Category: Sustainable Settlement and Agriculture

The Sustainable Regions forum in Murwillumbah last Friday evening brought together local farmers with renewable energy pioneers and government agencies to outline practical solutions for farming in the face of water shortages, rising oil prices and the globalisation of agribusiness. Among messages emerging from the forum was the fact that most speakers, including the Nationals Sue Page, feel that the globalisation of the economy is damaging regional economies as well as the environment. Consumers have a key role in influencing this by seeking out local product. The home garden was identified as an important factor in a sustainable future, along with community gardens and farmers markets.

Certificate for each unit of energy: The certificates will be complemented by the proposed carbon trading scheme, and broadly encourage the use of renewable energy technologies now under development. "Generators of renewable energy will gain certificates for each unit of energy they produce, which retailers of energy will be required to buy to comply with the scheme legislation," an AGL spokes­man said. "The Federal Government’s aims would amount to about 17 per cent of national energy output by 2020".

Aus to source 15pc of energy from renewables by 2020? Under the Government’s proposal, all existing and committed state and federal schemes would contribute to Australia sourcing 15 per cent, or 30,000 gigawatt hours, of its energy a year from renew­able sources by 2020, up from about 10 per cent today.

Potential Qld bidders: Potential bidders for the Queensland portfolio of assets are thought to include Epuron, Transfield Services, Viridis, Bab­cock & Brown Wind Partners, one of the Allco vehicles, and International Power.

Thermal, wind and hydro power gen portfolio: The Queensland assets are a mixture of coal-fired thermal, wind and hydro power generation assets. There are wind farms at Windy Hill near Ravenshoe in the state’s north, the Emu Downs farm in Western Australia and Toora in the south Gippsland region of Victoria. Other wind farms are the Starfish Hill wind farm near Cape Jervis and the Mt Millar wind farm on the Eyre Peninsula, both in South Australia. The biggest of the assets up for sale is Emu Downs, which generates 80 mega­watts of electricity from 48 turbines.

The Australian, 25/9/2007, p. B23

"It is irresponsible and grossly inadequate to respond to dire crop
forecasts and the pain caused to rural communities by promising bandaid
cheques and platitudes about the drought eventually breaking," she said.

"Our agricultural sector is fast approaching crisis. We need to address
the issue of the future of agriculture urgently," said Senator Siewert.

"These poor seasons are no longer 'exceptional' circumstances. What we
are seeing is not just one of the worst droughts in history but a shift
in our climate. It is unfair to keep landholders hanging on without
putting real resources into helping them adapt."

Senator Siewert and Senator Milne have twice previously attempted to
establish similar inquiries. 

"This is not so much a win for the Greens as a win for common sense,"
she said.
The motion to refer this issue to the Rural and Regional Affairs and
Transport Committee and the terms of reference for the inquiry are
attached overleaf.

The motion agreed to by the Senate reads, 
That the Senate:
1. Notes the dire state of the latest ABARE Crop Report (No. 143,
released 18th September 2007).
2. Recognises the severe impact of a series of ongoing poor seasons of
the livelihoods of Australian farmers and the knock-on effect on the
well-being of associated rural communities.
3. Notes the need to ensure the security of Australian food production.
4. That the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional
Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2008:
a. The scientific evidence available on the likely future climate of our
key agricultural production zones, and its implications for current farm
enterprises and possible future industries
b. The need for a national strategy to assist Australian agricultural
industries to adapt to climate change
c. The adequacy of existing drought assistance and exceptional
circumstances programs to cope with long-term climactic changes.

The National Farmers Federation and the Griffith University have released a report titled, Reform of Australia’s Federal System. The report was initially commissioned to explore the mechanisms where by a new state might be created within NSW, to overcome the excessive spending of resources on Sydney at the expense of the regions. The report was expanded in line with a number of projects that examine the future of regional Australia and the relationships between various levels of government.

There is now a large group that includes academics, farmers, regional chambers of commerce and environmentalists calling for a massive overhaul of Australia’s system of government. The full range of reports is available online at The Griffith University  

Research carried out by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology would forecast weather conditions in 100 kilometre by 100km quadrants across the country, with the collected data then used to identify probable changes to factors such as growing seasons, yields and the effect on livestock, reported The Land (23/8/2007, p. 3).

Predicitons in 20-year increments: The study also looked at broader climate change impact forecasting predictions for the years 2030, 2050 and 2070. NSW Department of Primary Industries project leader, Climate Risk Management Agriculture and Fisheries, Gary Allan, described the report as "ground breaking stuff". The research will be released on October 2 at the 2007 Greenhouse conference in Sydney.

The Land, 23/8/2007, p. 3

The National Farmers Federation had released startling figures of the impact the dollar was having on the farm-gate prices of individual commodities, reported Queensland Country Life (23/8/2007, p. 5).

One cent equals $190 million: Just a one-cent appreciation in the dollar wiped about $7/bale off the value of cotton, $3/tonne off sugar and grains prices and 0.5c/litre off dairy prices. According to the NFF, a one-cent move up or down also affected farmers’ hip pockets by $190 million, so a lower dollar even in the short term would help farmers to actually enjoy generally high commodity prices, particularly for wheat.

Attractive wheat prices: Commonwealth Bank commodities strategist Tobin Gorey said prices now were attractive for hedging, but the CBA’s preference was still to hedge in Australian currency. "Wheat prices are very, very good at the moment, and the Aussie dollar has dipped, so to keep getting above $300/tonne is very attractive and unusual. There’s an uncertainty about what the pool will be this year and who will run it, so there’s perhaps some extra motivation this year to look at that aspect of risk management."

Queensland Country Life, 23/8/2007, p. 5