One of Australia’s pioneers of Green farming Terry McCosker [pictured below] writes.
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I have just read through Natalie Williams Blog and the comments it has stimulated. As an originator of much of the “green” change which is accelerating through rural Australia I am very happy to see the quality of the debate and the similarity of ideas.
I would like to summarize what I see as some key issues which you influential people can help address.
1. Farmbiz has been a catalyst in bringing about change in rural Australia. I have data which shows that a one off $1m expenditure by Farmbiz to our clients has increased the ROA on those same people by $56m pa.
Most of this change has been brought about by reducing external chemical, fuel & fertilizer inputs and
changing the fundamental practices of land management to ones which are ecologically renewing.
One of the first actions of the “Education Revolution” party, was to scrap this investment.
2. Change does not occur without an attitudinal shift combined with motivational forces. Very high quality Education is the key to both these. One can only wonder why subsidised education is not seen as a good investment in the future.
3. I totally agree with the comments about Australian farmers having the ability to change quickly, effectively and profitably to become carbon farmers if properly incentivised.
In many regions in Australia, the Gross Margin per Ha from soil carbon sequestration can exceed the GM/ha of the production system currently running on it (@$25/t CO2e).
To achieve this, soil carbon should be included as an “opt-in” programme within the ETS. Soil carbon can be effectively measured to a 95% confidence level, NOW.
Without acceptance of soil carbon at a Fed and Kyoto level, we are losing a great deal of time we do not have to squander.
3. Extreme positions either from the rural community or an urban green community are not productive. At the centre we are aligned.
Having trained over 10,000 Australian farmers and graziers over the last 25 years, I know that our rural community is generally very concerned about the environment (Natalie & Glen are just one outstanding example).
However, just like the extreme greens, there are extreme rednecks still kicking. We must all ignore the 10 to 20% on each end of the distribution curve and get on with trying to save our planet. It desperately needs our collective help!!
Yours in positive change. Terry McCosker
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Also Published on Crikey’s Enviro Blog Rooted.
(thanks Terry – published from Comment made on the article on Agmates)
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