Many farmers view knockdown herbicides as crucial for ensuring food security and sustaining their livelihoods. Knockdown herbicides, such as glyphosate, are widely used in Australian agriculture as a cost-effective method to suppress weed growth before planting crops. They are also popular with home gardeners. According to an...
Anyone with a farm that runs dairy cows or livestock is keenly aware that a natural byproduct is an excess of manure and slurries. The amount of waste produced depends on the breed, the amount of feed, the extent of animal confinement, and the animals' weight....
Adding humates to your fertiliser applications is an excellent way of boosting plant growth. Humates work by stimulating the root system and boosting the nutrient uptake of plants. Common nutrients found in conventional fertilisers, such as phosphorus, zinc, and Iron, work that little bit harder with...
In the world of sustainable agriculture, maintaining healthy soil is paramount. Recent research has shed light on the pivotal role of microbes in determining soil's carbon storage capacity. Supporting the microbial health of your soil offers a promising avenue for dealing with climate change and...
Daryl and Trudi Hammond run a large dairy farm milking around 450 to 500 cows daily. Located at Buln Buln, just out of Warragul in West Gippsland Victoria, the farm has been in Trudi Hammond’s family for more than 50 years. Open to new ideas, they're...
We know that Australian farmers are already efficient and effective at managing their resources. In the Australian climate, you have to be. But it’s no secret that much of our soil is tired. Chemical fertilisers, pesticides, pollution, erosion, and intensive agriculture have stretched healthy soils...
More and more, Australian croppers are realising the benefits of a better approach to stubble management by retaining crop stubble. After all, why burn stubble when you can use it to build carbon in the soil and boost its nutrient-holding capacity? Not only can stubble enrich the...
When we think of New Zealand, we often beautiful and breathtaking landscapes and pristine waterways. Unfortunately, a 2020 study by the NZ Government revealed that 60% of the country’s rivers are seriously polluted. In pastoral, urban, and non-native forested areas, the picture is even worse. In...
No doubt every farmer in Australia is aware of the big jump in the price of fertiliser. We’ve all read the headlines. This recent fertiliser price hike is mainly due to a shortage in supply and increases in energy and global urea costs. Also having an impact on...
I spend a lot of my time visiting farms and speaking to farmers about how to measure the health of their farming enterprises. Many are now wanting to adopt a more sustainable approach to managing their land and livestock. And while ‘sustainability’ covers the quality of...