MANAGEMENT

Will Owen and son Nathaniel discussing his pruning program with FPC Forester Andrew Bussau.

Will Owen lives away from his 800 hectare farm in Jingalup, in Kojonup Shire, and a manager looks after the farm’s core activities - sheep, canola, oats and barley. Like all others in the area, his property is suffering from encroaching salinity, and this is a prime motivation for the plantings. Will says it is too early to detect any signs of salinity being slowed, but considers his involvement in the program to be well worthwhile if existing salinity can be contained.

The FPC has applied its detailed knowledge and expeirence to undertake a full assessment of the land, to ensure the right mix of tree crops has been selected for Will's situation.

FPC Forester, Andrew Bussau, says the planting program was very carefully planned with salinity control in mind. “We’ve gone for the more productive species – primarily Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) - on the best land, with the more robust swamp yate (E. occidentalis) down to the salt line, and swamp sheoak (Casuarina obesa) into the worst affected areas. The first two will reduce hillside seep, and the job of the third is to absorb the saline water and prevent the saline area from spreading,” says Andrew.

Will noted, “In heavy rains after shearing last year we were able to drive the sheep into the trees for protection, and what we saved there alone made the whole business worthwhile.”

"In heavy rains after shearing last year we were able to drive the sheep into the trees for protection, and what we saved there alone made the whole business worthwhile."

Depending on the type of trees suitable for your farm, the FPC also provides a number of management options for tree farmers. If ongoing management is required, you may choose to let the FPC take care of it for you, or undertake certain operations yourself - such as site preparation, planting, pruning and spraying. Farmers taking on these options are not only able to generate extra income for their farm, but have access to the depth of experience FPC brings to the table including relevant education and training, advice, assistance and safety inductions from qualified FPC personnel.

“Once I had decided to go this route it made sense to go to people who know what they are doing to set up and maintain the trees, providing action on everything ranging from pruning and thinning to parrot control, so I signed total management of the tree program over to FPC” Will notes.

“It’s mainly about the long-term value of the farm, but there are important short-term benefits, too – not the least of which is the cash injection for use of the land,” he says.

This was not Will’s first experience of tree farming - stands of radiata pine (Pinus radiata) and maritime pine (P. pinaster) had been established in 1999 under an earlier program - and he is a firm advocate.

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