How can you ensure water is not being wasted?
Sometimes I wonder if we actually realise the extent to which water management influences the entire farm system? From the health of the soil, to pasture growth and production, to milk production, to holistic farm efficiency and profitability.
Fighting the good fight for water
Water use in agriculture is unavoidable but where possible, it can be decreased. If we are to have maximum impact on saving water, all water users should play their part in saving water, but the greatest impact comes from involving the role players in agriculture.
Listen to your weeds
Soil is truly amazing. If it is struggling to remedy itself, it will show you. Weeds are a symptom of conditions deteriorating soil health and resultantly, pasture health
Soil respiration: A relevant measure or just a nice idea?
Soil respiration has been extensively promoted as a simple, holistic measure of microbial activity in the soil. Simply capture and measure the amount of carbon dioxide produced by soil and you will have an idea of the metabolic activity of the life in the soil.
The value of sustainably produced milk
Support your local farmers
As consumers, we should support our local farmers by buying local produce, might I dare to say, even if it costs us more.
See your farm as a system
Nutrients are brought into the farm through the farm gate, and nutrients are removed through the farm gate. The question that needs to be asked is, are there more nutrients brought into, or removed from the farm system?
Soil health indicators: Active carbon, total carbon and porosity case study
Active carbon is the part of soil organic matter that is readily available as an energy source for soil life. It is a very good indicator of soil health, responding much faster to changes in management practices than most other indicators.
Are you continuously improving your farming practices?
Progress, growth, improvement, development, these are all words that we positively associate with business. I think most people would agree that they want to improve, progress and grow. The big question is, are you actually improving? Are the practices you currently implement contributing to the continuous improvement of your farm?
What should farmers do about biodiversity conservation then?
There are numerous practices that farmers can implement which will contribute to biodiversity conservation.