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Saturday, 06 September 2008

Cotton and rice to be sent down the river

12/07/2008 6:00:00 PM.  | Victoria Owens

Crops like cotton and rice could be phased out in Australia as calls get increasingly desperate to save the Murray River.

The river is the life-blood of the nation's food bowl, but it is having the life sucked out of it by farms in four states analyists say.

Wetlands connected to the once-mighty river have dried up and trees are dying.

Murray Darling Basin Commission chief Wendy Craik said farmers may have to reconsider planting water intensive produce.

"I think whether those industries continue or not is going to depend very much so on the market and return on investment to farmers and whether water is avaliable or not," Ms Craik said.

COMMENTS

Sunday, 13 July 2008

Finally we're hearing something sensible about this issue! Cotton farming is the most water and chemical intensive crop grown in OZ. The majority of it is on the edge of the Murray Darling basin. The fact we're taught at school "Aust. is the most ARID continent in the world", it beggars belief it haas taken so long for our SCIENTISTS to figure this step. Any water intensive crop on the Murray darl. basin should be phased out asap.Dont think about it, do it,Acton wins the day not procrastination

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

 

Sunday, 13 July 2008

it's the pollies that need a BIG WAKE UP CALL - not the scientists. Rice and cotton growing has to go - unfortunately so do all forms of farming in drought strickent areas. Climate change for the worse has well and truly arrived.

Posted by: CN Red, redland

 

Monday, 14 July 2008

Yes thats right Blow Torch Rudd and his mates are now going to destroy any respect farmers and graziers had. NSW Labor sold water rights far in excess of availability and now want to S.... them over with a take it or leave it payment. What a sad and sorry bunch of people they are. They always go after those that cant or wont fight back. Go ahead Rudd dehuminise what respect these people have left. Time for a new PEOPLE party.

Posted by: Andy Mac, Singapore

 

Monday, 14 July 2008

CN Red, So what respect do you have for the farmers and graziers of this great country? How would you feel if some one said that about your job and income, and tomorrow you do not have any income of job that you and your family have spent generations building with Government sanction. Paying you tax and providing major export earnings for this country to pay for the same people that now want to destroy them. This is another form of genecide.

Posted by: Andy Mac, Singapore

 

Monday, 14 July 2008

According to Food for Water report, rice needs up to 2000 litres per kg, and cotton needs just over 5000 litres per kg. These are high water-consuming crops. However, they pale into insignificance compared to livestock industries. Dairy and crops for dairy and cattle is by far the most thirsty product! Beef takes up to 50,000 litres per kg, and dairy up to 600 litres per litre! Surely these relatively luxury items are the ones to reduce, considering most of it is sent overseas for profits.

Posted by: Milly Osborne, Ivanhoe, Vic

 

Sunday, 20 July 2008

Milly Osborne, Ivanhoe, Vic. You must be one of these Vegan nuts. Have you ever worked out how much water vegetables and fruit trees consume. Of course not. By the way, cattle get most of their liquid from grass, and the natural fertiliser they spread around at the same time. Oz has one of the best Organic beef herds in the world. When there is no beef and cotton cloth in Oz and you are unemployed due to The Rudd-Wong CRAP green paper. Dont winge OK

Posted by: Andy Mac, HK

 
 

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