Farmers go green as petrol prices rise

The increased cost of petrol is providing an incentive for some farmers to consider alternatives such as organic and bio dynamic farming.

KERRY OBRIEN: High petrol prices are hitting everyone but many farmers are copping a double hit. They’re also dealing with rising prices for fertilisers made from petroleum. The increased costs are providing added incentive for some farmers to consider alternatives like organic and bio dynamic farming. Aside from the cost factor, chemical free farming has a clean, green marketing appeal. As Hamish Fitzsimmons reports.

HAMISH FITZSIMMONS, JOURNALIST: Farmers from all over Victoria have come to this 97 hectare dairy farm in Gippsland to learn about chemical free bio dynamic farming.



MATT MAHONEY, FARMER: There’s a huge them and us attitude in our farming scene. The conventional people think organic people are just witches and strange at times and don’t even wanna hear what they’ve got to say.

HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: But with the cost of petroleum and, therefore, fertiliser soaring, some farmers are being forced to listen.

MATT MAHONEY: The costs are just going through the roof and we’re starting to feel more and more cornered by the big companies. You just feel that there’s got to be another way.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation