CONTENTS

' President's Message' by Mark Anderson

Ten years ago the CCSA opened its doors to a young woman with promise, potential and style. She later became our Administrator and in 1996 Executive Officer. Now after ten packed years Michelle is resigning from CCSA to take up the role of National Marine Campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation

' Editorial' by Margaret Bolster

Why Organics? Well, in the corridors of market power the European Union (EU) in particular countries are arguing that environmental degradation is a hidden subsidy on cheap exports. And Australia is in their sights. Radio National's Background Briefing (BB) "Sacrificial Land" on 8 September 2002 put flesh on the bones of rumour. Conversely according to the EU, taxpayer funded payments to farmers and landowners encouraging change to better practice and mindset are definitely NOT subsidies but wise investment.

' Mt Lofty Ranges - Adelaide's Organic Water Catchment?' by Bill Hankin

The Mt Lofty Ranges are not only a 5000 square km city water catchment. They also export $240M in agricultural produce, house over 85,000 human beings alongside the natural ecosystem services provided by its native forests, grasslands and wetlands. Since 1993 the Mount Lofty Ranges Catchment Program with LandCare and NHT has 'subsidised' repair and a more sustainable use of the region's natural resources.

But the farmers and landowners of the Mt Lofty Ranges have never been paid to produce good clean water for the city. If they were, the water 'crop' would be better cared for.

' Common Ground - Organics & Conservation' by Jacquie Foyal & Rod Dyke

In summary, conservation and organic farming practitioners share an appreciation of ecosystem management principles that, in turn, contribute to outcomes which we, as a society, want. Given the overlap of philosophies and approaches, there is no reason why cooperative approaches and projects between conservationists and organic farmers should not be much more common in the future.

' Growth in the Organic Sector' by Tim Marshall

The global market for organic produce continues to grow at greater than 25% per annum. Most of this growth is in Europe, but North America and Asia (especially Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Korea) are also important.

' Organic Cattle' by Sharon Oldfield

Given increasing consumer awareness of chemical use in food production, a group of producers decided we had something worth pursuing. In 1995, the Organic Beef Enterprise Company was formed by some 30 growers. The area collectively owned by these producers exceeds 7,000,000 hectares. It represents the largest organic beef project in the world.

'Target Setting & Monitoring' by Patrick O'Connor

The overall objectives of Natural Resource Management (NRM) programs in South Australia have not altered substantially with the introduction of new funding programs, however, the way in which these programs are delivered is currently undergoing substantial change (eg NAP and NHT II).

' In Adversity Lies the Seed of Opportunity' by David & Anita Reilly

Ours is an example of how organic vignerons manage their land to enhance its crop productiveness and the level of biodiversity and wildlife.

'A 'Green' Wine Co' by Bill Hankin

Organics is the cornerstone of the way that Temple Bruer operates. After being certified organic by the Organic Vignerons Association of Australia (OVAA) for eight years Temple Bruer after the merger in August 2001 with Biological Farmers of Australia, is now certified organic by BFA.

'Hedgerows' by Adrian Strachan

This is an organic farm, managed by people, for people nurturing a symbiotic relationship with the earth and preserving the age-old skills of breeding and growing our food. This style of farming, despite a steady resurgence of interest, is struggling to survive in the socio-political and economic climate of the 'developed' world.

'Bookmark Biosphere' by Humphrey Howie

The Bookmark Biosphere is both a geographical area and a concept of land management. Born out of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation), the biosphere concept is a rapidly growing form of regional land management with over 400 biospheres having been established throughout the world.

'Mundulla Yellows' - a new tree dieback threat' By Dagmar Hanold, Mike Stukely & John Randles

A little-known and only recently described disease, Mundulla Yellows, has the potential to seriously affect a number our native plant species, as well as revegetation plantings on farms and possibly some eucalypt plantations. Mundulla Yellows is a progressive slow dieback and yellowing disease of many varieties of eucalypts, now suspected of being caused by a virus-like agent. It has been reported in trees of all ages. Once symptoms appear, the affected trees do not recover, and die within a few years.

'Mundulla Yellows - the great debate' by Bill Hankin

I suggest that this is a soil toxicity problem, possibly cumulative, and very likely primarily caused by people. Trees have roots, and we must be aware of them when applying plant poisons to the ground. Just as we should, if we allow the soil to be contaminated with any phytotoxic substance, within reach of the roots of any tree that we do not intend to kill. Let us stop poisoning our trees, now.

'Organic Networks'

Soil Association of SA

World Organics comes to SA in 2005

The Organic Federation of Australia

The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA)

'Mallee/Saltbush Country - Huebie Sheldon's story' by Bill Hankin

The property has been farmed 'chemical-free' since 1992. There has been no superphosphate, no herbicides and no pesticides.The last application of 'super' was in 1991. Huebie is now working out how to manage his sheep without conventional drenches and backliners.

