Farmers say levees built to prevent flooding have made situation worse
By Andrew Chounding, Anthony Pancia, and Rachel Hagan
In Western Australia's biggest food bowl region, farmers are still assessing the damage from the latest flood caused by Cyclone Narelle. However, farmers say the levees built to reduce damage made the situation worse.
#Floods #Cyclones #Farmers #AgriculturalCrops #LandManagement #AndrewChounding #AnthonyPancia # #RachelHagan
Why this cattle farmer is flooding his property with salt water
By Yasmine Wright Gittins and Bryn Wakefield
More than half a century ago, lush wetlands along the Queensland coastline were cut off from the ocean as farmers built physical barriers to stop salt water flowing into their land. Now, conservation groups and traditional owners are restoring tidal flows and bringing life back to the land.
#Wetlands #LandManagement #EnvironmentalManagement #Conservation #Agriculture #YasmineWrightGittins #BrynWakefield
More than half a century ago, lush wetlands along the Queensland coastline were cut off from the ocean as farmers built physical barriers to stop salt water flowing into their land. Now, conservation groups and traditional owners are restoring tidal flows and bringing life back to the land.
Cattle Farming in the Philippines: Best Practices for Sustainable Operations on Leyte Island
Baybay City | April 16, 2026
In the lush agricultural landscape of the Philippines, cattle farming represents a vital sector that supports the livelihoods of many, particularly on Leyte Island. With a diverse range of cattle breeds adapted to the country’s unique regions, including the Ilocos, Batangas, Iloilo, and Batanes Black, there is much potential for success in this endeavor. Additionally, various introduced breeds such as Hereford, Angus, and Brahman enrich the genetic diversity of the local cattle population.
The prominence of cattle farming in Asia can be attributed to their adaptability to different ecosystems, including the vast grasslands prevalent across the continent. In the Philippines, the agricultural terrain varies, and cattle have developed the ability to thrive in both tropical and subtropical climates, showcasing their resilience. However, establishing best practices is crucial for optimizing cattle farming operations.
Location and Land Management
Selecting an ideal site for cattle farming is paramount. Farmers should choose locations with easy access to ample water sources to ensure the cattle remain hydrated and healthy. Additionally, fertile pastureland is essential for grazing, supporting the nutritional needs of livestock.
Proper land size allocation plays a significant role in fostering a comfortable environment for cattle. A sheltered feeding area should be a minimum of 1.5 to 2 square meters per head, while an additional fenced loafing area of approximately 5 meters per head allows cattle to move freely and socialize—promoting overall well-being.
Sustainable Practices for Healthy Livestock
Effective pasture management, including crop rotation and intercropping, can enhance soil fertility and support the productivity of grazing lands. Regular monitoring of pasture quality and the implementation of controlled grazing patterns can prevent overgrazing, safeguarding the health of the land and the cattle.
Sheltering cattle from harsh weather conditions is equally essential. Simple structures provide shelter from heavy rains and extreme heat, ensuring the animals remain both safe and comfortable.
Routine health care, including veterinary check-ups and vaccinations, is vital for maintaining herd health. Farmers should create a health management plan, prioritizing cleanliness to reduce disease risks.
Nutrition and Feeding Strategies
Providing a balanced diet is crucial for the growth and productivity of cattle. A combination of forage, grains, and minerals can significantly affect milk and meat production. During drier seasons, supplementary feeding helps maintain cattle health and nutritional needs.
Breeding for Excellence
Choosing the right breeding practices based on farming objectives—whether focused on milk, beef, or dual-purpose production—can maximize productivity. It is vital to select breeds well-suited to the local climate and operational goals.
The Future of Cattle Farming in Southeast Asia
With increasing incomes and urbanization, the demand for beef and dairy products continues to rise. By adhering to sustainable practices and focusing on efficient management strategies, farmers on Leyte Island can create thriving cattle farming operations. These efforts not only support agricultural diversity but also contribute positively to the local economy.
As cattle farming evolves, embracing these best practices will ensure that cows remain an integral and sustainable part of the agricultural landscape in the Philippines.
#agriculture #Angus #BatanesBlack #Batangas #beefProduction #Brahman #breedingPractices #cattleFarming #CommunitySupport #cowNutrition #dairyFarming #farmingPractices #healthCare #Hereford #Ilocos #Iloilo #landManagement #livestock #livestockDiversity #pastureManagement #Philippines #ruralEconomy #sustainability #tropicalClimate #veterinaryCare
When talking about land-use, it is, however, important to understand that land is not something that is used and then thrown away (ok, there are some heavily destructive uses, e.g. mining).
Land provides multiple services (biodiversity, carbon storage, water cycling, recreation, agricultural production, space for building stuff...). Some land-uses reduce the capacity of land to provide these services.
The next issue is the order in which the services are priorized. Some services have a more or less evident price tag (agricultural production, or space for buildings), while other (ecosystem) services, like water purification, carbon storage or biodiversity, are usually not taken into account by the market, except by really motivated people(TM) or administrations treating these services as public goods that deserve protection.
So, to make a fair comparison, it is important to assess the capacity of the different land-uses to provide the land-related services. And here it gets somewhat messy because management comes into play. E.g. 'agriculture' can be an conventional, pesticide-based soil degrading extractive system with all the consequences for soil, water and biodiversity; however, you can also have an agroforestry system that provides its functions in the interest of society and nature.
And here comes into play that e.g. pastures, despite taking up a lot of land, can be quite well-managed and score high on ecosystem services (of course, capitalism promotes the opposite: land degradation an unnecessary suffering*).
Just wanted to provide this context to the great map.
* of ccourse, reducing meat intake is a goal the whole society should work towards.
#LandUse #EcosystemServices #Biodiversity #Pastures #Agroforestry #LandManagement
Oh no, not the bison again
The Trump Administration’s Latest Target: This Woolly American Icon >
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/trump-administration-doug-burgum-interior-american-bison-buffalo-ban-blm-grazing/
The Forest Service “Reorganizes” Under Trump
https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-forest-service-a-force-across-rural-america-reorganizes-under-trump
Image: Photograph from 1892 of a pile of American bison skulls in Detroit (MI) waiting to be ground for fertilizer or charcoal. Wikipedia
#biodiversity #conservation #bison #wildlife #LandManagement #CattleGrazing #forests #LoggingIndustry #Pastoralism #extraction #nature #SoonHereToo #SettlerSociety #meat
A quotation from Theodore Roosevelt
The idea that our natural resources were inexhaustible still obtained, and there was as yet no real knowledge of their extent and condition. The relation of the conservation of natural resources to the problems of National welfare and National efficiency had not yet dawned on the public mind. The reclamation of arid public lands in the West was still a matter for private enterprise alone; and our magnificent river system, with its superb possibilities for public usefulness, was dealt with by the National Government not as a unit, but as a disconnected series of pork-barrel problems, whose only real interest was in their effect on the reëlection or defeat of a Congressman here and there — a theory which, I regret to say, still obtains.Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
Autobiography, ch. 11 “The Natural Resources of the Nation” (1913)
More about this quote: wist.info/roosevelt-theodore/5…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #theodoreroosevelt #teddyroosevelt #America #conservation #federalgovernment #landmanagement #naturalresources #porkbarrel #reclamation
The idea that our natural resources were inexhaustible still obtained, and there was as yet no real knowledge of their extent and condition. The relation of the conservation of natural resources to the problems of National welfare and National efficiency had not yet dawned on the public mind. The reclamation…
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