ORGANIC and biodynamic dairy farmers Ron and Bev Smith went back to basics when they decided to stop using superphosphate.

"We read just about every book we could find looking for natural alternatives," Ron said.

  • AT A GLANCE
  • Who: Ron and Bev Smith
  • What: organic dairy
  • Why: natural alternatives
  • Where: Fish Creek

The products the Smiths turned to rejuvenate their 95ha farm near Fish Creek in South Gippsland included natural rock minerals, commercially produced biodynamic preparations and home-made worm teas.

The farm, which Ron describes as "one large compost farm" will host a Healthy Soils, Sustainable Farms field day next Wednesday, June 16.

The Smiths will explain how they make and use their alternative products and share their success in tackling soil acidity.

Ron said since they began using organic and biodynamic methods, soil pH had risen from the low 4's to low 6's, the acid mat that affected most of the 95ha property had disappeared and top soil depth had increased from 25mm to almost 300mm.

Two soil pits, one dug on the home property and the other on a recently acquired paddock next door, will demonstrate the changes.

Ron said their low-input approach to dairying, which included long grazing rotations and a wide variety of pasture species, had brought many rewards.

"We're not out there milking 500 cows, but we're making a healthy product and we've never made a loss," he said.

As president of the Victorian Organic Dairy Farmers Association and a milk supplier to the Organic Dairy Co-op, Ron said the opportunities for organic milk were enormous.

"The demand for organic milk is only going to rise, as consumers look more closely at the origins of their food," he said.

"People say that if you have asthma or other allergies, the first thing you should do is go off milk, but our milk is produced on such a variety of different herbs that it's almost medicinal."

Other speakers at the field day will include holistic consultants Graeme Hand and Gwyn Jones, and soil acidity expert Doug Crawford from the Department of Primary Industries' Healthy Soils Program.

The field day is part of the Tackling Soil Acidification in West Gippsland Project, run by the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and funded by Caring for Our Country.