'Paris Creek' - Biodynamic Dairy by Bill Hankin

Ulli and Helmut Spranz came to South Australia with a dream - a dream of farming in tune with the environment and the spirit of the place. They came from Germany and Switzerland in 1987 looking for a place to settle, bring up a family and to farm biodynamically. They got to Paris Creek, close to Meadows in the Adelaide Hills, after a year of travelling around Australia.

'Nirvana Organic Farm' by Deb Cantrill & Quentin Jones

Nirvana Organic Farm was purchased in February 1983. The farm occupies a valley with steep hills on either side, covered by impenetrable black-berry thickets. A ten year plan was devised to turn this degraded area into a biodynamic farm. And as any tour through the farm will reveal we have succeeded. It is now a productive and fertile farm, much of it now replanted with native vegetation and trees. 

'Habitat Birds Restoration' By Penny Paton

Like most ecological questions this is complex and we don't have all the answers. However, given that people are asking questions, it is desirable to attempt to give guidance even if this is based on imperfect knowledge.

'Encounter Pilot (MPA)' by Bryan McDonald

The mainland coastline of South Australia extends over some 4000km. Together with the rest of SA, it makes up the greatest extent of southerly facing coastline in the world and as a result supports an extremely diverse range of flora and fauna. Estimates suggest that ninety percent of plants and animals in our marine environment do not occur anywhere else in the world.

'Weed Management - without herbicides' by Chris Penfold

The research program is generating a lot of interest, as growers seek options to their present weed management practices. It is expected that at the completion of the trial program in 2003, some of the answers to weed management options will be available.

'Genetically Engineered Crops' by John Hepburn

There is little debate about whether sustainable agriculture is needed, yet there are radically divergent views of what it might look like. One of the key questions about the future of agriculture, is that of genetically engineered (GE) crops. For some, genetic engineering is seen as the Holy Grail - a panacea to solve problems of rising salt tables, pests and disease. For others, GE is just more of the same reductionist thinking that has led to the creation of these problems in the first place.

'GE - The Impact of Percy' by Bill Hankin

It is worthwhile when looking at a subject like this to listen to what has happened elsewhere in the world. Recently SA was visited by three conventional farmers from North America where GE canola, soy beans, corn and cotton have been grown for four to five years. The visitors were Percy Schmeiser from Saskatchewan, Canada and Tom and Gail Wiley from North Dakota, USA. Percy Schmeiser farms 3000 acres of land and has been growing canola and wheat for the past 50 years. Tom and Gail Wiley farm corn and soybeans.

'Organic Certification - how it happens' by Rod Dyke & Jacquie Foyal

The certified organic industry is leading the way in Australia in protecting the consumer and addressing their environmental concerns about the production of Australian food and fibre products. In certified organics, we conduct yearly inspections to see if certified farmers (and processors, transporters, storage facilities etc) are conducting their enterprises in accordance with the relevant organic standards.

'The Importance of Blue' by David Walker

The use of the word 'green' to denote environmentally sensitive or friendly is an interesting one given other meanings the word can take. Environmentalists are often portrayed as being gullible, willing to believe the worst predictions that people or scientists are willing to make. But the accusers are just as gullible and whether mostly right or mostly wrong seem content to knock down arguments by picking small holes and assuming the fabric will unravel around them.

'Externalities - Rio to Jo'burg and still fudging the books!' by John Denlay

An 'externality' is defined as 'a secondary or unintended consequence', for example 'pollution and other externalities of manufacturing'1 . Externalities can have either a positive or negative effect on our society. For example climate change is a negative externality from the energy sector.

'Seed Savers' By Allison Miller

Two and a half years ago a group of gardeners and farmers affiliated with Permaculture Association in South Australia (PASA) became concerned with the loss of biodiversity in our foods and the genetic modification of food. In response, they met to start a group now known as SA Seed Savers.

'Jill Hudson Award - 2002'

The Conservation Council of South Australia announced Richard Owen as the winner of the 2001 Jill Hudson Award as part of this year's celebrations for World Environment Day.

'No smoke without fire' by Matthew Turner

The Conservation Council's Firewood Conference in June raised potentially worthwhile proposals to establish extensive plantations for supplying firewood to consumers in the Adelaide region.

Letters to the Editor

'Obituaries': Rocky Marshall and Gary Boyce

These articles first appeared in Environment South Australia, Vol 9 No 2 - October 2002. The whole or part of this journal may be reproduced without permission provided that acknowledgement is made and provided the reproducer agrees to provide gratis a right of reply in the publication or medium in which the reproduction was published or broadcast, and in a form similar to the reproduction should the Conservation Council of SA or its agents desire to make such a reply.Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Conservationn Council of South Australia. Non-sexist and non-racist language is a policy of Environment South Australia