III. No-Till Farming Systems - nifty

ANNEX III
New Book
Search for Sustainability for
Dryland Agriculture
by Bill Crabtree
One of Australia’s most recognized authorities on
no-tillage is “No-Till Bill”. Now, after 22 years of
research, observations and interaction with no-till
innovators he shares his views on the quest to
help make the most arid country in the world a
sustainable agricultural continent. Bill is an alternative
thinker. He is constantly exploring new
ways to improve agriculture, and his unconventional
determined style has made him a unique
character.
Australia is a fascinating country with limited
rainfall and some of the most infertile soils. It is a
large country, with farms to match. Australian
farmers have some of the lowest level of agricultural
subsidy of any country. These factors have
combined and resulted in a large number of innovations that have led to many
new agricultural inventions that have originated in Australia.
This book covers more than just no-tillage, it discusses the land, climate, soils,
machinery, agronomy, some animal production and the challenges of fixing problems.
It explains situations where tillage may need to be adopted for specific
problems, but warns of the risks and exhorts farmers to continue with no-tillage
regimes because of the vast range of benefits that result from its sustained use.
The book explains at length the weed control and moisture retention benefits that
exist in the winter wet and summer dry climates of southern Australia. There is
also discussion of sheep, pasture and cover crops and their role in crop rotation,
and discussion on the possible future of sustainable agriculture in Australia. The
book contains many photos and some graphs and is available for purchase at
www.no-till.com.au.
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