Food and Fibre

Thirty years ago, Isis cane farmer Mark Mammino’s father told him that there wasn’t much more they could be doing to improve their farming efficiency. That was before the widespread adoption of green cane harvesting. While the farming business has long enjoyed the associated benefits of trash retention, much like most of the district, these days Mark and his wife Deran continue to look for any opportunity available to improve their farming efficiency and management of their 300 ha of cane land around Childers. Continue Reading…

With the magnificent Mount Bartle Frere, Queensland’s highest mountain, in the background, the banana farm Brad Finch manages near Mirriwinni in Far North Queensland is a particularly striking property.   A banana farm for the last thirty years and a cane farm for an even longer period before that, the issue of sediment and nutrient runoff has long been a concern.  With the Russell River bordering a significant section of the 70 hectare farm, sediment and nutrient runoff makes its way in to the river and possibly downstream, in to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

Brad Finch made the decision to change his lifestyle two years ago, swapping commercial fishing off the coast for banana farming.  As soon as he began managing this farm, Brad started planning to upgrade to farming practices that help prevent erosion and better manage the health of the soil.  One of the changes he was keen to make was to carry out contouring of the rows of banana plants. Continue Reading…