Kicking veg goals

Original story at Stock Journal

AUSTRALIAN farmers revegetated almost 70 million hectares of agricultural land in 2011-12, mainly for livestock production.
The figures are contained in a new report released by the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) titled “Agricultural Resource Management Practices, Australia, 2011-12”.

ABS director of the Rural Environment and Agricultural Statistics Branch, Helen Baird, said while the ABS had published farm land management statistics in the past, this report was the most comprehensive stocktake of land management practices to date.

“We found that 3.7 million hectares of agricultural land had soil enhancers applied to improve the soil, this was mostly in Western Australia,” Ms Baird said.

According to the report, a total of 68.9 million hectares of agricultural land had some sort of vegetation management practices applied.

Of this total, around 43.8 million hectares, or 64 per cent of the total, had a reduction in grazing pressure as the method to protect or regenerate vegetation.

Of that, 16.9 million hectares, or 39pc of all agricultural land with reduced grazing pressure, was in Queensland.

Weed management was undertaken on around 14.7 million hectares, with just under 3 million hectares being managed in NSW and around 2.7 million hectares in the Northern Territory (20pc and 18pc respectively).

Fencing off or excluding stock was undertaken on around 3.8 million hectares of agricultural land in Australia, with around a third being undertaken in Western Australia.

The report states that based upon land area, the main purposes for revegetation of land were livestock production (54pc), environmental purposes (44pc) and plantation for harvest (1pc).

Some 8200 agricultural businesses or 6pc of total agricultural businesses in Australia reported converting land to be used for a different purpose.

Of the 1.8 million hectares converted, around 874,000 hectares of pasture were converted to crop, or 48pc of land converted.

The report also includes information on fertiliser use, livestock, crop and pasture management as well as more unique topics such as feral animal management practices.

The data will be used in conjunction with other information to assist with developing and implementing policies and programs on agricultural land management practices and decision making in relation to the federal government’s Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI).

National Farmers’ Federation CEO Matt Linnegar said that the data shows just how important a role Australia’s 157,000 farmers play in managing the natural environment.

“70 million hectares is 10 per cent of Australia’s landmass, or almost the size of NSW – all of which, says the ABS report, has had its vegetation protected or regenerated by farmers,” Mr Linnegar said.

“The two main reasons for this were for livestock production and for environmental protection, which shows that agricultural productivity and looking after the environment can go hand in hand.

“The report also shows that weed management and fencing off or excluding stock are both important practices that farmers undertake on their farms to help look after their land.

“A second report, also by the ABS, has found that almost one third of Australian agricultural businesses set aside 8.4 million hectares, or an area bigger than Tasmania, on their own properties for conservation – and where natural environments existed, over half of all these businesses protected these areas for conversation purposes.

“These two reports reaffirm what we already know: that farmers care deeply about the land they work on, and that the sustainability of the natural resources that farmers rely on – land, water and air – are critical factors for Australia’s agricultural sector.

“All up, Australian farmers own, manage and care for more than half of Australia’s land, which means they really are at the frontline of delivering environmental outcomes on behalf of the Australian community.

“Farmers are active participants in programs like the national Landcare program – founded 24 years ago by the NFF and the Australian Conservation Foundation – undertaking sound land management practices and sustainable productivity.

“In fact, according to a recent survey by the National Landcare Facilitator, some 93 per cent of Australian farmers practice Landcare on their farms.”