Focus articles which have appeared on the front page of the information hub.
Trees on your property can improve land values, provide environmental benefits and potentially provide some level of commercial income.
There is a lot of information around on tree planting and a lot of interest from the Australian Government in promoting tree growing to sequester carbon.
However, there is so much information around that it can be difficult to see the trees from the forest - pardon the reverse pun!
So before you do anything I suggest that you read this publication [1] on selecting tree varieties for small holdings (even if you are a farmer). This will help you clarify why you want to grow trees and help you plan the next steps.
Once you have read this then browse the libraries that we have on the farm forestry [2] and biodiversity options. These have heaps of resources to help you plan and implement the next steps.
The Perth Region NRM Sustainable Agriculture Practices Information Hub contains over 3,000 best management practices (BMPs) and locally relevant information resources relevant to the use and management of natural resources by farmers and small landholders across the region.
Use the left hand sidebar navigation to drill down to topics of interest or use the search tool.
Focus on fencing & revegetation of watercourses
Fencing and revegetation of the riparian areas of watercourses and wetlands can provide multiple benefits to land managers and the community.
Benefits include:The fencing and revegetation of riparian areas is a key target for the Perth region. Click here [4] to find out more.
- Increased biodiversity and habitat for native plants and animals
- Reduced soil loss through erosion
- Increased property value
- Shade and shelter for stock
- Reduced nutrients flowing into waterways and wetlands
- Carbon capture and storage
Focus on perennial pastures
Perennial pastures provide an opportunity for you to improve the productivity of your grazing property while adapting to a drying climate and addressing land degradation issues such as erosion, salinity and export of nutrients to ground and surface water systems. Some useful links in the information hub are provided below:
- Locally relevant perennial pastures species [5]
- Seasonal things to do for pasture establishment and management [6]
- Paddock management [7]for horse properties [7]
Also check out the field days and workshops in the Upcoming Events accessible through the right hand menu bar.
Did you know?
There are around 1,200 farm businesses in the Perth NRM region representing about 12 percent of the West Australian total.
There are about 20,000 rural small landholders in the Perth NRM region which is about 34.5 percent of the State total.
Horticulture (fresh food production) is undertaken by over 600 businesses representing about 30 percent of the West Australian total. Read more.. [8]
Please contact Sandy Pate, Sustainable Agriculture project officer for the Perth Region NRM with any queries or feedback. Email: sandy.pate@perthregionnrm.com [9]
Welcome to the Perth Region NRM sustainable agriculture knowledge base. Use the left hand sidebar navigation to drill down to topics of interest or use the search tool. [10]
Managing your wind erosion risk
The loss of your valuable topsoil and organic carbon due to the action of wind is of particular concern in summer months. During this time of the year factors such as low soil moisture and reduced ground cover combine with consistently high wind speeds to increase the susceptibility and risk of wind erosion. Replacing valuable topsoil is an expensive and time consuming exercise so avoidance is the key. Read more..... [11]
Perth Region NRM awarded best overall exhibit at the 2013 Karragullen Horticultural Expo
Perth Region NRM was awarded the best overall exhibit at the 2013 Karragullen Horticultural Expo. The exhibit comprised of a 132 year old “Sulky†adorned with luscious displays of locally produced fruit, native plants and surrounded by rustic art. The display created a link between the importance of local produce to the local economy and the overall theme of the expo being the acknowledgement the 30 anniversary of the expo and the history of the region. The display drew people into the large Marquee where Perth Region NRM staff and other exhibitors including, Domus Nursery, WA Horse Council and Living Farm promoted Sustainable Agricultural practices and Natural Resource Management.
Read more.... [12]
Last month the Department of Agriculture and Food released an important baselining and benchmarking report which provided scorecards to highlight the hazards and conditions associated with ten (10) important soil management issues across Western Australia's agricultural regions. Read more...... [13]
Where does your fresh food come from?
Fresh food production (horticulture) is an important activity in the region and to Western Australia. There are approximately 483 orchardists in the region farming around 5,884 ha representing 26% of the total number of growers in Western Australia. In relation to vegetable and grape growing, there are.....Read more [14]
Waterlogging and salinity management
Waterlogging and salinity go hand in hand. Land susceptible to waterlogging and salinity comprises over 117,000 hectares or 10% of the Perth NRM region.
Weed identification & management library updated |
The weed library contains resources to support identification and management of over 30 weed species across the Perth region. Check it out here.. [19] |
|
|
With winter upon us water erosion and its consequences become more evident. Water erosion results in the loss of valuable topsoil and associated nutrients and carbon affecting its ability to sustain plant growth. It is also major contributor to siltation and eutrophication of water bodies as well as declining stream quality as a result of turbidity and salinity. In the Perth NRM region over 14% of land has a moderate to extreme susceptibility to water erosion
Management should focus on decreasing the amount of runoff and reducing erodibility of the soil. Sustainable practices include:
Management resources
Select blue text to link to management resources for that land use
Horse and small landholding property management
Vineyards
Orchards
Market gardens
Large areas of land used for agricultural and rural purposes on the Swan Coastal Plain and to a lesser degree, the Perth Hills, are susceptible to wind erosion.
