Hazel
3rd September 2014, 07:36
Now this is an inspirational achievement by a young Australian farmer.
Does anyone else know of like stories around the world?
Young Farmer of the Year finalist backs organic farming to achieve greater yields than commercial farms
A Victorian organic vegetable grower believes his pesticide-free paddocks can go toe-to-toe with the biggest commercial growers and achieve even greater yields.
Gippsland grower Kane Busch says by using rotational crops and carefully monitoring soil health, his family's farm in the state's south east, has grown to supply organic vegetables throughout local supermarkets and into the booming Asian marketplace.
AUDIO: Young Farmer of the Year finalist Kane Busch says organic vegetable business is booming (ABC Rural)
"We'll be seeing volumes very, very similar if not more than the conventional growers," said Mr Busch.
"We reckon we're getting as good yields as anyone around here."
Situated in the rich vegetable growing region of Lindenow, the Busch organic farm grows parsnips, sweet corns, beans and other vegetables throughout the year.
Sharing fences with some of the country's largest commercial vegetable growers might pose a threat to their organic status, but Kane Busch say it is a threat they can manage.
"We just have to monitor what everyone is doing," he said.
"We think we have some good relationships in place, but in saying that, we need to continue to monitor what is going on around the place to ensure our survival."
We reckon we're getting as good yields as anyone around here.
Organic vegetable grower Kane Busch.
In spite of recent high-profile frictions between organic and non-organic farmers, Mr Busch says his neighbouring growers are accepting of his production practices.
"Most of them are pretty receptive to what we're doing," he said.
"When they look over the fence, there might be a few weeds hanging around, but the crops that are coming off and going out the gate are a reflection of the success that we have."
That success has now seen the business tap into the much-hyped Asian marketplace, where Mr Busch suggests organics are currently experiencing a similar growth in popularity to that witnessed in Australia.
Kane Busch
ABC News Australia
26981
Does anyone else know of like stories around the world?
Young Farmer of the Year finalist backs organic farming to achieve greater yields than commercial farms
A Victorian organic vegetable grower believes his pesticide-free paddocks can go toe-to-toe with the biggest commercial growers and achieve even greater yields.
Gippsland grower Kane Busch says by using rotational crops and carefully monitoring soil health, his family's farm in the state's south east, has grown to supply organic vegetables throughout local supermarkets and into the booming Asian marketplace.
AUDIO: Young Farmer of the Year finalist Kane Busch says organic vegetable business is booming (ABC Rural)
"We'll be seeing volumes very, very similar if not more than the conventional growers," said Mr Busch.
"We reckon we're getting as good yields as anyone around here."
Situated in the rich vegetable growing region of Lindenow, the Busch organic farm grows parsnips, sweet corns, beans and other vegetables throughout the year.
Sharing fences with some of the country's largest commercial vegetable growers might pose a threat to their organic status, but Kane Busch say it is a threat they can manage.
"We just have to monitor what everyone is doing," he said.
"We think we have some good relationships in place, but in saying that, we need to continue to monitor what is going on around the place to ensure our survival."
We reckon we're getting as good yields as anyone around here.
Organic vegetable grower Kane Busch.
In spite of recent high-profile frictions between organic and non-organic farmers, Mr Busch says his neighbouring growers are accepting of his production practices.
"Most of them are pretty receptive to what we're doing," he said.
"When they look over the fence, there might be a few weeds hanging around, but the crops that are coming off and going out the gate are a reflection of the success that we have."
That success has now seen the business tap into the much-hyped Asian marketplace, where Mr Busch suggests organics are currently experiencing a similar growth in popularity to that witnessed in Australia.
Kane Busch
ABC News Australia
26981