Acid sulfate soils pose a major environmental problem in NSW coastal catchments.
Acid sulfate soils (ASS) arc a feature of coastal lowlands and they affect farms through
acidification of the soil and water, which degrades farmland and adjoining wetlands.
Coastal NSW has between 0.4 and 0.6 million ha of sulfidic sediments. Therefore, it is
important that every landholder on the floodplain be aware of ASS, their identification
and appropriate management strategies. This survey aimed to assess the extent of
understanding of ASS and of the management strategies actually undertaken. To
understand how farmers are dealing with this problem, 287 were surveyed in seven
catchments prone to ASS. The four principal coastal industry groups, cane, tea tree, beef and dairy, were included. The sample included 105 cane growers from the Tweed,
Richmond and Clarence catchments in northern NSW. All farmers were asked about
socio-economic factors, acid sulfate soil indicators, awareness and sources of
information. This paper concentrates on the contrasts between the sugarcane and beef
industries. The sugarcane industry is cohesive, with stable commodity prices and
confined to a 45 km proximity to the catchment's sugar processing mill. The authors
found that cane growers have made acid sulfate soils a focus, and are ahead of other
industries in awareness and knowledge levels. Cane growers feel in control of managing
ASS. In contrast, beef farmers have no cohesive industry, receive low commodity
prices, are geographically dispersed, and feel angry and threatened by acid sulfate soil
problems. This paper shows the strength that a cohesive, focused, geographically close
industry has over an industry that is dispersed and without an industry body.