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E: sales@ytotractors.com.au P: 03 5629 2086
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We’re planting 50 trees with every tractor sold!
YTO Tractors are giving back! Reforesting Australia and reducing drought 50 trees at a time.
- September 18, 2018
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Our crew at YTO Tractors are giving back to the land that feeds us all by planting 50 trees with every tractor sale. This incredible initiative, we hope, will inspire people Australia wide to begin to change along side us and help reverse the effects of the drastic deforestation that our soil has endured.
Learn a bit more about why YTO Tractors are giving back and helping the world we live in.
Increase rain absorption on your land – reducing drought impact
Even modest increases in tree and hedge cover can increase water infiltration, which means surface water run-off is reduced and the rate that rainwater reaches streams and rivers is slowed. This reduces peak flows in the water course and could potentially reduce the risk of flooding downstream.
Manage soil and reduce soil erosion – saves you money
Studies show that an excess of 20 tonnes per hectare of topsoil is blown or washed from farmlands in Australia each year. Soil erosion reduces the long-term fertility of the soil by removing nutrient-rich topsoil and organic matter. By planting trees along contours or areas known to be particularly windy we are creating natural barriers that protect soil and crops from the full impact of strong winds and rain. Deep-rooting trees also help improve soil stability and increase organic matter from leaf litter, improving the soil’s structure and reducing surface water run-off. It’s time we stopped spending our hard earned dollars on soil supplements and worked with a natural, long term solution… trees.
Provide habitats for pollinators
There are a number of reasons for the decline in pollinators across Australia, but loss of habitat has been identified as one of the most significant. Trees, hedges and plants which grow in shelter belts provide important refuges, nesting sites and pollen and nectar feeding sources for pollinators throughout the year. Pollinators have been found to use shelter belts as “highways”, which they browse and settle along, so providing regularly-spaced trees and shelter belts can help overcome the ecological deserts which occur in the middle of large, arable monocultures.
Killer fact: Pollinators are worth more than $1.7 billion/year to Australian agriculture.
Create shelter for your crops – improving your productivity
Dry seasons can be disastrous for crops, causing poor germination, reduced growth rates and lower yields. Planting field edge or in-field shelter belts can help protect plants against drought by modifying the microclimate around the crop, reducing wind speeds which can remove moisture from the air. Trees can also help extend the growing season for grass, as the shelter they provide can raise soil temperatures in early spring and late autumn.
Killer fact: Studies show shelter belts can increase wheat yields by at least 3.5% as a result of efficient water usage.
Improve your animals welfare and health – increases profits
From providing shelter to reducing exposure in extreme weather, planting trees and hedges can contribute to animal health and welfare in a number of ways.
Exposure to cold is one of the biggest causes of lamb loss. Studies have shown that providing shelter for sheep can reduce neonatal lamb losses due to exposure and hypothermia.
Sheltered, well-drained fields offer the best conditions for lambing and good mothering. Shelter belts can encourage natural behaviours of ewes which leads to better suckling and colostrum intake, reduced disease risk and greater resistance to the cold.
On poultry units, well-designed tree planting can encourage free-range birds to range more, as they offer cover, shelter and shade.
Research has shown that providing tree cover can reduce feather pecking as birds are more likely to express natural behaviour and be less stressed, which in turn leads to an improvement in egg quality.
Killer fact: Studies show lamb losses can be reduced by up to 30% in cold, wet and windy weather if good shelter is provided.
Help reduce pollution and environmental impact
Pollution is costly to farms and the environment. Ammonia emitted from agriculture can damage sensitive habitats and water courses, as well as impact on the health of farm workers and livestock. Trees can help by creating a physical barrier to reduce spray drift, capture pollutants and ammonia from livestock units.
Killer facts: Tree belts as narrow as 10m have been shown to reduce ammonia in emissions by about 53%. Trees in leaf also act as a physical barrier against pesticides, trapping up to 90% of spray drift.
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