Finance with Don Fraser Fraser Farm Finance

We all probably differ on this, but I believe soil is the world's most valuable resource.

Some time ago, David Bellamy gave us a wake-up call on just how important the soil is to our very existence.

I studied under Professor Walker at Lincoln University (now deceased) who was one of only a handful of soil enthusiasts in New Zealand. He was an absolute advocate and very passionate about soil and taught me well during my time at Lincoln University.

He was a strong proponent of biological nitrogen fixation and much of his research, and that of his staff and students, was concerned with the correction of nutrient deficiencies, such as sulphur, molybdenum and phosphorus limiting the growth of legumes and, as a consequence, nitrogen build up in soils. Professor Walker's great legacy to Lincoln University was the establishment of a strong, cohesive and happy Soil Science Department.

I find it amazing, even after Prof Walker's efforts, there is no independent soil authority in New Zealand. Soils are formed over millions of years from dust, erosion of rocks producing chips, pebbles, gravels, sands, silts and clays. These various materials hold and exchange all the essential elements as soil.

There seems to be a misconception that the more input we make to the soil, the faster the pastures will grow, but this is not always true. A P-level of 30 is apparently optimum, yet many farmers strive for a P-level of 70-plus!

Are the sprays used to minimise cultivation and fuel usage sterilising the soil and killing the micro-organisms that lie below the surface, which are so essential to the soil's stomach or life? Will high levels of nitrogen input also sterilise our soils or can soils manage 200-300 kilograms per ha/per annum without upsetting the balance?
Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils believes excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides compromises this balance in the soil, achieving the exact opposite of what is required (NZ Dairy Exporter, 2012).
The avocado industry wanted 12 copper sprays per annum on orchards. From my experience, the result would have been dead soil, as worms and many micro-organisms just 'leave home” under heavy copper toxicity.

Bowling greens and golf courses actually spray the greens with a weak solution of copper sulphate to dispose of the worms, so there are no worm casts on top!

To conclude, we as farmers are only custodians of this land and the soil, for your occupational time. We need to think about what we are doing to a vital and valuable world resource.

We need to remember the soil is alive and needs to be cared for and balance our expectations against reality. Remembering Bellamy and Walker and thinking about what they had to say is vital for the future.

Soils in New Zealand, and for that matter, the world, belong to the universe – not us! As with the land, we only have the right to occupy them for our lifetime.

These are the opinions of Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance. Any decisions made should not be based on this article alone and appropriate professional assistance should be sought.