Soil Health

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): I seek leave to provide a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries a question in regard to soil health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Yellow stunted bean crops have long been an issue for South-East growers on calcareous soils. A recent CRC/GRDC-funded trial, led by SARDI senior scientist Nigel Wilhelm, has yielded extremely positive results with the use of a chelated form of iron, EDDHA, which is widely used in the horticultural industry and is more stable in alkaline soils than most other iron products on the market, producing up to five tonne a hectare higher yields in bean crops. My questions to the minister are:

1. Is she aware of this trial?

2. Does the government believe this trial could alter recommendations for farmers looking to overcome soil constraints with regard to cropping?

3. Has the minister formally written to her federal colleagues in support of further funding to Dr Wilhelm's project to test novel ways of making the treatment economically viable for larger scale farming?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:28): I am happy to be corrected, but to my knowledge the trial is not yet complete and therefore speculating about what the outcomes of the trial would be is not a particularly wise idea.

The Hon. N.J. Centofanti: It is showing positive results.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I note that the Leader of the Opposition is interjecting that it is showing positive results. I am very pleased to hear that, but I think it would be wise to wait until the end of a trial before taking a particular course of action. I think that is usually why trials are undertaken. In my experience, the science really has to be concluded. We need to make sure that a trial actually goes through its full fruition before we start jumping in to make particular decisions.

I think it is very important to always listen to the outcomes and to be guided by the science. I know in general those who wear the colours of those opposite don't generally trust science a great deal. I think perhaps the Leader of the Opposition is usually the exception to that, but maybe on this occasion she has succumbed to peer pressure, but I think waiting for the outcome of a scientific trial is always the wisest pathway.