Farmers and farming

[martinw-48]

I have noticed a lot of land clearing between Coleraine and Ballarat.
There's the farm just before Hamilton on the left when approaching from Coleraine.
Wher they have cut down numerous trees.
All non native but I've noticed that nothing is being planted to replace them.
This farmer is a ploughing freak.
So firmly rooted to antiquated practices.
They also have sheep and it really boils my blood when sheep have no shade.
When any stock have the option they seek shade when it's hot and sunny.
It should be illegal to not provide shade

[icyfroth]

So...pardon my ignorance...how are the hybrid blue gums poisoning the soil?

[imastawka]

I could have posted a few links but decided to expain the situation to Icy, myself as I live in this area, so know from those affected exactly what has happened and the mess it has created. 

Fair enough, but some people have trouble believing unless there's a link  -   just sayin'

[lyhargr_0]

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@icyfroth wrote:

So...pardon my ignorance...how are the hybrid blue gums poisoning the soil?

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Not ignorant Icy, I only know cause I live in the area.       The soiled isnt so much poisoned as just totally spent, the blue gums bleed everything out of it. The falling leaves dont help either, as they are full of eucalyptus which is not at all good for the soil. as it tends to "sour" it. These trees are grown in rows only a few feet apart from each other, they grow straight upwards  not like normal gum trees.

The farmer could send in some sheep to lean up a bit of the undergrowth but it just not worth the time when the paddocks are full of grass atm, Plus then he would need to send in the dogs to round 'em all up again, just not worth it

[lyhargr_0]

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@imastawka wrote:

I could have posted a few links but decided to expain the situation to Icy, myself as I live in this area, so know from those affected exactly what has happened and the mess it has created. 

Fair enough, but some people have trouble believing unless there's a link  -   just sayin'

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lol well they they can always use google lol

[lyhargr_0]

Icy I am also maried to an ex Murray Grey/sheep farmer, so I guess I have leant a few things along the way

[lyhargr_0]

Blue gum plantation

[imastawka]

Is that what all those trees are that I've seen on the way to SA?

So thick and dark in there.   I've noticed a lot of emus running in and out of them.

[lyhargr_0]

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@imastawka wrote:

Is that what all those trees are that I've seen on the way to SA?

So thick and dark in there.   I've noticed a lot of emus running in and out of them.

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Could be them Stawka or they could also be pine plantations    .... both of them grow out this way

Those emus are lovely but  real hazard if they stray onto the road, which they do, see quite a few of them if we go over to The Mount

[chameleon54]

There is a very interesting saga starting to play our on S.A's Kangaroo Island re. Blue gums. There are large plantations on the island, but it has not been economical to harvest them, due to port and transport restraints. A new company has come in with serious plans to address the problems and start harvesting the blue gums.

The problem is the island is home to thousands of Koalas that have bred up to almost plague proportions in the blue gums. The fear is that harvesting the gums will trigger a mass starvation of the koalas forcing them into the native forests in such numbers that they could defoliate the native trees. ( and there are not a lot of native big gums on the island anyway ) It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

[lyhargr_0]

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@chameleon54 wrote:

There is a very interesting saga starting to play our on S.A's Kangaroo Island re. Blue gums. There are large plantations on the island, but it has not been economical to harvest them, due to port and transport restraints. A new company has come in with serious plans to address the problems and start harvesting the blue gums.

The problem is the island is home to thousands of Koalas that have bred up to almost plague proportions in the blue gums. The fear is that harvesting the gums will trigger a mass starvation of the koalas forcing them into the native forests in such numbers that they could defoliate the native trees. ( and there are not a lot of native big gums on the island anyway ) It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

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Same thing was happening around here re koalas losing their home/s. Now they pay "koala spotters" ( **bleep**e job, great pay ), to walk around and check the blue gums, if there is a family of koalas living in a particular tree, then the tree is not felled, seems to work well, everyone is a winner