Industrial and agricultural production in the Perth Region are important components of the social and economic environment. However, lack of knowledge of best practises in industry and agriculture and limited resources to assist implementation, has resulted in degradation of our environmental assets.

Broadacre agriculture occurs mainly in the Avon Upper Swan part of the Region. Here, there are significant salinity and nutrient export issues, as well as erosion, waterlogging and acid soils threats. Waterlogging is instrumental in sheet erosion and nutrient transport especially during winter in areas where the groundwater table lies close to the surface. Development of acid sulphate soils can be devastating to both natural systems and the built environment.

Intensive horticulture is a significant sector in the region. It includes market gardening on the sandy soils and grape and fruit production on the eastern side of the coastal plain and on the Darling Scarp. Threats to natural assets from this sector include wetland loss through over extraction of groundwater and pollutant export from poor farming practises.

Healthy soils - Soil Carbon

Strong emphasis is now being placed on healthy soils by both National and State governments.
In particular the Caring for our Country (CFOC) national government environmental management initiative is funding soils projects.
In WA the use of artificial fertilisers, such as super phosphate, which helped develop our WA sandplains has resulted in the soils being out of balance.

Artificial fertilisers, unlike organic fertilisers, are high in nutrients and result in the soil being out of balance to the detriment of soil organisms and many other factors.
The healthy soils component is now built into many of the horticultural best practices which are being rolled out through all our 7 CFOC projects.

Soil science is a complex subject and is frequently tackled in modules and the main module with which we are working is Soil carbon
Soil organic carbon benefits farms, horticultural operations and landscapes by improving structural stability, water retention and nutrient status.
Perth Region NRM has been identified as a national priority area for increasing soil carbon is working with key stakeholders to apply for CFOC funding to improve farmer management practices to improve soil carbon.

It has been said that a hectare of pasture can sequester more carbon than a hectare of forest.

Stakeholders working with Perth Region NRM are :-

Swan River trust.
University of WA
Water Corporation.
Ellenbrook Integrated Catchment Group.
VegetablesWA
Rural Land Use Reference Group

Useful links:

Farmsafe WA Alliance Inc
Postal: Box 118 Forrestfield, WA, 6058
Location: 100 Bougainvillea Avenue, Forrestfield, Perth, WA, 6058
Phone: (08) 9359 4118
Fax: (08) 9359 3468
Website: www.farmsafewa.org

ChemCert WA
Phone: (08) 9341 5325
Website: http://www.chemcertwa.com.au/contact.htm

Freshcare
Phone: 1300 853 508
Fax: (02) 9764 2776
Email: info@freshcare.com.au
Website: www.freshcare.com.au

Nursery and Garden Industry of Western Australia
Postal: PO Box 589 Welshpool WA 6986
Location: 2 Somersby Road Welshpool WA 6106
Phone: (08) 9358 4811
Fax: (08) 9358 4822