To reduce the risk and incidence of wind erosion there are a number of things that you can do, which include:
Some resources that you may find useful in understanding and managing wind erosion are outlined below.
State of the Environment Report for WA 2007 - Theme 3 Land [48]
Land evaluation standards for land resource mapping [49]
Maintain groundcover [38]
Wind erosion management guidelines [51]
Wind erosion management guidelines [52]
Fresh food production (horticulture) is an important activity in the region and to Western Australia. Here are some interesting statistics:
Helping to maintain the productivity of agriculture and horticulture in the region while protecting the environment is an important focus of Perth Region NRM. Read more... [58]
Recent research by the University of Western Australia and CSIRO has highlighted the potential value that remnant native vegetation can have on the value of rural lifestyle properties.
The research indicates that based on around 40 percent vegetation cover, a rural lifestyle property could increase in value by around 12 percent.
The research showed that property values increase not only by having native vegetation on a property but through being being located near to bushland as well as other habitats such as rivers and streams.
This information is not only important for property owners but also for organisations seeking to increase the amount of native vegetation in an area be it through revegetation of streams or development of biodiversity corridors.
Read the research paper by clicking here.. [60]
For assistance in revegetating your property click here.. [61]
Last month the Department of Agriculture and Food released an important baselining and benchmarking report which provided scorecards to highlight the hazards and conditions associated with ten (10) important soil management issues.
These were soil organic carbon, soil acidity, wind erosion, water erosion, soil compaction, water repellence, dryland salinity, nutrient status (P), nutrient export (P) and acidification of inland waterways.
The Perth Region was contained in the Swan Coastal Plain area for assessment and reporting purposes. Key areas of high hazard and poor condition were soil acidity, water repellence, nutrient status (phosphorus) and nutrient export (Phosphorus).
Read the full report here https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/soil-constraints/report-card-south-west-western-australia [62]
Around 117,000 hectares or 10% of the Perth NRM region has a moderate to very high risk of waterlogging which often goes hand in hand with soil salinity.
Links:
[1] http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_95003.html
[2] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/pastures-fodder-and-tree-crops/farm-forestry
[3] http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pubid=ikininmonth
[4] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/fencing-revegetation-watercourses
[5] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/pastures-fodder-and-tree-crops/pastures-fodder-and-tree-crops
[6] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/seasonal-calendar
[7] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/paddock-management
[8] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/about/agriculture-region
[9] mailto:sandy.pate@perthregionnrm.com
[10] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/search/node/
[11] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/focus-articles/managing-wind-erosion
[12] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/focus-articles/perth-region-nrm-awarded-best-overall-exhibit-2013-karragullen-horticultural-
[13] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/focus-articles/report-sustainable-natural-resource-use-agriculture-highlights-regional-issue
[14] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/focus-articles/food-thought
[15] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/weed-identification-and-control
[16] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/weeds/patersons-curse
[17] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/weeds/cape-tulip-two-leaf
[18] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/focus-articles/managing-water-erosion
[19] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/weed-identification-management/weed-identification-management
[20] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-jj/
[21] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-jt/
[22] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-ji/
[23] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-jd/
[24] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-jh/
[25] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-jk/
[26] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-ju/
[27] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-tl/
[28] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-juuuijt-l-tr/
[29] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-jy/
[30] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-jj/
[31] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-jt/
[32] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-ji/
[33] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-jd/
[34] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-jh/
[35] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-jk/
[36] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-ju/
[37] http://perthnrmsustainableagricultureproject.createsend1.com/t/j-l-jdjkhik-l-tl/
[38] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/maintain-groundcover
[39] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/seasonal-wet-areas-wet-seeps-and-drainage-lines
[40] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/steep-slopes
[41] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/fence-line-tracking
[42] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/management-horse-feeding-watering-and-congregating-areas
[43] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/management-watercourses-including-erosion-gullies-and-dams
[44] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/horse-management/stock-crossings
[45] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/vineyard-and-winery-management-guidelines/water-erosion
[46] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/orchard-management-guidelines/water-erosion
[47] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/market-garden-management-guidelines/water-erosion
[48] http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/AbouttheEPA/SOE/Documents/3_WA_SOE2007_LAND.pdf
[49] http://archive.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_92333.html
[50] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/map-cabinet/land-degradation-risk-maps
[51] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/orchard-management-guidelines/wind-erosion
[52] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/vineyard-and-winery-management-guidelines/wind-erosion
[53] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/sites/default/files/FMHch7.pdf
[54] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/content/karragullen-2013-photo-0
[55] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/content/karragullen-2013-photo-1
[56] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/content/karragullen-2013-photo
[57] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/content/perth-region-nrm-team-karragullen-expo
[58] http://www.perthregionnrm.com/pr-nrm-programs/sustainable-agriculture.aspx
[59] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/resource/link/agricultural-commodities-australia-2009-10
[60] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/The research showed that property values increase not only by having native vegetation on a property but through being being located near to bushland as well as other habitats such as rivers and streams.
[61] http://sustainableagriculture.perthregionnrm.com/library/contacts/biodiversity-management
[62] https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/soil-constraints/report-card-south-west-western-australia