Acid Sulfate Soils: Farming community ideas about the way forward
Alice
Woodhead
NSW
Agriculture, Wollongbar, NSW 2477 Australia
A new social research publication investigating the plight of landholders and other stakeholders facing a major environmental problem, acid sulfate soils (ASS), is now available.
The publication entitled "ASS: Farming community ideas about the way forward" was produced by the Acid Sulfate Soils Management Advisory Committee (ASSMAC) and NSW Agriculture.
Acid sulfate soils present a multi-million dollar threat to agricultural industries and coastal catchment communities. They are a feature of coastal lowlands and affect farmers and fishers through acidification of the soil and water. They are a very topical issue with coastal urban communities, who are concerned about water quality and the fish kills, which occur after a severe acid event. There are over 600,000 ha of ASS in NSW of which approximately 200,000 ha have been disturbed by drainage and excavation.
The booklet is based on a research project, which benchmarked farmers’ attitudes, knowledge levels and management practices on ASS. Nearly 300 farmers from four industries: sugar cane, beef, dairy and tea tree, and seven coastal catchments in NSW were interviewed. There is also a full technical report available on the results of the benchmark survey.
The booklet has sections about understanding ASS; the industries and catchments surveyed; and farmers’ knowledge and attitudes. Produced as a guide for farmers and government employees it has pictures showing the industries and various catchments.
This booklet is free and you can get a copy by contacting Alice Woodhead at Wollongbar Agriculture Instititute. Email alice.woodhead@agric.nsw.gov.au Tel: 02 66 261 215. NSW Agriculture, Wollongbar, NSW 2477 Australia.
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