Considering the benefits of biodynamics
Posted: 11 Jun 2013, 16:49
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-10/c ... cs/4743746
A series of field days has to sought to encourage farmers and members of the South-West and Great Southern WA community to consider the potential benefits of biodynamics.
Kevin Martin, acting Chairman of the Leschenault Catchment Council, says it is important for farmers to look beyond traditional fertiliser regimes for the betterment of soil health and environmental sustainability.
“Farmers are used to instant results. You spread nitrogen on a crop, suddenly it goes green, grows high and you think ‘that’s a great result,’” says Mr Martin.
“But if it’s actually causing problems within the soil, then that’s a problem for later on. If you then have to put more [nitrogen] on to get the same results next time, it is extra costs, and you have to keep doubling up. Sooner or later, that falls over.
He acknowledges that the field of biodynamics tends to produce slow-burn results, however he stresses that there are clear benefits to be found within the approach.
“Farmers can’t afford to change to something that just gives a nice result for the community without them getting the benefit as well,” says Mr Martin.
“There’s a whole suite of different options for sustainable agriculture, and if [farmers] start looking at what biodynamics can offer, and maybe work that in with other options that they find out about, that’s a good way to be.”
Biodynamics is often considered among other 'new age' fields of agriculture, given its roots in organic methods and grounding in spiritual concepts, although Kevin Martin suggests that public perception is somewhat removed from the reality of biodynamics.
“I think a lot of people think you have to dance naked in the moonlight and all that sort of thing,” he says.
“There are those other spiritual underlying ideas, but it is the same as organics. It just has some of those higher level concepts, and also some of the preparations that they put into compost. It actually helps to activate and as they say, make the whole lot hum!”
A series of field days has to sought to encourage farmers and members of the South-West and Great Southern WA community to consider the potential benefits of biodynamics.
Kevin Martin, acting Chairman of the Leschenault Catchment Council, says it is important for farmers to look beyond traditional fertiliser regimes for the betterment of soil health and environmental sustainability.
“Farmers are used to instant results. You spread nitrogen on a crop, suddenly it goes green, grows high and you think ‘that’s a great result,’” says Mr Martin.
“But if it’s actually causing problems within the soil, then that’s a problem for later on. If you then have to put more [nitrogen] on to get the same results next time, it is extra costs, and you have to keep doubling up. Sooner or later, that falls over.
He acknowledges that the field of biodynamics tends to produce slow-burn results, however he stresses that there are clear benefits to be found within the approach.
“Farmers can’t afford to change to something that just gives a nice result for the community without them getting the benefit as well,” says Mr Martin.
“There’s a whole suite of different options for sustainable agriculture, and if [farmers] start looking at what biodynamics can offer, and maybe work that in with other options that they find out about, that’s a good way to be.”
Biodynamics is often considered among other 'new age' fields of agriculture, given its roots in organic methods and grounding in spiritual concepts, although Kevin Martin suggests that public perception is somewhat removed from the reality of biodynamics.
“I think a lot of people think you have to dance naked in the moonlight and all that sort of thing,” he says.
“There are those other spiritual underlying ideas, but it is the same as organics. It just has some of those higher level concepts, and also some of the preparations that they put into compost. It actually helps to activate and as they say, make the whole lot hum!”