❓ A parliamentary question addressing the dissemination of research on soil phosphorus levels and fertiliser application, and the Department of Agriculture's actions to mitigate nutrient runoff into the Swan-Canning river systems. The response outlines existing initiatives and collaborations.
AnsweredQoN 1622Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How will the Department of Agriculture disseminate to farmers the important information on soil phosphorus levels and fertiliser application rates gathered by Dr Cameron Gourley in his six-year Australia-wide study, as reported in
The
Countryman
of 22 May 2003?
(2) Is the Department reducing its recommended phosphorus application rates in line with these research results?
(3) Because the study has shown that excess fertiliser application leads to nutrient export out of soils into the wider environment, is the Department working with the Department of Environment to fully understand and implement these research findings as a matter of some urgency?
(4) Considering the recent massive fish deaths and algal bloom in the Swan River, what specific action is the Department taking to work with farmers in the catchment of the Swan Canning river systems to reduce nutrient levels escaping from agricultural areas?
The
Countryman
of 22 May 2003?
(2) Is the Department reducing its recommended phosphorus application rates in line with these research results?
(3) Because the study has shown that excess fertiliser application leads to nutrient export out of soils into the wider environment, is the Department working with the Department of Environment to fully understand and implement these research findings as a matter of some urgency?
(4) Considering the recent massive fish deaths and algal bloom in the Swan River, what specific action is the Department taking to work with farmers in the catchment of the Swan Canning river systems to reduce nutrient levels escaping from agricultural areas?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 June 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
22 days
(2) The Department's research on phosphorus leaching in high rainfall areas started in the late 1970’s and was a very large project. Based on data from this project, farmers have been advised since the early 1980’s what Dr Cameron Gourley is now advocating. Farmers have been advised not to apply more phosphorus than is needed and how best to avoid eutrophication. (3) Yes. The Department has, and continues to investigate agricultural nutrient management and encourages the adoption of nutrient management options suited to the Western Australian environment and its current farming systems. This is evident in recently initiated projects such as the Coastal Catchments Initiative in which the Department of Agriculture undertakes a research and development role and the Department of Environment has a coordinating role. (4) The Department of Agriculture has developed land management guidelines for rural land in the catchment of the Swan-Canning river systems in conjunction with landholders and catchment groups. Many studies have been carried out in recent years that include detailed recommendations on land management practices to minimise nutrient and soil losses from rural land. I list below 16 primary sources of information relating to land resources, values and threats for this area, which include recommendations for land management. The Department is also working closely with the Swan-Canning Cleanup Program (SCCP) to deliver training and information to small rural landholders on property planning and sustainable land management techniques. The Department of Agriculture's property planning project (including its Heavenly Hectares activities) has been highly successful in engaging small landholders in the Swan-Canning catchment. Landholder attendance at property planning workshops, awareness and information workshops and field walks has totalled 3,785 since inception in 1999. A further 235 participants are booked in for June 2003. Significant information is available to participants in SCCP and the general public through the Department's website for small landholders. Over 120 Farmnotes, bulletins and technical reports are provided as an information resource to rural landholders in this area, and are available at www.agric.wa.gov.au/smallfarm. SOURCES OF INFORMATION – LAND RESOURCES, VALUES AND THREATS · Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
(3) Yes. The Department has, and continues to investigate agricultural nutrient management and encourages the adoption of nutrient management options suited to the Western Australian environment and its current farming systems. This is evident in recently initiated projects such as the Coastal Catchments Initiative in which the Department of Agriculture undertakes a research and development role and the Department of Environment has a coordinating role. (4) The Department of Agriculture has developed land management guidelines for rural land in the catchment of the Swan-Canning river systems in conjunction with landholders and catchment groups. Many studies have been carried out in recent years that include detailed recommendations on land management practices to minimise nutrient and soil losses from rural land. I list below 16 primary sources of information relating to land resources, values and threats for this area, which include recommendations for land management. The Department is also working closely with the Swan-Canning Cleanup Program (SCCP) to deliver training and information to small rural landholders on property planning and sustainable land management techniques. The Department of Agriculture's property planning project (including its Heavenly Hectares activities) has been highly successful in engaging small landholders in the Swan-Canning catchment. Landholder attendance at property planning workshops, awareness and information workshops and field walks has totalled 3,785 since inception in 1999. A further 235 participants are booked in for June 2003. Significant information is available to participants in SCCP and the general public through the Department's website for small landholders. Over 120 Farmnotes, bulletins and technical reports are provided as an information resource to rural landholders in this area, and are available at www.agric.wa.gov.au/smallfarm. SOURCES OF INFORMATION – LAND RESOURCES, VALUES AND THREATS · Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
