https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-ota ... le-bunnies
Late last year, Moeraki locals said the grass in the township had been replaced by a moving carpet of rabbits — that is how bad the "plague" of the pests had become in their patch. Have some residents now resorted to magic? Hamish MacLean investigates.
It may sound like "hocus-pocus" to some, but some Moeraki residents hope the alternative pest control methods they are using will take hold soon.
After the township’s rabbit infestation made news across the country, Waitaki District Council Waihemo councillor Jan Wheeler was approached by a Coromandel man with lifelong experience in the Rudolf Steiner-inspired approach to agriculture — biodynamic agriculture.
And over the holidays a small group of Moeraki residents met the man and began biodynamic pest control, or "peppering", in the community. Peter Bacchus (77), a life member of the New Zealand Biodynamics Association, came to Moeraki in December and when the famously fertile pests were at their reproductive heights about half a dozen residents began burning rabbit skins, grinding them up and mixing the ash with crusher powder to spread about, or "pepper", the land that had become overrun by the unwanted lagomorphs. Cr Wheeler said she was "most interested" when she was approached by Mr Bacchus, but was apprehensive "the idea would be a bit pooh-poohed" if canvassed too widely, so she met a small group who donated money to pay for Mr Bacchus’ travel expenses. Unable to shoot or poison rabbits in urban areas, locals had been left waiting for the release of a new strain of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus to help control them, while the rabbits ran rampant.
And with the rabbit population problem as it was, Cr Wheeler said she had an "open mind" regarding using an alternative technique.
"This is a non-invasive thing to try and he [Mr Bacchus] has had results with it and it’s something the community could take part in," Cr Wheeler said.
"It’s very doable — it doesn’t cost anything. And if it has an effect, it could be used further."
The peppering was supposed to take about six weeks to work after application and so if it was successful Moeraki’s rabbits would start to disappear at the end of the month. Cr Wheeler was optimistic.
"I think there has been a change," she said.
"But we live in hope."
Mr Bacchus’ father went to Germany in 1933 to learn about Steiner-style organic farming techniques and in 1947 the family bought a dairy farm in Wharepoa, south of Thames, where Mr Bacchus grew up steeped in the methods. In biodynamics, rather than eradicating pests, the main idea was to create a balanced system where pests or weeds did not grow, but peppering was used as a last resort.
Near his Coromandel home he had had success controlling rabbits, rats, pukeko and possums — and when he saw Moeraki’s rabbit problem, the semi-retired, part-time biodynamics consultant said he wanted to reach out. Mr Bacchus said he did not really understand how the method worked, but it appeared the rabbits got a bit "dopey".
Instead of keeping a low profile in their burrows, in the first phase of the treatment rabbits left their burrows in droves and early on it would appear there had been a rabbit "explosion" — then the pests would disappear.
"A lot of people say it’s witchcraft and magic and all the rest of it, but basically witchcraft and magic are when you see something happening and you don’t understand why."
Mark Brady, who mows lawns in Moeraki, keeps the pepper at his place and counts himself among the township’s optimists.
"I thought it sounded a bit hocus-pocus sort of stuff — but it’s worth giving it a go."
Like Cr Wheeler, he thought there might have already been a drop in rabbit numbers on the peninsula, and even if the drop in rabbit numbers was simply a coincidence, the trial was at least "harmless to anything else".
Moeraki caretaker and groundsman Ross Kean was also optimistic this week.
"There are still plenty around, but I think there are less," he said.
"I was optimistic and certainly hoping that it was going to work — because something had to.
"Anything we could try as far as I’m concerned was a good thing. There are people who put their nose up at it, but you’ve got to try these things, don’t you?"
Moeraki farmer Doug Stalker said he was "one of the keenest advocates of giving it a chance", because as a farmer on the edge of the town he would be one of the biggest beneficiaries if rabbit numbers dropped.
And while initially he thought the treatment had an effect now he was not so sure as at this stage the rabbit population was pretty similar to what it was, he said.
"It was difficult to get a true response, because the town filled up with people for the Christmas holiday period," he said.
"That has an effect on the rabbit population — they sort of go to ground, because there’s people everywhere ... But at this stage, I am very sceptical."
Lincoln-based Landcare Research research leader Bruce Warburton said he, too, was a sceptic.
He was aware of one scientific trial of biodynamic pest control for possums but it had not been successful.
"I would like to think that I am reasonably open-minded, so if somebody can set up an experiment and apply Western science to it, and show that it works, then great. But that hasn’t been done," he said.
In November, the Otago Daily Times reported an application to import the new strain of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, which infects only the European rabbit and no other species, had been made to the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Otago Regional Council director of environmental monitoring and operations Scott MacLean said at the time the virus, if approved, would be available by autumn and Moeraki would be a priority for its distribution.
Press: Rabbit Peppers
Re: Press: Rabbit Peppers
Another rabbit / BD story
A Biodynamic Agriculture Success Story You’ll Never Believe
Biodynamic agriculture is more than just a set of techniques, it is a way of thinking and living in harmony with nature.
