16-11-2000

Profitable crops that make the most efficient use of water will place farmers in a 'win-win' situation in the fight against salinity.

That's the veiw of John Harvey, Investment Manager, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), who was speaking at Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program 'Salinity Stocktake' conference held in Bendigo, Victoria, this week.

'Crops that make the most efficient use of water will be the most effective in reducing groundwater recharge,' he said. 'These same crops will also be the most productive and profitable, so farmers will be in a win-win situation.'

'For years, farmers have combated diminishing terms of trade by increasing productivity. This will be a powerful tool in the fight against salinity.'

Mr Harvey said that despite the well-known threat posed by salinity, some very positive signs were emerging.

'Farmers have a good track record of keeping ahead of their problems and there are positive steps they can take against salinity' said Mr Harvey. 'The message is, if you are going to grow a crop, grow a good one.'

GRDC has invested almost $4 million in the development of productive solutions to salinity this financial year as a partner in Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program (NDSP).

Mr Harvey further urged farmers to monitor the performance of their crops.

'If farmers find sections of their land never makes a profit, they should not sow it. It would be better growing trees' he said. 'However, if you don't monitor it in some way, you will never know.

'Australia's salinity problem has arisen largely from the replacement of perennial native vegetation with annual crops and pastures. There is a very clear lesson in that for all us. If farmers can now get a perennial back into their cropping system, that will make a huge contribution to arresting the spread of salinity.'

'It is important to remember that although salinity threatens a lot of our landscape, there is a lot of land that will never be affected. However, it is essential that we make the conservation of this land a very high priority' said Mr Harvey.

The 'Salinity Stocktake' conference continues this week in Bendigo. A special seminar on Friday, 17th November 2000 will explore salinity and the law, examining past and present legal frameworks for natural resource management. It will also identify research and development needs to help manage the social and legal implications of dryland salinity relating to both built and natural public and private assets.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Please contact Land & Water Australia
Email: land&wateraustralia@lwa.gov.au
Phone: 02 6263 6000