Grasslands of the World.pdf - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

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Grasslands of the world
FUTURE
Products from pastures and grasslands have made great contributions to the
Australian economy – during the nineteenth century the native grasslands
supported the grazing industries (particularly wool) that, together with
gold, made Australia prosperous. During the twentieth century, temperate
pastures based on subterranean clover and other legumes, and to a lesser extent
tropical pastures, raised production levels and financial returns to previously
unachievable levels.
Future pasture management will involve concerns for both productivity
and the environment both on- and off-property. As a recent assessment of
the sustainability of Australian agriculture has shown, long-term productivity
has been increasing for all broadacre and dairy industries, but resource issues
– sodic and acid soils, native vegetation , salinity – have also become important
and increasing problems (SCARM, 1998). Pastures, both sown and native, will
continue to be important for both production and environmental impacts. As
discussed earlier, rates of pasture development are closely linked to seasonal
conditions and the profitability of farming enterprises, and this situation is
likely to continue. Costs of pasture development and maintenance have been
and remain a major concern to growers. A recent survey (Clements, 1996;
McDonald and Clements, 1999) found that of 21 possible constraints to the
future use of tropical pasture plants, farmers rated uncertain commodity prices,
high cost of establishment and costs of maintaining improved pastures among
the top four.
Agriculture is declining in relative importance in the economy and will continue
to do so, but it will remain an important contributor to both the national
and regional economies for many years. Grasslands and pastures will remain
important – in many areas they provide the only means of producing a valuable
product where there are no viable alternatives. In arable areas, grasslands will
continue to have a role in crop rotations for increasing nitrogen supply, disease
breaks and weed control as herbicide resistance reduces the effectiveness of
herbicides.
REFERENCES
ABARE [Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics]. 1998.
Australian Commodity Statistics 1998. Australian Bureau of Agricultural and
Resource Economics, Canberra ACT, Australia .
Anon[ymous]. 1999. Agriculture 1997–98. Australian Bureau of Statistics Catalogue
No. 7113.0.
Archer, K.A. & Robinson, G.G. 1988. Agronomic potential of native grass species
on the northern tablelands of New South Wales. II. Nutritive value. Australian
Journal of Agricultural Research, 39: 425–436.
Carnahan, J.A. 1989. Natural Vegetation , Australia . Department of Administrative
Services, Canberra ACT, Australia.