Mallee farmers maintained groundcover levels reducing wind and land erosion for two years in a row, according to Agriculture Victoria’s latest paddocks survey.
The Monitoring wind erosion and land management in the Victorian Mallee report found vegetation cover required for protection against wind erosion was above the threshold target in 2020-21.
For the Mallee catchment region, the vegetation cover target is 64.9 per cent coverage to protect against wind erosion and throughout 2020-21 the area protected ranged from 72.4 per cent (February) to 98.9 per cent (July).
Wind erosion protection levels for agricultural lands (45.4 per cent) were also met in all months for both 2020 and 2021.
The longitudinal results are good news for Mallee farmers who, despite a below average rainfall year (2021), were able to maintain groundcover in order to reduce wind and land erosion.
The findings are from the monitoring project has been using remote sensing (satellite imagery) technology and roadside surveys (spring/autumn) to summarise seasonal conditions and wind erosion risk factors since 2019.
The latest annual report from the project will be presented in an open online forum next Thursday 9 June to discuss soil type, crop selection and crop management influences on ground cover levels and erosion risk in 2020-21.
The forum will feature a summary of past seasonal conditions as well as a three-month outlook from Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey.
Date: Thursday 9 June
Time: 12 – 1 pm
Registration can be made online at: https://bit.ly/3MTHHZP
This project is supported by the Mallee Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Australian Government.
