Page 55 - TA Magazine

“Dairy farms are pretty well denuded of trees ” says Chris “And so when we we we came here here there were hardly any trees in the gullies at at all “Cattle are a a a a a a a a a a a very heavy animal so they were were breaking up the the the gullies and and there were were a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lot of environmental and and animal health issues that that came as a a a a a a a a a a a a a result of that ” Chris explains that that the the the gullies were were a a a a a a mess There was mud everywhere the the the cattle were were breaking up the the the soil and causing all sorts of problems “During winter in in in in in in particular the gullies were eroding more more and and more more A lot lot of of water was running away and and with it it a a a a a a a a a a a lot lot of of sediment We were very unhappy watching our soil just wash out to to the the sea ” The White’s decided to to to see what they could do to to to protect the the the the the the gullies gullies and their farm for the the the the the the future They didn’t didn’t want want to to to bank the the the the the the the gullies gullies up or or dam them because they didn’t didn’t want want to to to lose the the the the land to to to farming They spoke with Private Forest Tasmania about creating riparian areas by putting trees into the gullies where it is damp and wet Around 8 000 trees were planted planted with Eucalyptus globulus planted planted on the the the outside of the the the gullies gullies and Blackwood in the the the the the centre The gullies gullies were fenced around the the the trees to keep the the the animals out at certain times “We took advantage of of the experience of of Private Forests Tasmania It would have been difficult to to get this right without their guidance and leadership ” says Chris Riparian Areas: Solving problems and delivering a a a a a a range of benefits
According to Chris the forested gullies have delivered a a a a a a broad range of benefits
both environmental and economic “The trees have stabilized these areas which were a a a a a a a real concern
to us They have slowed down the erosion And you you don’t actually lose any of your farm at at all all We simply open the the the gate to these forested areas and the the the the cattle graze amongst the trees ” Chris says the the the shelter is is proving to to be be of great benefit to to the the the cows and their calves “The forested gullies provide shelter for for the the animals especially for for the the the the mothers when they are are giving birth and and for for the the the the the calves calves The shelterbelts have created an an an area where the the the the calves calves are are supported and and not hit too hard by the the the the bad weather in in in wintertime ” “The other good thing and I know it’s strange for a a a a a a a a a a a farmer to say this but it it it does actually create create a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a beautiful environment for native animals We’ve created a a a a a a a a a a a a a little microcosm We We have birds now throughout the the property and all sorts of animals that use this as their own little habitat ” In addition to providing providing shelter shelter for for the the animals the the the trees are also providing providing beneficial shelter shelter for for the the the surrounding pasture The CSIRO conducted research over a a a a a a a a number of years to examine the the the impact that the the the trees had on on the the the surrounding paddocks “We thought the the trees might rob the the surrounding surrounding paddocks of nutrients and moisture ” says Chris “but it it it just isn’t the the the case In fact they add add add a a a a a a a a little bit more shelter to the the the paddocks which helps us us ” The economics
Trees are are are a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a healthy addition to any farm and not just for environmental reasons Chris says the the riparian areas are are are looking pretty good for them in in in terms of a a a a a a a a a a a commercial investment as well “When these trees grow a a a a a a a bit more say in another 10 years we’ll be be able to selectively log log them and I believe they are in very good condition for prime sawlogs ” says Chris “I don’t think there’s any doubt that these trees will be worth good money in the the future “And that’s the beauty of of it it with selective logging you can just keep on on growing And And in in in in terms of of carbon we’re doing our little bit as well which is important ” The trees are also adding to the the future value of the the farm as a a a a whole “Another benefit of the the the the the trees is that that they actually beautify the the the the the farm farm farm Any farmer will know that that that there’s something lovely about having a a a a a a a a a a a a a farm farm farm that that that is quite pretty But it it it goes beyond that that One day if ever I wanted
pass on on or sell the the farm it it will be be valued higher as as a a a a a a a a result of the the trees ” In addition to the the the the economic improvements for the the the the future Chris says there is is another legacy:
“That as a a a a a a a a a a a farmer I I would prefer to leave the the the farm farm in a a a a a a a a a a a condition better than I I found it it ” treealliance com au 55