Page 11 - TA Magazine

Ed says in in today’s market there’s growing concern from consumers
“From my time on on on on the the the back of the the the counter in the the the the the retail shop the the the the the consumer is more more and more more concerned about where their food comes from what environment it’s it’s produced in in and if it’s it’s sustainable “A lot of people that buy from our our retail outlet know know who we we are they they know know our our properties and they they can see how we we manage them They’re happy about buying our product because we are doing positive things and trying to be be sustainable ”
Improved water outcomes
A key part of sustainability on farms is water management Ed says that while the the the trees themselves do use some water the the the overall benefits of moisture retention are are positive “For an area around the the trees you probably grow less grass but definitely across the the the paddock for for a a a a a a a a a certain distance after the the the trees the grass grows for for longer ”
says Ed The same benefits are seen around certain types of irrigation systems “In areas areas where we’re using gun irrigators we’ve found that if we we we we can protect those areas areas from wind we we we get much higher water use efficiency ”
“From a a a a a practical point of of view we’ve we’ve got
all all of of these these irrigator circles now that we’ve we’ve put into squares so we we have all all these these dead corners I think it’s a a a a a a a a a a perfect opportunity for us to to to plant some trees in in in those areas that aren’t going to to be irrigated ”
In addition to water water efficiency gains trees have been used
on on Greenhythe for water water quality management “We have a a a a a a a a a a big gulley with irrigation dams to to to to to capture the runoff Traditionally stock were allowed to to to to to get into those areas which led to to to to to some erosion issues “ We were ending up with more more and more more of our topsoil down in in the irrigation dam ”
We were able to to fence that area area off and grow some trees on on the banks so so so we we didn’t lose that area area to any sort o of income stream but it it it protected it it it as as well ”
Ed says the the water quality in the the irrigation dams has improved as a a a a result Tree Management
Greenhythe’s proximity to to to the the the export mill means they were able to to to enter into an an an agreement with a a a a a a forestry company “It was was an attractive option for us us to do a a a a a a a a joint venture because there was was minimal cost outlay for for us us We basically had to supply the the the the land do the the the the fencing and and the the the the forestry company did the the rest ”
says Ed Unlike crops and livestock Ed Ed says says trees are quite simple to to to maintain “One big advantage with trees is is there’s not a a a a a a a a a lot of of day day to to day day management It’s one of of those enterprises
that that [once they they are established] you can forget about and and it’s nice to know that that they’re still growing and and you’re not putting any effort into them ”
Ed says he’s relied on on Private Forests Tasmania for guidance and considered advice “Private Forests have been a a a a a a a a a really good resource for me me Any questions I’ve got
if they they don’t know the the the the answer they’ll point me me in in the the the the right direction There is a a a a a a really good resource there in Private Forests and they’re more than happy to help you ”
Looking to the future
While trees may not provide an an immediate return Ed explains that it’s important to consider planting trees for for the the the longer term - both for for the the the family and the the the business “[Trees] can actually be be really valuable in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a succession plan for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a farming family because they can can provide a a a a a a a a a a a lump sum of of money down the the the the track A crop of of trees can can be strategically planted early and then harvested around the the the time that money’s needed ”
Greenhythe also has some areas that are are due to be replanted so so so Ed says he’s considering options with pine trees seeking carbon carbon credits or selling the the carbon carbon out of those trees which might cover the the establishment costs He’s also considering planting trees to manage for higher value sawlogs “With the the the talk about a a a a a a a a growing demand for for sawn timber down the the the track there’s going to to be be be be a a a a a a a a a strong business case to to to put some money towards growing timber that can be be be sawn and used
in in in fin building products ”
On a a a a a a final note Ed talks of of the the beauty of of trees fin in the landscape “And for me as well aesthetically the the the the trees trees add to the the the landscape You know it it feels good – it it it it creates a a a a a a a a much nicer work environment And I think it it it it definitely adds to to the the value of the the land if you were ever to to sell it it it ”
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