Natural Sequence Farming (NSF) Update
Peter Andrews is leading an even more hectic life. He is speaking
to groups across the country from individual landholders, surveyors,
leading business people, scientists, land developers, Premiers
and Ministers, Landcare and other community groups, and even
Mikhail Gorbachev. The pace is likely to increase with the release
of the ABC book on NSF in October.
Government funding has also been making a difference in setting
up NSF demonstration sites. We are hoping that it will increase
with a major submission to the Water Smart program just completed.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is facilitating leading Australian
and international scientists to build on Peter’s innovative
approaches.
Already, NSF techniques on a 6000 acre North Queensland (mixed
farming) property are showing outstanding outcomes. For instance,
mango trees have tripled production with a quantifiable saving
of 70% less water, 30% less herbicide and 83% less pesticide.
Water salinity has dropped on the property from 3,000 parts
per million to 800 ppm and falling, while nutrient discharges
to the Great Barrier Reef have been all but eliminated.
Major players in the food supply chain are keen to see further
applications of NSF on other crops in other landscapes using
NSF’s chain of ponds restoration, strategic vegetation
plantings, biomimicry of billabongs and wetlands, dual contour
fertilisation and natural landscape hydration. The extensive
use of mulching incorporating weed slashing is substantially
adding to on-farm energy efficiency.
As agreed with the Australian Government and Gerry Harvey 12
months ago, I will be returning to the Public Service on Monday
3 July.
A major focus will be on accelerating the development of awareness
and training courses.
The contact details for NSF are:
Support Staff
email:info@nsfarming.com
website: www.nsfarming.com
Finally, you can’t help to be optimistic about our future
when you see Peter’s unbelievable resilience coupled with
the amazing number of good people out there who are determined
to do their bit to get our countryside back on a more sustainable
pathway.
Finally, I thank all those who made this a once in a lifetime
opportunity for me in trying to emulate your unwavering support
for a whole new approach to our country’s major challenges.
Best wishes
Garry Reynolds
Note: Garry left NSF in 2006 after his agreement was
completed.
|