C.O.D. says: "Dried food, hay, straw, etc for stall-feeding cattle
Certainly not trees with hay on them!
Editors note: The original of this paper was difficult to scan due to poor image quality and difficult to reformat due to it's structure. To protect the message of the author the remainder of this paper is presented in the form in which it was provided to the editor.
2 to 3% OF LAND IN TREES can result in
20% INCREASE IN CROPS & PASTURES
20% INCREASE IN FERTILITY
MULCH IMPROVES SOIL
MANY FODDER TREES HAVE VERY GOOD TIMBER
eg BLACKWOOD (DALBERGIA SISSOO)
(PAULOWNIA sp)
OTHER PRODUCTS INCLUDE
BEE FORAGE = HONEY
FIBER = eg GUAZAhlA UNIFOLIA
MEDICINES = eg POPULUS spp, SALIX spp
OILS = eg DERRIS indica
PESTICIDES = eg MELIA AZEXARADI
SILKWORM FORAGE = eg MORUS
MANY FTS ARE HIGHLY ORNAMENTAL
ROADSIDE PLANTINGS
MANY HIGHLY SUITABLE FOR ALL CLIMATES
FROM DESERT eg CASSIA, ACACIA, ATRIPLEX
TO HUMID TROPICS eg CALLIANDRA, SESBANIA
eg ATRIPLEX- TREMA POLITORIA
SLOW DOWN GLOBAL WARMING
INCREASE EVAPOTRANSPIRATION,
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eg TAGASASTE IN CENTRAL WEST ON ROADS & IN N PARKS,
ROBINIA - ON WATERCOURSES AROUND SYDNEY,
HONEY LOCUST (GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS) HUGE
PROBLEM IN HAWKESBURY, NEPEAN & HUNTER AREAS;
EVEN NATIVES - ACACIA SALIGNA NOW BIG PROBLEM IN
KURINGAI NP
COMPETE FOR NUTRIENTS,
OLD PARADIGM
ANNUAL GRASSES, DECIDUOUS TREES
SUMMER PASTURES
STORED CROPS OVER WINTER
COVERNMENT AT PRESENT (1995) - NOT FUNDING RESEARGH ON FTS - NO FUNDS FOR FTS - NO SUBSIDIES OR TAX BREAKS FOR FTS, - NO COURSESfTRAINING/EDUCATION ON FTS FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVISORS OR FOR FARMERS. - NO EXPERTS IN FODDER TREES STATE DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE - TREES ON FARM CO-ORDINATOR - REGIONAL TREES ON FARM ADVISORS HAVE ALMOST NO DATA ON FTS.
FARMERS DISINTERESTED
CONTROLLED NOW
BUT STILL TAX DEDUCTIBLE - NO EXAMPLES, NO DEMO PLOTS NO FIELD TRIALS - NO ASSISTANCE, - NO ADVISE AVAILABLE, - IGNORANCE OF POTENTIAL BENEFITS, - FEAR: SOME TREES TOXIC, SOME WEEDS.
BUT MANY LISTINGS FOR
TREES SEEN AS LIABILITIES
"hazardous trees removed limbs lopped safe removals pest & disease management tree surgery trees & rubbish removed"
FTS at present NOT COMMERCIAL
NOT COMPUTERABLE,
GREENING AUSTRALIA
APPEARS TO HAVE LOW PRIORITY
PERMACULTURE - SECOND HAND DATA - SOURCES NOT EXAMINABLE - SUPPORT FTS BUT DON'T WARN OF PROBLEMS.
4) WHAT CAN BE DONE
PREVIOUS EFFORTS - INTERNATIONAL TREE CROPS INSTITUTE - SPECIFIC CROPS: POPLAR
TAGASASTE
PAULOWNIA
INTERNATIONAL TREE CROPS INSTITUTE - PRIVATE ORGANISATION, - NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR FODDER TREE CROPS, - LACK OF SUPPORT
POPLAR PLANTATIONS - PRIMARILY FOR MATCHES - MATCHES NO LONGER MADE IN AUST - PLANTATIONS NO LONGER PURSUED - BARK EASILY DAMAGED BY STOCK, - MUST HAND FEED, - GOOD SUPPLElMENT IF PLANTED IN FENCED OFF AREAS BESIDE HOLDING YARDS.
