate and fertilise paddocks.

Healthy landscapes

Planting trees and shrubs and maintaining thick vigorous pastures all year round means many good things for birds and native animals, for other plants, for soil micro-organisms ... for cows too.

Planted in rows, trees offer shelter from wind, rain and hot sun. These shelterbelts of trees and plants make life more comfortable for the dairy cows … and the people who work with them.

Across the paddocks thick vigorous sweet pasture protects the soil and the billions of micro-organisms, worms and insects that live in it. Thick vigorous sweet pasture also provides the best feed a cow can eat; it keeps them healthy and content and assists rumination when they lie down to rest.

Down below the ground, these shelterbelts and pastures are doing more good work. Their powerful roots are pushing through the soil to drag up water. This action means that the soils do not get too soggy, or waterlogged. Nor do they get too full of salt - that’s a problem called 'soil salinity'.

A web of powerful roots deep underground also helps hold the soil together and keeps its nutrients exactly where they’re needed.

Soils become well-conditioned and able to grow better pasture. Stronger soils and better pastures are then better able to fight off attacks from weeds and harmful insects.

An added benefit of a thick shelter of trees and bushes is the protection of native animals from other animals that are trying to eat them. A lot of shelterbelts close to each other give the native animals enough space to travel through. These 'wildlife corridors' give them room to eat, live and breed without danger.

Energy-efficient dairies

Farmers don't want to stress the cows – or themselves – during milking. They need everything to be efficient, from the amount of time taken to milk the cows, right down to the power they use for milking. The easier and smoother they make the milking, the better it is for the animals and the more milk they are likely to produce.

So energy-efficient dairies make sense … as well as dollars!

If farmers spend less time milking it means they can spend more time on other things – maybe something they enjoy doing more. If the farmer employs staff to do the milking, an efficient milking shed makes for a better and safer workplace.

For the cows, the design of the shed and holding yards can improve their comfort and make them easier to handle during milking.

Energy-efficient water cooling systems and hot water systems, energy-efficient dairy plant equipment replacing old, worn parts, correctly sized coolers and heaters connected to off-peak timers, along with regular maintenance and efficiency checks, all help make the dairy run smoothly and aid to increase the farm's profits.

There are several simple changes dairy farmers can make to reduce energy use (and reduce greenhouse gas emissions). It all begins with using energy more efficiently. Dairy farmers consider things like:

• replacing mercury vapour lights with fluorescent fittings;
• locating the dairy so that it is sheltered from chilly winter winds and captures cooling summer breezes;
• designing thermal efficient dairies that keep out unwanted heat (or cold) and keep in wanted heat (or cold);
• using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions farmers ensure their cows are fed high-energy, dense and water-use-efficient pasture and other feedstuffs.

Dairy farmers design their farms to allow their cows to spend as much time as possible eating, drinking and resting, and as little time as possible in the dairy, and walking to and from the dairy.

An evenly well-lit area, using lots of natural light or energy-efficient lighting, helps cut down accidents and makes the milking process simpler. Nobody likes to be pushed and shoved in a noisy crowd in a dark place … not even cows. They want things to be s-mooooooooo-th.

Fast facts about the dairy industry

• While dairy farms can be found all over Australia, a large proportion are located in higher-rainfall areas along the southern and eastern coasts.
• The climate of south-eastern Australia is ideal for cows, which enjoy cool to warm temperatures and sufficient water for rich pastures.
• The Australian Dairy Industry provides many career opportunities for people across Australia. Related careers include veterinarians, nutritionists, stock and station agents, cheesemakers, microbiologists, lab technicians and herd managers. The Industry employs over 100 000 people.
• Australia accounts for 13% of global dairy exports. Annually, the Australian Dairy Industry exports over 225 000 tonnes of cheese, around 70 000 tonnes of butter, and around 90 000 tonnes of milk. Over 50% of Australia's dairy milk produce is exported, with two-thirds of this going to Asia, in particular Japan.

Source: 2008 Picasso Cows education program

See how students participating in the 2008 Picasso Cows education program painted their way to a new understanding about dairy farming at www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW.

Sustainability at Trangie Agricultural Research Centre

Biodiversity surveys of Trangie Agricultural Research Centre (Trangie ARC) in 1997 and 2004 have become the basis for the integration of environmental management with agricultural research and farming operations on this large (3900 ha) property in the Macquarie Valley. These surveys led to a tree planting plan and the protection of sensitive areas and animals. An Environmental Management System has since been developed to monitor all environmental impacts at Trangie ARC.

Trees

Twenty-five areas on the site have been planted with trees. Some of these areas are to remain permanently fenced to protect understorey plantings of shrubs beneath the trees. These shrubs and their characteristic fauna were identified as an important deficiency in the property's biodiversity in the original surveys. Other areas have been planted as shade for livestock, and the protective fences will be removed when the trees are big enough. Dead trees are left standing as nesting habitat for birds. Fallen timber remains on the ground to provide habitat for small animals, reptiles and other organisms. Only local species are planted such as Bimble Box, White Cypress, Yellow Box, Black Box and acacias such as Yarran. Tree planting is planned to link with existing remnant vegetation to ensure continuity of wildlife corridors.

Wetlands

There are two significant wetlands at Trangie ARC. One is a billabong and the other is a seasonal fresh water meadow. A 'billabong' is a permanent water hole in a dry watercourse. A 'seasonal fresh water meadow' is a wetland which dries up for part of each year. The fresh water meadow at Trangie ARC is a favourite nesting site for many species of water birds including brolgas, black swans, snipe, ducks, sandpipers and stilts. The brolgas are of particular interest as there are two permanently nesting pairs on the research centre site and they are considered vulnerable in some states.

Wildlife

Trangie ARC is home to over 120 species of birds and mammals of all sorts including swamp wallabies, various kangaroo species, bats, echidnas and a large variety of snakes and lizards.

Farming operations

Approximately 750 ha of land is used for dryland and irrigated cropping each year and 450 cattle and 3000 sheep also graze the property. The property has achieved ISO 14001 accreditation and this environmental management system (EMS) ensures that all grazing and cropping operations are conducted in a way that minimises any environmental impact. This includes, for example, grazing aimed at ensuring the maintenance or regeneration of native pastures and the careful use of agricultural chemicals.