Nanna Anne visits farmers using Perth residents’ poo to fertilise their land. It’s a win for the owners and the environment!
Traveling through Australia, I can feel the city-country divide, although it doesn’t seem quite as strong as when I am at home — secluded from country. One of my learnings is that, mostly, we all want the same things — our children and grandchildren to live good lives with access to education, housing, quality food and water, though we pursue them in different ways. I choose climate activism, others choose different paths, such as food production.
On 23 August, I caught up with a farming couple, Owen and Pam, who I met while having a pub dinner in a small town in Queensland. They told me then of their use of Perth poo to fertilise their land — my Nanna and farming background lights came on — “I want to see this,” and here I am.
Owen and Pam live on a 22,000-acre property 140km to the north-east of Perth. They started small 48 years ago and have built up the business into what it is today — a huge agribusiness growing grains for hay, and canola for both domestic and export markets.
WA Water delivers Perth poo (bio solids) daily to Owen and Pam’s farm. It’s a win for Owen and his family as they have access to a very cheap and highly valuable fertiliser and a win for the environment as the bauxite in the soil binds the phosphate and prevents runoff into streams. This means the crops grow well with little effect on the water system.
Before the biomix arrives on site, it has been treated to reduce any pathogens. They use two methods — anaerobic digestion (heat) and lime (increasing pH). Methane gas produced during the anaerobic digestion is used to power the treatment facility.
The EPA has very strict guidelines on how the fertiliser can be used. It can only be used for dry-land farming — not fresh produce, such as vegetables. Paddocks are tested prior to approval to ensure they have the correct soil structure and are the correct distance from creeks and rivers.
Soils are regularly tested for over fertilising (pH and nitrogen levels) and crops are rotated, canola first, then the grains, such as oats and wheat, as they do not need such nutrient-rich soils. Paddocks are also rotated and rested.
Owen talked of the enormous risk he and his family take each year — spending millions to sow their crops and then hoping that the weather will be kind to them. And, as we know, the weather can be very unkind, so there have been lean times with huge financial losses. If all goes well, profits can be substantial, but they have a massive investment in the machinery and infrastructure needed to prepare, sow and harvest the crops. This business employs twelve people.
I have seen little evidence in WA of regional reliance on solar, although metropolitan Perth outshines Sydney in per-capita installations. Owen has a contract with Green Wind for 60 large wind turbines. They will be paid $50,000/turbine/year. They will be able to continue cropping activities and will only lose a total of 350Ha. Neighbours will also benefit as they have some wind turbines too, and the community is happy. Farming and climate are interrelated. Farming is entirely dependent on climate and climate is influenced by farming. Similarly, farmers and consumers are interrelated, with farmers able to provide the food and raw materials to consumers who have the purchasing power to ensure the ongoing lifestyle of farmers. We all need to come together to limit the effects of human-induced climate change.