TAGASASTE - MOST SUCCESSFUL TO DATE BUT STILL LIMITED - CAN BECOME A WEED - AGFACTS by NSW DEP AG Agdex 12500 - NEW BOOK BY DR SNOOK FROM WA DUE OUT SAND AREAS NORTH OF PERTH MADE USEFULL, SALTED AREAS IN SW OF WA RECLAIMED
USUALLY LESS THAN 0.1 % OF AREA
ATRIPLEX - SALT BUSH
WHILST LAND VALUE PROBABLY ONLY $20XHA.
MANY OTHER POTENTIAL
HIGH VALUE USES.
RESEARCHERS NEEDED - AGRICULTURE STATIONS - UNIVERSITIES - PRIVATE FARMERS - OTHERS eg IUIINING, CSIRO, ABORIGINAL GROUPS.
TRIALS / RESEARCH NEEDED FOR
- VARIETAL SELECTIONS BASED ON
YIELDS.
BEST GUILD OF FTS AND LIFESTOCK TO GIVE OPTIMUM
YIELD IN KG OF USEABLE PROTEIN XHAZYR OR $/HASYR
EXAMPLES NEEDED - USING COMBINATIONS OR ROTATIONS OF CATTLEs SHEEP, COATS, KANGOOSs DEER & CAMELS OR LLAMAS;
WITH MULTISPECIES COMBINATION GUILDS of
BULK or COARSE GRAZERS eg CATTLE
with MIXED CONCENTRATE GRAZERS eg IMPALA
plus BROWSERS eg KUDU
NEW PARADIGM NEEDED BASED ON:
COMPARE WITH INDUSTRY
WHY Shouldn't GRAZIERS ALSO HAVE TO LIMIT STOCKING TO LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE LIMITS TO MINIMISE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS TO NEIGHBOURS
PIG FARMERS ALREADY HAVE TO ACCEPT STOCKING LIM ITS;
NATIONAL PARKS OVERSEAS ARE PUTTING LIMITS ON VISITORS.
TRAGEDY OF COMMONS PARADIGM ALSO APPLIES TO PRIVATE GRAZING LANDS:
ONE GRAZIERS RUN-OFF IS ANOTHERS EROSION
eg. IN NTH AMERICA THOUGH EXAMPLES OF POLLUTION CONTROL SHOWED INCREASED PROFITS FOR PAPER INDUSTRY ONLY WHEN ENVIRONMENT CONTROLS WERE LEGALLY ENFORCED DID BUSINESS OF POLLUTION CONTROL FOR PAPER M ILLS REALLY TAKE OFF.
SIMILARLY ONLY WHEN STOCKING RATES FOR GRAZING PROPERTIES ARE ENFORCED ARE FODDER TREES LIKELY TO BE PLANTED ON A LARGE SCALE
GOOD FARMING PRACTISES NOT NECESSARILY GOOD FOR GNP
EXAMPLE: COMPARE WITH HEALTH
BAD HEALTH IS GOOD GNP
ie: more accidents more doctors
more diseases NEED more medicines
more fast food more hospitals
WHO NEED more accountants
more suppliers etc. etc.
WHICH ALL ADD UP TO BIGGER GNP
WE'D ALL LIVE HEALTHIER & LONGER BUT THE GNP COULD DROP BY MORE THAN 20%
FARMING FODDER TREES AT PRESENT IS:
and ( 2 ) NOT PROFITABLE
THE FARMER WHO MAINTAINS HIS HERD FROM FODDER TREES DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO GNP
DEDUCTIONS available for PLANTING TREES & SHRUBS TO CONTROL SALINITY,
STABILISE EROSION
PREVENT WIND EROSION
BUT NOT TO PROVIDE DROUGHT FODDER RESERVES
for FENCES TO SEPARATE LAND CLASSES BUT NOT FENCES TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION OF FTS
NOR FENCES TO PROVIDE FOR ALLEY CROPPING OR ROTATION CROPP1NG,
DEDUCTIONS FOR DESTRUCTION OF PLANT GROWTH "DETRIMENTAL TO THE LAND"
eg POSSIBLY INCLUDES TAGASASTE IN CENTRAL WEST or ROBINIA or HONEY LOCUST YET THEY ARE FODDER TREES
NO DEDUCTIONS FOR TRIALS OF FOODER TREES OR CONTROLLED HARVESTING OR MAINTENANCE OF FTS.
Q. WHICH FODDER TREES CAN DELIVER WHAT QUANTITY OF FEED OVER WHAT PERIOD WITH WHAT MAINTENANCE & CROPPING REGIME IN NORMAL AND IN DROUGHT YEARS FOR EACH PARTICULAR AREA?
