20 Eco Ag towards sustainable farming Eco Voice - issue 19
ed of th Give the footy the boot for the Go Organic Festival 2005
We em
onth
Ragwort
Senecio jacobaea
Ragwort, in the Asteraceae or daisy family,
is at its most obvious in autumn when its
masses of bright yellow flowers can be seen
on roadsides and farms. This is the time of
year for local farmers and councils to be
particularly alert to the need for ragwort
control. IFOAM Congress Committee. Back from left: Rob Bulfield, Jan Andre Leu, Chair, Bernward Geier, Jan Denham, IFOAM
Denham, Andre Leu, Tim Marshall & Rod May Front: Lauren Ellis Organic Federation IFOAM’s Director of Congress Convenor
It is a biennial herb that reproduces from
& George Devrell of Australia International Relations
crowns, roots and seeds. Seed dispersal is
via wind, water, animals, farm and logging Ian Doyle, Media Coordinator, IFOAM 2005 demonstrations about sustainable living. birthday celebrations of the Adelaide Botanic
equipment, vehicles, hay and clothing. Most If the 2005 AFL grand final is not your cup of tea, The sustainable living program is extensive, Gardens.
seeds fall within 20 m of the parent plant but then show your true colors and get involved with including making compost, growing organic ‘The Go Organic Festival 2005 is a once only
occasionally may be dispersed over distances the Go Organic Festival 2005. produce, cooking and tasting organic food, opportunity for producers to showcase their
of a kilometre or more. It will be a celebration of healthy food and information about certification, and how to live products to regular and prospective consumers
Ragwort displaces pasture. It contains toxins beverages, stimulating music and great ideas and more sustainably. from metropolitan Adelaide’, Go Organic Festival
that can cause fatal liver damage to cattle, information about sustainable living. The Go Organic Festival 2005 is a family friendly 2005 Manager Darren Humphrys said.
horses, goats and deer. It reduces butterfat, The festival will be held in Adelaide Botanic Park event that celebrates all sectors of the organic ‘It will also raise the profile of the growing
milk and meat production, and can taint the on 24 and 25 September and is a ready made community. It will be an excellent opportunity to organic movement in Australia and provide a
flavour of milk and meat, and even honey. showcase for the organic community. sell product and deliver information direct to the forum to discuss important issues of sustainability
It can be harmful to humans if ingested in It is a free public event expected to attract wider community about the long term benefits of though the Go Organic Festival 2005 speakers
sufficient quantities, or when weeded out by 20,000 people over the two days. The organics and sustainable living. program’
hand over an extended period. centrepiece will be South Australia’s, and ABC TV’s Landline and Gardening Australia More info: Darren Humphrys
After its accidental introduction from its probably Australia’s, largest Farmers’ Market programs, and 891 ABC Adelaide have been ifoamfair@internode.on.net or
native regions of Europe and Western Asia last including producers from many South Australian invited to participate, with the National 08 8352 7099. Registration and information
century, this weed has become a major pest food producing regions. Association of Sustainable Agriculture, Australia brochure at the IFOAM World Congress website
in the high rainfall areas of Australia and New Entertainment will include musical performances (NASAA), supporting the event. www.nasaa.com.au/ifoam2005
Zealand. from the International Federation of Organic The Go Organic Festival 2005 is being held in IFOAM contact: Ian Doyle on 0417 819 189 or
An effective biocontrol was introduced into Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) member countries, association with the 15th World IFOAM Congress dms@portal.net.au.
affected areas in the 1980s. The caterpillars an extensive speaker program, and practical at the Adelaide Convention Centre and the 150th
of the ragwort flea beetle, Longitarsus
flavicornis, eat the roots of the weed, thereby
killing the plants. In New Zealand, Landcare Facts about During 2002–03, 43,774 Australian agricultural establishments applied 10,404
gigalitres of irrigation water to 2.4 million hectares of crops and pastures, an
Research experiments have shown a 95%
reduction in ragwort within two to ten years of
farms and irrigation average application rate of 4.4 megalitres per irrigated hectare.
the beetles’ release. Thanks to these beetles, Tasmania reported the highest percentage, After pasture for grazing, cotton was The most common source of
ragwort, once a serious invasive weed, has 48%, of agricultural establishments irrigating, the next biggest water user nationally, irrigation water in Australia
been reduced to a mere nuisance. and Western Australia reported the lowest accounting for 15% of the volume applied in 2002–03 was surface water,
Sources: Department of Primary Industry percentage, 22%. and 10% of the area of crops and pasture with 31,691 or 72% of irrigating
in Australia and Landcare Research in New Tasmania reported the highest proportion of irrigated. establishments reporting it as one
Zealand. agricultural land irrigated, 4.9%, followed Pasture for grazing was the predominant their sources.
by Victoria at 4.4%. use of irrigation in Victoria and Tasmania. In The most common irrigation method was
New South Wales was the largest irrigating Victoria, 1611 gigalitres, nearly two thirds of surface irrigation, such as flood, furrow,
state/territory, with 11,230 irrigating the volume applied in that state, was to pasture basin, or border check. Nationally,
establishments applying 4,273 gigalitres, or for grazing, accounting for 57% of the volume 12,970 or 30% of irrigating agricultural
41% of the Australian total volume applied, on applied to pasture for grazing nationally. In establishments reported surface irrigation
939,000 hectares, or 39% of the Australian total Tasmania, the volume applied to pasture for as one of their methods of irrigating, used
irrigated land. grazing was nearly half the irrigation water on 1,344,000 hectares, or 57% of the area
used in that state. irrigated by all methods.
Western Australia reported the highest
average application rate of 6.5 megalitres The crop with the highest average The number of establishments reporting areas
per irrigated hectare. Tasmania reported application rate nationally was rice, with of land laser levelled for irrigation was 11,647
the lowest rate at 2.4 megalitres per a rate of 14.1 megalitres per irrigated or 27% of all irrigating establishments, with
irrigated hectare. hectare, more than three times the 1,809,000 hectares levelled. New South Wales
average application rate across all crops accounted for 59% of the laser levelled land,
The most extensive use of irrigation in Australia
and pasture. The next highest national Victoria 21%, and Queensland 18%.
was pasture for grazing. Nationally, 14,419 or
average application rate was cotton, at 6.5 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2005.
almost one third of irrigating establishments
megalitres per irrigated hectare. Water Use on Australian Farms 2002–03. ABS
Before and after: A healthy ragwort plant (right) irrigated pasture for grazing.
and one attacked by ragwort flea beetles. cat.no. 4618.0
Photo: Robert Lamberts, Crop & Food Research
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