CropwayMarch 30, 2023
A Biodynamic agriculture
Biodynamic Agriculture
Biodynamic agriculture is a farming method that treats the farm as a self-contained, living organism. This holistic approach emphasizes the use of compost and manure, cover crops, and the integration of livestock to build soil fertility and promote a healthy ecosystem. There are many success stories of biodynamic agriculture, but perhaps one of the most surprising is the story of how biodynamic farmer Bruce Maynard helped control the rabbit population in Australia.
In the mid-1990s, the Australian government faced a major problem with rabbits. Introduced to the continent by European settlers for sport hunting in the 19th century, rabbits had since become a major pest that devastated crops and native vegetation. The government had tried several control measures, including hunting and poisoning, but none had been effective.
Enter Bruce Maynard, a biodynamic farmer who had been using these methods on his farm for many years. He noticed that his fields were relatively free of rabbits, and proposed to the government that he could use his biodynamic methods to control the rabbit population. The government was skeptical, but agreed to give Maynard a small plot of land to try out his methods.
Maynard set to work and planted a diverse range of crops, including clover and lucerne. He integrated livestock into his system and used biodynamic preparations to enhance soil fertility and promote a healthy ecosystem. The results were remarkable. Not only did Maynard’s methods control the rabbit population, but they also increased the productivity and biodiversity of the land.
The government was impressed with Maynard’s success and gave him a larger plot of land to work on. He continued to refine his methods, and soon other farmers were adopting biodynamic techniques to control rabbits and improve their soil. Today, biodynamic agriculture is a growing movement in Australia, and Maynard is celebrated as a pioneer of the approach.
This success story is a testament to the power of biodynamic agriculture to transform not only individual farms but entire ecosystems. By treating the farm as a living organism and working with nature rather than against it, biodynamic farmers like Maynard are proving that sustainable, regenerative agriculture is not only possible but essential for the future of our planet.
Biodynamic agriculture is gaining popularity around the world, and for good reason. The benefits of this holistic approach to farming are numerous, including increased soil fertility, improved crop yields, and healthier ecosystems. Biodynamic agriculture also promotes biodiversity, which is crucial for the survival of many plant and animal species.
Biodynamic farming is more than just a set of techniques, it is a way of thinking and living in harmony with nature. By treating the farm as a self-contained, living organism, biodynamic farmers are helping to restore the balance between humans and the environment. In a world where climate change and environmental degradation are major threats, biodynamic agriculture offers a sustainable and regenerative alternative that can help us create a better future for ourselves and for the planet.
You might also want to read our agricultural blog :- Mushroom farming in India & Wheat Producing Countries
A Biodynamic Agriculture Success Story You’ll Never Believe
Biodynamic agriculture is more than just a set of techniques, it is a way of thinking and living in harmony with nature.
CropwayMarch 30, 2023
A Biodynamic agriculture
Biodynamic Agriculture
Biodynamic agriculture is a farming method that treats the farm as a self-contained, living organism. This holistic approach emphasizes the use of compost and manure, cover crops, and the integration of livestock to build soil fertility and promote a healthy ecosystem. There are many success stories of biodynamic agriculture, but perhaps one of the most surprising is the story of how biodynamic farmer Bruce Maynard helped control the rabbit population in Australia.
In the mid-1990s, the Australian government faced a major problem with rabbits. Introduced to the continent by European settlers for sport hunting in the 19th century, rabbits had since become a major pest that devastated crops and native vegetation. The government had tried several control measures, including hunting and poisoning, but none had been effective.
Enter Bruce Maynard, a biodynamic farmer who had been using these methods on his farm for many years. He noticed that his fields were relatively free of rabbits, and proposed to the government that he could use his biodynamic methods to control the rabbit population. The government was skeptical, but agreed to give Maynard a small plot of land to try out his methods.
Maynard set to work and planted a diverse range of crops, including clover and lucerne. He integrated livestock into his system and used biodynamic preparations to enhance soil fertility and promote a healthy ecosystem. The results were remarkable. Not only did Maynard’s methods control the rabbit population, but they also increased the productivity and biodiversity of the land.
The government was impressed with Maynard’s success and gave him a larger plot of land to work on. He continued to refine his methods, and soon other farmers were adopting biodynamic techniques to control rabbits and improve their soil. Today, biodynamic agriculture is a growing movement in Australia, and Maynard is celebrated as a pioneer of the approach.
This success story is a testament to the power of biodynamic agriculture to transform not only individual farms but entire ecosystems. By treating the farm as a living organism and working with nature rather than against it, biodynamic farmers like Maynard are proving that sustainable, regenerative agriculture is not only possible but essential for the future of our planet.
Biodynamic agriculture is gaining popularity around the world, and for good reason. The benefits of this holistic approach to farming are numerous, including increased soil fertility, improved crop yields, and healthier ecosystems. Biodynamic agriculture also promotes biodiversity, which is crucial for the survival of many plant and animal species.
Biodynamic farming is more than just a set of techniques, it is a way of thinking and living in harmony with nature. By treating the farm as a self-contained, living organism, biodynamic farmers are helping to restore the balance between humans and the environment. In a world where climate change and environmental degradation are major threats, biodynamic agriculture offers a sustainable and regenerative alternative that can help us create a better future for ourselves and for the planet.
You might also want to read our agricultural blog :- Mushroom farming in India & Wheat Producing Countries