One of Australia's most expensive environmental policies is changing the way water and land are used to grow our crops and tend to livestock. This is how the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has triggered a mega shift in farmers' thinking.
As the Murray-Darling Basin Plan looks to keep more water in our rivers, it's changing the way we grow our foodWhen you think of ways to help the environment, housing a herd of dairy cows in a shed or planting a water-intensive crop like almonds are unlikely to be at the top of the list.
Since its inception, Australia has already committed $13 billion to the MBDP — a figure that's likely to rise. "One thinks it's going to be a dry year and therefore holds back quite a lot of irrigation water to use, the other thinks it's going to be a wet year and doesn't keep any irrigation water," he says.
"At the same time, there's been a flow of water out of the dairy sector, out of irrigated pasture and to some extent out of rice and horticulture … that really shows the market working."How almonds became one of Australia's most valuable cropsWith the option to process nuts for powder and alternative milk or feed hulls to livestock, the crop has a range of uses.That's despite it also being one of the thirstiest crops grown in the basin.
Dairy is another industry on the frontline of federal water policy, particularly in northern Victoria. Victorian dairy farmer Tom Acocks keeps his dairy herd in a shed, which he says allows for a more efficient feeding system.The family then used the proceeds to upgrade the farm's irrigation system and buy more land to produce feed for the dairy cows.In a system that he expects will become more common across the basin, the farm's milking herd is kept under cover.
"We use a lot less water than we used to 20 years ago and we grow a lot more feed, and we can still do that profitably."Since the first water buybacks in 2009, more than 2,100 gigalitres of water has been allocated to the environment across the basin each year. That represents less than 10 per cent of what still needs to be allocated to the environment in the next three years.As Australia's competition watchdog prepares to study the Murray-Darling Basin's $2 billion water trade, a trip up the river finds irrigators are worried about the way the market is unfolding.
Tim Jackson, from industry group the Almond Board of Australia, says that's a question for the market.
Environment Food Food Manufacturing Murray-Darling Farming Murray-Darling Basin Plan Agriculture Dairy Almonds
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Government goes to tender on major water buybacks to help envrionment in Murray-Darling BasinThe federal government will go to tender next month seeking the rights to up to 70 gigalitres of water from farmers in the southern Murray Darling Basin, through the first major water entitlements buyback program since new laws were introduced last year.
Read more »
Wimbledon has plan in place if Andy Murray announces retirement at SW19The All England Club is ‘ready and prepared’ to commemorate Andy Murray’s career should the two-times Wimbledon champion announce his retirement plans at the tournament
Read more »
Wimbledon has plan in place if Andy Murray announces retirement at SW19The All England Club is ‘ready and prepared’ to commemorate Andy Murray’s career should the two-times Wimbledon champion announce his retirement plans at the tournament
Read more »
Adding an owl to this painting was a wise move, it just won a $75,000 prizeA portrait rejected by the Archibald Prize judges has scooped this year’s Darling Prize.
Read more »
Adding an owl to this painting was a wise move, it just won a $75,000 prizeA portrait rejected by the Archibald Prize judges has scooped this year’s Darling Prize.
Read more »
Adding an owl to this painting was a wise move, it just won a $75,000 prizeA portrait rejected by the Archibald Prize judges has scooped this year’s Darling Prize.
Read more »