(4) The Department of Agriculture has developed land management guidelines for rural land in the catchment of the Swan-Canning river systems in conjunction with landholders and catchment groups. Many studies have been carried out in recent years that include detailed recommendations on land management practices to minimise nutrient and soil losses from rural land. I list below 16 primary sources of information relating to land resources, values and threats for this area, which include recommendations for land management. The Department is also working closely with the Swan-Canning Cleanup Program (SCCP) to deliver training and information to small rural landholders on property planning and sustainable land management techniques. The Department of Agriculture's property planning project (including its Heavenly Hectares activities) has been highly successful in engaging small landholders in the Swan-Canning catchment. Landholder attendance at property planning workshops, awareness and information workshops and field walks has totalled 3,785 since inception in 1999. A further 235 participants are booked in for June 2003. Significant information is available to participants in SCCP and the general public through the Department's website for small landholders. Over 120 Farmnotes, bulletins and technical reports are provided as an information resource to rural landholders in this area, and are available at www.agric.wa.gov.au/smallfarm. SOURCES OF INFORMATION – LAND RESOURCES, VALUES AND THREATS · Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION – LAND RESOURCES, VALUES AND THREATS · Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
· Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
(3) Yes. The Department has, and continues to investigate agricultural nutrient management and encourages the adoption of nutrient management options suited to the Western Australian environment and its current farming systems. This is evident in recently initiated projects such as the Coastal Catchments Initiative in which the Department of Agriculture undertakes a research and development role and the Department of Environment has a coordinating role. (4) The Department of Agriculture has developed land management guidelines for rural land in the catchment of the Swan-Canning river systems in conjunction with landholders and catchment groups. Many studies have been carried out in recent years that include detailed recommendations on land management practices to minimise nutrient and soil losses from rural land. I list below 16 primary sources of information relating to land resources, values and threats for this area, which include recommendations for land management. The Department is also working closely with the Swan-Canning Cleanup Program (SCCP) to deliver training and information to small rural landholders on property planning and sustainable land management techniques. The Department of Agriculture's property planning project (including its Heavenly Hectares activities) has been highly successful in engaging small landholders in the Swan-Canning catchment. Landholder attendance at property planning workshops, awareness and information workshops and field walks has totalled 3,785 since inception in 1999. A further 235 participants are booked in for June 2003. Significant information is available to participants in SCCP and the general public through the Department's website for small landholders. Over 120 Farmnotes, bulletins and technical reports are provided as an information resource to rural landholders in this area, and are available at www.agric.wa.gov.au/smallfarm. SOURCES OF INFORMATION – LAND RESOURCES, VALUES AND THREATS · Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
(4) The Department of Agriculture has developed land management guidelines for rural land in the catchment of the Swan-Canning river systems in conjunction with landholders and catchment groups. Many studies have been carried out in recent years that include detailed recommendations on land management practices to minimise nutrient and soil losses from rural land. I list below 16 primary sources of information relating to land resources, values and threats for this area, which include recommendations for land management. The Department is also working closely with the Swan-Canning Cleanup Program (SCCP) to deliver training and information to small rural landholders on property planning and sustainable land management techniques. The Department of Agriculture's property planning project (including its Heavenly Hectares activities) has been highly successful in engaging small landholders in the Swan-Canning catchment. Landholder attendance at property planning workshops, awareness and information workshops and field walks has totalled 3,785 since inception in 1999. A further 235 participants are booked in for June 2003. Significant information is available to participants in SCCP and the general public through the Department's website for small landholders. Over 120 Farmnotes, bulletins and technical reports are provided as an information resource to rural landholders in this area, and are available at www.agric.wa.gov.au/smallfarm. SOURCES OF INFORMATION – LAND RESOURCES, VALUES AND THREATS · Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION – LAND RESOURCES, VALUES AND THREATS · Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
· Land Systems of the Brockman River Catchment · Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group Action Plan 1998/2000 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 1 · Shire of Chittering Land Capability & Management Study Part 2 · Report on Degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment · Report on Degradation in the Upper Canning Catchment · Degradation in the Brockman River and Ellen Brook Catchments · The Bullsbrook Catchment Physical Resource Assessment · Land Capability Study for Horticulture in the Swan Valley No 6 · Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment · Stocking Rate Guidelines for rural small holdings · Salinity Survey in the Shire of Chittering · Swan Chittering Landuse Survey August 1997 · Erosion and Sediment Control Manual for the Darling Range, Perth WA. · Fertiliser Use Guidelines for the Swan Coastal Plain of WA. · Property Planning Manual for the Swan-Canning Catchment.
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