The Soil and Land Conservation Commission has expressed concern over widespread dust storms across the northern agricultural region in recent weeks, saying they provide a reminder of the need to protect paddocks and people’s lives from the impact of wind erosion.
Commissioner, Cec McConnell said the top soil losses not only eroded landholders’ productivity and profitability, but also posed a risk to public safety.
“While the Mid-West and northern Grainbelt have experienced some unusual weather events recently, strong wind events at this time of the year are not unusual,” Ms McConnell said.
“This year has been particularly bad, with dust storms posing a hazard to those on the roads, reducing visibility to almost nothing, as well as posing a risk to people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.”
She said these wind events were not going to go away so it was important for landholders in the region — and across the Grainbelt — to adopt strategies that mitigate the risk of wind erosion threatening future sustainability and people’s health and safety.
She said the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommended maintaining at least 50 per cent ground cover to minimise the impact of wind and water erosion.
“A Department assessment of ground cover of the northern agricultural region found a third of the region had less than the recommended 50 per cent at the end of summer, leaving large areas vulnerable to strong Autumn winds,” Ms McConnell said.
“Now is the time to start planning strategies and investments to maintain ground cover over summer and into autumn, including harvesting measures to optimise crop residues and stubble management,” she said.
