Adopting management to support and increase soil carbon on a continuous basis is vital for supporting a multitude of ecosystem functions but does not guarantee soil carbon increases are permanent.
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Flying is an example of greenhouse gas emissions activity that will not achieve net zero by 2050. It’s emissions are likely to increase over the next 20 years. Terrestial CO2 abatement is not a long-term solution as the farm land it takes place on is needed for food production and to support the planet’s ecosystem functions.
Read MoreA comparison of two councils climate emergency plans one with emission reduction targets, the other without them.
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Diversified clover herb ryegrass pastures need specific management to maintain composition, livestock performance and lower methane emissions.
Read MoreBy Patrick Francis In October 2023 the Macedon Ranges Shire Council requested submissions about its Draft Climate Emergency Plan 2023
Read MoreWinter spring 2023 has produced exciting results with wildlife, pastures and Wiltipoll flock performance.
Read MoreThe Macedon Ranges Shire Council had an opportunity to give its residents an enlightened road safety plan to enhance living in a rural setting and interacting with nature. Instead its plan continues to prioritise driver convenience above public and wildlife safety on rural roads close to shire towns.
Read MoreEmission Reduction Fund soil carbon projects are proliferating on Australian farms despite warnings from scientists they are not providing permanent carbon abatement.
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If re-written with a vision to embrace solutions to lower greenhouse gas emissions, abate carbon dioxide, use nature to address the Climate and Biodiversity emergencies, and encourage local food production, the Romsey Structure Plan would provide a blue print for sustainable development within town boundaries across the shire and give resident families the life styles they move to the shire to experience.
Read MoreA farming system in which inadequate nutrients limit crop/pasture productivity, microbial activity and maintenance of SOM clearly requires a paradigm shift.
Read MoreEvidence is mounting that multi-species pasture gives a lift to ruminant livestock productivity per hectare compared with monoculture pasture while at the same time increasing paddock ecosystem services and reducing methane emissions per kg of carcase weight.
Read MoreWildlife rescues and road kills increasing as vehicle drivers maximum speed limit remains unaltered in wildlife hot spots.
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Draft Local Community Laws 2023 seem to ignore impacts to residents and visitors of inappropriate driver speed on minor rural roads, local light planes, and inadequate weed and feral animal control.
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The results of the Page Witts survey indicates that amongst farmers themselves what their methods are called means very little, it is the direction they are heading and outcomes achieved in conjunction with nature that is important.
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New UK research shows farmers are not only willing to set aside parts of their land for nature, but that incentivizing them to do so will cost less than current financial incentives.
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By Patrick Francis It’s been a spring like no other ever experienced with four consecutive months rainfall above 100mm. It
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The Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Draft Rural Land Use Strategy fails to incorporate climate change abatement, carbon and biodiversity farming, and local food production as key issues for future landholders.
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Sheep and cattle pasture intake is impacted by a range of complex interactions associated with plant biology and animal physiology, by providing livestock with greater choice they eat more, grow better and paddock biodiversity with all its ecosystem services implications is enhanced.
Read MoreBy James Nason Scientists from around the world gathered in Dublin in October 2022 to examine negative claims regularly levelled
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Intensive livestock grazing which incorporates holistic management will support and improve grassland biodiversity; destocking can lead t biodiversity decline.
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To feed and nourish the whole world, we will need to significantly increase the productivity of small-scale livestock systems.
Read MoreLivestock manures can be a cost effective alternative to inorganic fertilisers but must be applied at rates which counter growth limiting nutrients.
Read MoreThe soil treatments with the lowest cost of producing extra pasture were those that addressed first limiting nutrients.
Read MoreTwo new publications about the science of soil carbon abatement do not align well with the optimism amongst carbon project facilitators for achieving permanent, commercially large increases through changing land management practices.
Read MoreWildlife road kills continue on minor rural roads west of Romsey which have a default 100km per hour maximum speed limit when the safe speed for wildlife, pedestrians and cyclists is less that 50km per hour.
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Natural Capital improvement on farms has been recognised as an important component of management by the NSW government.
Read MoreWildlife taking advantage of improving natural capital on Moffitts Farm are being killed by vehicles on surrounding roads.
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Moffitts Farm is now selling Wiltipoll ewe lambs and prime lambs with carbon neutral credentials.
Read MoreThe Romsey Structure Plan Options and Scenarios fail to account for their housing estates greenhouse production and the lost opportunity to sequester greenhouse gases and recover biodiversity with enlightened farm land use change around the town.
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The Textile Exchange’s Regenerative Agriculture Landscape Analysis contends there are significant difference between farmers who adopt RA while CSIRO’s Mark Farrell says the approaches to soil health and quality are similar.
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When carbon credits are sold off the farm to a third party, the farm business cannot then claim them for accessing carbon neutral markets.
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By managing pasture species and mass we are able to minimise our sheep flock’s methane emissions as well as improve growth rates. Plus interesting developments with bull ants and echidnas.
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Shire town residents are increasingly using nearby minor rural roads for exercise and nature observation, it means a new era of vehicle speed restrictions is required to protect public safety.
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Historically soil health mostly meant how much organic matter is in soil. But organic matter changes slowly. Microbes change fast.
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This FAO report provides an important scientific account of the role of soil biota in the soil food web and carbon flow between the atmosphere, plants and soil.
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Changing grazing and land management practices to bolster ecosystem functions is positive for the environment but may not necessarily lead into trading soil carbon.
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The Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s draft Road Management Plan takes no account of increasing numbers of pedestrians on some minor rural roads and increased wildlife population on roadside verges and surrounding farm and public land. It provides no data on vehicle road maintenance diesel use and their greenhouse gas emissions trends.
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