[author]Albert Elzinga[/author]
Tweed Shire Council has invited local farmers to an information session next Tuesday 17 January, to discuss the future of agriculture in the Tweed.
Council introduced a ‘nutrient cycle’ project as part of its Sustainable Agriculture Program, which has provided 35 local farmers with 500 tonnes of compost and manure to apply on various crops in order to highlight the benefits of compost and animal manures in improving soil carbon and soil health.
The project’s results showed consistent increases in soil carbon, nitrogen and sulphur and provided anecdotal evidence of healthier, more resilient crops.
Participating farmers said it would make economic sense to have a composting plant in the Tweed because most products are currently trucked in from outside the Tweed.
Bray Park dairy farmer Corey Crosthwaite has been working his dairy for more than 22 years and joined the project some two years ago.
Corey said he became part of the project to try new things and find out how these innovations would affect his output.
Corey said he applied over 1,000 tonnes of manure from his effluent ponds on his paddocks, reducing the need for chemical fertilisers.
The main advantage Corey hoped to gain from joining council’s project was to better utilise things such as the farm’s run off and make the most of what was already at the farm.
Council adopted a 10-year community strategic plan which a number of community objectives for an enhanced farming sector prompting council to launch a number of projects aimed at improving the viability and environmental capacity of the Tweed’s farmland.
The information session will take place at the Imperial Hotel in Murwillumbah on Tuesday 17 January from 6pm till 8pm.
For more information or to register, call Claire Masters on 02 6670 2199 or email [email protected].
Image: Bray Park dairy farmer Corey Crosthwaite has applied over 1,000 tonnes of manure from his effluent ponds on to his paddocks, reducing the need for chemical fertilisers. Photo Jeff Dawson
