Keyline becoming popular with high fertiliser prices
People from all over Queensland have been on the Atherton Tablelands this week learning how to improve the fertility of their soils. A Keyline design course has been running on a Malanda cattle property teaching participants the soil fertility theories of late Australian engineer Percy Yeomans. The practice of Keyline is said to build soil and to boost the landscapes ability to store water in the places it's most needed. Permaculture consultant Darren Doherty has run 17 Keyline courses around the world. He says many of the farmers doing the course wanted to reduce their reliance on costly fertilisers. Mr Doherty says the principles of Keyline are simple and easily picked up by farmers. Malanda grazier Peter Marsh has had a Yeomans plough in his shed for years but didn't really know how to use it. His family runs a vertically integrated beef business through to the butcher shop. Mr Marsh says he'll be trialing Keyline on a good chunk of his property to see whether it can supersede conventional fertiliser. Sunshine Coast landholder Chaille Twine has recently acquired a property in the Central Burnett which has a low average rainfall. She's says its her aim to use Keyline to improve her land's ability to hold moisture, reducing their reliance on a failing bore.
Far North Queensland Rural Report
ABC Rural Queensland