ID :
10757
Wed, 06/25/2008 - 12:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10757
The shortlink copeid
Farmers can help with climate change
(AAP) Farmers can make a huge contribution to the problems of climate change, federal parliament has been told.
The big difficulty is how to measure the carbon stored in the soil through changed
tilling and cropping practices.
NSW independent MP Tony Windsor, a farmer, kicked off a rare non-partisan
parliamentary debate on Tuesday by urging both sides to put politics to one side
when considering an emissions trading scheme.
"If we end up with a politicised debate for short-term advantage, we will be doing
Australia a great disservice," he said.
Mr Windsor said the government must recognise the role agriculture could play in
dealing with climate change.
He said wheat farmers in Walgett and sorghum growers in the Darling Downs had
greatly increased yields by not tilling their soils.
The change reduced erosion, held moisture better and kept carbon stored in the soil
rather than releasing it into the atmosphere.
There'd also been massive gains in organic matter, which also stored carbon, by
changing cropping practices.
Deep-rooted perennial crops - like prairie grass now being used in the United States
- stored carbon at depth.
The problem, however, was how to measure the stored carbon.
Mr Windsor said the CSIRO was still basing its measurements on old farming methods
and the government should be working with farmers across Australia to find new
techniques.
Agriculture Minister Tony Burke largely agreed with Mr Windsor.
He said no-till and mini-till methods, which went against the tradition of "ripping
the soil to shreds", captured more carbon.
The problem, from an emissions trading point of view, was you had to know how much
was being stored and this was extraordinarily difficult.
"If you are going to trade, you have to be able to measure," he said.
However more research was going into ways to improve measurements.
Mr Burke said livestock were the biggest farm emitters but again there were
measurement problems.
However there may be ways to reduce emissions through feed and breeding.
Mr Burke warned that one of the biggest problems for farmers from climate change
would be the increase in pests, diseases and weeds.
The big difficulty is how to measure the carbon stored in the soil through changed
tilling and cropping practices.
NSW independent MP Tony Windsor, a farmer, kicked off a rare non-partisan
parliamentary debate on Tuesday by urging both sides to put politics to one side
when considering an emissions trading scheme.
"If we end up with a politicised debate for short-term advantage, we will be doing
Australia a great disservice," he said.
Mr Windsor said the government must recognise the role agriculture could play in
dealing with climate change.
He said wheat farmers in Walgett and sorghum growers in the Darling Downs had
greatly increased yields by not tilling their soils.
The change reduced erosion, held moisture better and kept carbon stored in the soil
rather than releasing it into the atmosphere.
There'd also been massive gains in organic matter, which also stored carbon, by
changing cropping practices.
Deep-rooted perennial crops - like prairie grass now being used in the United States
- stored carbon at depth.
The problem, however, was how to measure the stored carbon.
Mr Windsor said the CSIRO was still basing its measurements on old farming methods
and the government should be working with farmers across Australia to find new
techniques.
Agriculture Minister Tony Burke largely agreed with Mr Windsor.
He said no-till and mini-till methods, which went against the tradition of "ripping
the soil to shreds", captured more carbon.
The problem, from an emissions trading point of view, was you had to know how much
was being stored and this was extraordinarily difficult.
"If you are going to trade, you have to be able to measure," he said.
However more research was going into ways to improve measurements.
Mr Burke said livestock were the biggest farm emitters but again there were
measurement problems.
However there may be ways to reduce emissions through feed and breeding.
Mr Burke warned that one of the biggest problems for farmers from climate change
would be the increase in pests, diseases and weeds.