Our visit to Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo island was an opportunity to take a look at some of the conservation efforts by the Kangaroo Island government. When talking with a park ranger of the Natural Resources agency, we learned that they offer programs to educate locals on certain topics such as fire hazards. They told us that it is mostly made up of volunteer that also help run a revegetation program for threatened species.
Our trip to Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil distillery gave us a unique look into a local farm that not only takes advantage of the agricultural aspects of Kangaroo Island, but the tourism industry on the island as well.
Larry Turner, the owner of the farm, gave us a tour of his facility and some insight into being a farmer on the island. It was interesting to see that these local farmers face some of the same issues that U.S. farmers face.
Turner described the struggles he faces from the government who try to implement regulations that he believes hinder his business. He believes that he knows the best way to run his farm in a sustainable way and that the government officials trying to tell him what to have no knowledge on farming practices.
He also mentioned public opinion on farmers and farming practices which is something we see in the U.S. People who have little to no understanding of modern agricultural practices are increasingly trying to be more involved in farming practices, specifically when it comes to food. He makes note that many city-based Australians have negative opinions of farmers like him and want to influence a change in his practices, though he is not concerned with their opinions.
In the early afternoon, Paden and I headed out to the Natural Resources center in Kingscote and got the opportunity to talk to an employee who works closely with farmers in an extension position. He told us about some of the work he does with local farmers and some programs they have in place to improve the agricultural industry on the island.
He told us that the Natural Resources agency added the agricultural extension services in the last few years due to a push by farmers to switch the emphasis from an environmentally-focused program to a more agriculturally-focused program.
Each year, they hold anywhere from 12 to 20 workshops or events for farmers, bringing in experts to promote and educate sustainable practices. In the past, they have offered incentive programs to encourage and reward farmers for using more sustainable practices.
The issues the island faces seem to be similar to what small farming communities might face back in the U.S. He said the biggest setback he faces in providing services to farmers is simply getting the farmers to dedicate and find the time to attend and learn the information they are providing. Because it is a small community on the island, usually the farmers have many commitments within the community, and therefore cannot always dedicated the time to extra learning opportunities. He said there are about 330-350 farmers on the island and if they get 20-30 farmers at an event, it is considered a success.
Other services his department offers are things like a soil testing program that uses digital technology to help farmers save money and provide a long-term management plan. Their ultimate goal, just like extension in the U.S., is to give the local farmers the tools they need to successfully and sustainably run their farm/business.