Climate change forces Australian farmers to nurture land

Yass, Australia, Feb 2: Farmer John Weatherstone, 64, has seen many droughts and each one has broken his heart as he struggled to save his dust-bowl property from being blown away in the scorching wind.

But the drought he recalls most vividly, in 1982, changed him from a farmer who fought the land to one who nurtures it.

Like many farmers Weatherstone is again battling drought, the worst on record as climate change grips Australia, but his Lyndfield Park property southwest of Sydney is faring better than most because of his sustainable farming.

Lyndfield Park is a national showcase for sustainable farming, praised by Britain's Prince Charles during a visit in 2005. No longer does Weatherstone run merino sheep, but farms native trees and produces seeds for sale for land care projects.

''Australian farmers need to work with the land, not against it, as climate change becomes more severe,'' he told Reuters today.

''Many of us recognise now that what we were doing with the best intentions years ago is not appropriate any more,'' he said.

Weatherstone believes climate change will force more Australian farmers still using generations-old practices either to change their ways or be driven off the land.

''There are a significant proportion of Australian farmers who claim they are looking after the land, but they really don't understand a lot of the ways of nature,'' he said. ''There is going to be an awful lot of casualties from this drought. I think farmers are going to have to change if they are to survive.'' Scientist Tim Flannery, chosen as 2007 Australian of the Year for his environmental campaigning, says many Australians are only now coming to terms with how to manage their harsh environment, after years of pursuing practices brought over from England by the first white settlers in 1788.

Believing they could recreate a lush patchwork English-type farmscape, pioneering farmers clear-felled the land, leaving it featureless and vulnerable to drought and flood.

''It's as if we ate through the wealth of the continent in just a few decades rather than carefully shepherded it,'' said Flannery.

''We're squatting on the country rather than being true ones who have a long-term future here through a careful caring for our land.''
NURTURE LAND

Weatherstone's epiphany came on Christmas Eve 1982. His 900-acre (365-hectare) sheep farm, 200 km (120 miles) southwest of Sydney, had been left a dustbowl by drought.

''I'd put 23 years of blood, sweet and tears into the farm ... I'd used best farming practices, but to see it looking like the Sahara desert was gut-wrenching,'' he recalled.

In despair he decided to take a photograph of what was left of his beloved farm but, as he climbed over a fence running along a boundary highway, he sank in knee-deep spongy grass.

On his side of the fence was dirt and stones, but on the other lush feed was growing in the naturally healthy soil untouched by grazing and chemicals.

''I just stood there looking at it and made a solemn promise that, if we survived that drought, I was going to change our farming practices to see it never happened again,'' he recalled.

Weatherstone reduced sheep numbers, began a tree-planting programme and used fewer chemicals on crops. He has now planted 100,000 trees and shrubs, providing protection for livestock, reducing wind speed across paddocks and in turn lowering soil evaporation and holding the soil in place during strong winds.

''In recent years we have come to understand what goes on in the soil is not just a chemical process. We are trying to get the biology in our soil healthy and balanced and, if we can achieve that, our pastures and crops are healthier,'' he said.

''If you make sacrifices initially, in the long term you do better because you have nurtured the ground and put its welfare first. You can carry more stock without damaging the country.'' During a 2002 drought Weatherstone ran 1,500 livestock, more than double the number he had during the 1982 drought.

Today he runs 600 to 700 livestock on only 500 acres, with the bulk of the farm native tree plantings or seed orchard.

But even with his nurturing, the 2007 drought, regarded as the worst in 100 years, is scarring his farm.

''Some people promote our place as drought-proof but there is no such thing as a drought-proof farm,'' said Weatherstone.

''If it doesn't rain for long enough, it doesn't matter what you've done, it catches up with you.''

REUTERS