Growers get sweet on reef certification

As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef (the Reef) is an icon worthy of protection. Many growers have already adopted management practices that will protect the Reef for years to come, but don’t realise they are operating at or above best practice. To recognise these efforts and improve water quality on the Reef, sweet potato growers are working with Growcom to accelerate adoption of the Hort360 Reef Certification initiative. Hort360 is a best management practice program for the horticulture industry that provides growers the opportunity to become certified and showcase their stewardship of the Reef. In the southern region of the Reef, two third-generation farming families are among the first in the horticulture industry to be Reef Certified. Rodney and Brodie Wolfenden of Wolfies Farm at Rossmoya, in the Fitzroy Basin region, were proud to have their commitment to soil health and irrigation efficiencies recognised through the Reef Certification process. Although already Freshcare Environmental accredited, they reflected on their motivation to take the additional step of being Reef Certified. According to Rodney Wolfenden, Hort360 Reef Certification was an easy fit for his farm. “We’ve been farming sustainably because we believe that it’s better for the soil and the environment. It’s better for us because it gives us the best results, so this program closely aligns with how we’ve been managing our business,” Mr Wolfenden said. The benefits of their approach to soil health - through cover cropping and encouraging soil biology - included reduced pest pressure and, consequently, a reduction in reliance on chemicals. “We have observed less pest pressure as a direct result of our approach,” Mr Wolfenden said. Bundaberg sweet potato growers, the Zunkers, were also one of the first to come on board. They were, in fact, the first grower in the horticulture industry in the Burnett Mary region to be Reef Certified. Ethan and Emily Zunker, from Windhum Farms at Qunaba (between Bundaberg and Bargara), took on the responsibility of getting both their macadamia and sweet potato farms Reef Certified. When asked about the changes adopted as a result of the Reef Certification process, Mrs Zunker explained that they’ve only had to make minor tweaks to their existing management practices. “I’ve migrated the paper-based system into online documents, and incorporated the additional records required to be Reef Certified which is calibration of fertiliser equipment and weather data,” she said. Reef Certification involves benchmarking farm management practices, working through the certification requirements with a facilitator, and then an independent third-party audit. The audit is only required to be undertaken every three years, and currently the cost of an audit is funded through Growcom’s Hort360 Reef program. Reef Certification focuses on water quality outcomes with a strong alignment to existing food safety quality assurance and environmental systems, such as Freshcare Environmental. In fact, any growers who are Freshcare Environmental accredited can become Reef Certified without an audit. Hort360 Facilitator in the southern reef region, Michelle Haase, is extremely happy with the level of interest in Reef Certification demonstrated by growers. “It’s been a tough 18 months for our industry and I appreciate that taking on additional certifiable activities can be a real stretch,” Ms Haase said. “I’m here to help, and once we go through the questions of the Reef module in Hort360, the majority of growers see that they are already operating at or above best practice.” The Hort360 GBR is funded through the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program and delivered by Growcom. The program is free and participation is not limited to Growcom members.

Sweet on the reef: Brodie and Rodney Wolfenden from Wolfies Farm, at Rossmoya.

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Common practices that lead to Reef Certification

Do you already do the following? If so, you’re already on the way to meeting the conditions for Reef Certification. — crop growth stage leaf, soil and sap testing — fertigation systems — accurate spray records and automated record keeping — use of ag-tech such as soil moisture probes, drones, weather stations, etc — grassy inter-rows, headlands, contour banks, riparian vegetation or grassed verges near waterways — use of side throw slashers to mulch tree line — mixed species cover cropping — sediment traps and tail-water dams to capture any runoff