Q. WHAT IS THE COST TO ESTABLISH AREAS OF EACH FODDER TREE CROP IN EACH REGION?
Q. WHAT IS THE IRR FOR EACH FOODER TREE CROP AND COMBINATION OF CROPS IN EACH REGION?
Q. WHAT MANAGEMENT REGIME WITH WHAT GUILD OF LIVESTOCK & WHAT PLANTS INCLUDING FODDER TREE CROPS WILL GIVEOPTIMUM YIELDSin KG SALEABLE PROTEIN / HA / YR WITH OPTIMUM DROUGHT PROTECTION INSURANCE AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
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MANY FODDER TREES CAN YIELD 10tonXhaXyr
with HIGH PALATABILITY & PROTEIN AROUND 2Q% ie MORE THAN KIKUYU but LESS THAN IMPROVED PASTURES SO IF A FARMER YUITH 400hal1000a)
HAD 10% as a fodder reserve ie 40 ha of F()DDER TREES
IF HE COULD HARVEST 400 TONS OF FODDER IN A DROUGHT YEAR
AND ASSUMING 75% PALATABILITY
THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO 300 TONS OR 7500 BALES OF HAY at $8 A BALE OR $200 A TON
NOW I'M JUST LEARNING ABOUT FODDER TREES SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CALCULATION:
IT SEEMS TOO FANTASTIC TO BE TRUE
WHERE IS THE FALLACY?
THE GOVERNMENT IS PAYING OUT RECORD AMOUNTS FOR DROUGHT ASSISTANCE
PROBABLY MORE THAN $200 MILLION THIS YEAR.
GRANT AID WILL PROBABLY BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH DAM BUILDING !
ASSUMING THERE WAS GRANT AID OF $1000 PER HA paid out when plantations had been established at least 12 months to ensure good establishment) WITH A Max OF 10 ha IN ONE YEAR FOR ONE FARM & ASSUMING 100,000 FARMERS PLANTED ON AVERAGE 1 ha PER YEAR THEN IT WOULD COST $100 MILLION PER YEAR
IN 10 YEARS THE FARMERS OF AUSTRALIA WOULD HAVE PLANTED 1 BILLION FODDER TREES AT A COST OF 1 BILLION DOLLARS COVERING ABOUT 1 MILLION HECTARES (which is about one tenth of the amount planted to wheat each year).
THINK ABOUT IT, THE FODDER POTENTIAL IN DROUGHT TIMES WOULD BE ENORMOUS - POSSIBLY ENOUGH SO THAT THERE WOULD BE LITTLE NEED FOR DROUGHT RELIEF, ESPECIALLY IF THE PROGRAM WAS COUPLED WITH LIMITS ON CARRYING SET ACCORDING TO LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
( 1 ) PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THERE 1S A REAL NEED FOR FTS COULD FORM A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP TO
( 2 ): GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS COULD RESPOND TO A LITTLE PRESSURE AS FOLLOWS :
THIS WOULD BE BASED ON POTENTIAL FODDER RESERVES ESPECIALLY THAT FROM AREAS PLANTED TO FODDER TREES AS RESERVES;
( 3 ): PROVIDERS OF FODDER TREES MUST BAND TOGETHER TO MARKET THE BENEFITS OF THEM, NOT THE TREES THEMSELVES
"IN DEPENDENCE FROM GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS
( 4 ): ALL THREE OF THE ABOVE COULD BE DONE TOGETHER AS THEN THERE WOULD BE SYNERGY & MORE CHANCE OF CREATING THE NEW PARADIGM NEEDED.
KOALA FOOD TREES
(LOCALLY NATIVE ONES)
PRIMARY: NATURAL CONDITION
Forest Red Gum worst sites (including (Eucalyptus tereticornis) nutrient poorer-drained frosty sites).
Tallowood Sotne what richer more (E~ microcorys) moist soils.
Grey Gum Some what richer more (E. propinqua) moist soils
Flooded Gum Considerably moister, (E. grandis) richer well-drained sites
Swamp Mahogany Non-stagnant wet sites. (E. robusta)
Sydney Blue Gum Considerably moister, (E. saligna) richer, well drained sites.
Blackbutt Most well-drained sites. (E. pilularis)
Scribbly Gum Poorer coastal soils. (E. signata)
Brush Box Well-drained sites. (Lophostemon confertus)
Small Leaved Peppermint Small tree. (E. nicholii) Suitable for urban planting