Page 26 - TA Magazine

The economics
Some farmers believe that they’re going to to get a a a a a better return by having no trees and running stock on that pasture They think there’s a a a a a a a loss of of productivity as as a a a a a a a result
of of planting trees Andrew says “I would argue strongly against that ”
“It’s hard to put a a a dollar figure on on it But my observation of how livestock move in cold weather is that there are great benefits from having trees ”
“I don’t really want to grow the the the trees and and then chop them them down and and start again I’m very happy to put them them in in once and and get the the economic benefit from increased stocking rates and and things like that ”
Andrew’s son Scott has returned home with a a a a a University Degree in Agricultural Economics and has taken over management of the farm “Scott’s probably more economically driven than I am
or or have been The bottom line is particularly important That happens with most people that are in in in their thirties they’re driving the the the the business so everything is is worked out to the the the the last cent which is is great But at at the the same time he’s very happy to plant trees ”
26 Private Forests Tasmania
Start early – plant when you’re developing
Andrew says that that his observation has been that that farmers who are developing
their properties all want to to plant trees but it’s something that gets pushed to to to down the the track “They’ve got to to get the the the the pivots in in and then another pivot pivot in in in I look at it slightly differently having gone exactly down that road It was pretty tough at at the the end of the the wool boom Nobody had any money and and we we were trying to develop and and put in in irrigation “I put put my trees in in in at at at the the same time as as as I I I was was putting in in in the the the irrigation because I I could see that there was was going to to be be be a a a a a a benefit You think at at the the time it’s a a a a a struggle to to do fit it it fit but you get the the benefit virtually from year one onwards So try to do fit it at the the same time is my advice ”
The secret to success? Preparation The secret to to getting a a successful outcome with trees according to to Andrew is ground preparation “It’s absolutely critical to do it it properly ”
he says “If I I was going to be planting trees in in in in the corners of of pivots again I’d start early and firstly do a a a a a a a a bit of of research into what species grow well in in my district “Then and I stress this to a a a a a lot of people that ask me about trees the the more more work you put in to ground preparation the the more more successful Watch online
https://youtu be/VSpyaszg85U
you will be - spraying it it off in in in in advance advance ripping it it in in in in in in advance advance in in in in in in the summertime creating a a a a a a a good seed bed Do these things well and the the quicker your trees will grow Conservation Habitat and Aesthetics
Andrew says that he has to to admit to to being a a a a a a a a bit of a a a a a a a a conservationist In addition to to the the productivity benefits on on the the farm he he he wanted to to provide habitat for wildlife linking some of of the the the farms remaining areas of of native bush to the the the trees around the the the pivot circles with wildlife corridors “We wanted to to get a a a complete ecosystem back into the environment ”
explains Andrew “We’ve collected a a a a a lot of seed from around the the area so we’re putting the the providence back in in in and it’s working very well ”
He also explains that whilst it might seem obvious he he he he really values the the the aesthetics of having trees on the the the farm “You know for me a a a a a a a barren landscape in rural Tasmania
is neither appropriate nor particularly attractive ”
And And Andrew has certainly achieved an aesthetically beautiful property Driving into Nosswick you are met with a a a a a a a stunning vista of manicured parkland where not a a a a a a a a a a blade of of grass seems out of of place and fat lambs luxuriate in in what must certainly be the poster farm for happy livestock