Weaving together a brighter future for farming and the reef

The view from the Mount Inkerman Scenic Lookout puts into perspective how farming operates alongside waterways flowing into the Burdekin River and out to the Coral Sea.

A patchwork of farms and natural country weave together, and from the lookout you can see where the land meets the sea some 10 to 15 kilometres away.

In the Burdekin, sugarcane dominates the landscape with more than 80,000 hectares cultivated. Horticulture, meanwhile, accounts for some 3,000 to 4,000 hectares, predominantly in mangoes and hard shell crops like pumpkins and melons.

The Le Feurve family who run Deane Farms have been growing mangoes for more than 30 years. We caught up with sixth generation growers John and Daniel Le Feurve at their Acton Plantation in Horseshoe Lagoon.

This farm is 20-kilometres from the sea, but Horseshoe Lagoon is nearby, as is the Barratta and Haughton catchments that flow out to the river mouth you can see from Mount Inkerman. It means the environmental stewardship the Le Feurve family demonstrate on this property plays an important role in protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

Across their properties, the family cultivate 22,000 mango trees across 220 hectares, with the vast majority being Kensington Prides.

John Le Feurve

Over the last 30 years, the Le Feurves have gradually refined their practices, creating a mutually beneficial relationship for the environment and their business.

A less is more approach has revolutionised the soil health and groundcover on the family’s properties.

The brothers, along with their father and uncles, don’t like using chemicals so began to reduce their use about 20 years ago, with efforts in this area intensifying over the last 15 years.

Such efforts mean that two thirds of Deane Farms’s orchards are now herbicide free, with sheep grazing on two-to-three-day rotations between May and August.

As well as the environmental benefits of reducing chemical use, it means the Le Feurves save money and time on chemical use and application, as well as slashing.

While this means the orchards are not of the conventionally manicured style, the increased biomatter from the reduction in chemical use means an ecosystem rich with worms lies beneath.

“I can’t go out there with a shovel without murdering a worm!” John joked.

The remaining third of their orchards that are not suitable for running sheep only have a two-metre strip of herbicide applied between rows.

Overall, the Le Feurves have reduced their use of synthetic chemicals—encompassing herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides—by 70 per cent.

They support tree health in a sustainable way, using Bio Dunder to feed their trees. The ethanol-byproduct is readily available in the sugar-producing region and rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur.

The family have used it for more than 10 years as it’s cost-effective and offers a slower release than traditional urea products.

The proof of the Le Feuvre’s efforts is in the pudding (well, the mango trees) with tests on soil and tree health showing improvements.

The well-rounded approach to mango growing at Deane Farms is good for the waterways, but also means good eating for consumers.

A large portion of the Le Feuvre’s business comes through direct sales to customers through their Mango Fundraiser.

Instead of having school children or community organisations selling boxes of chocolates or pies, trays of Deane Farms Kensington Prides are the order of the day.

Across late November and through December, school and community group supporters can enjoy Deane Farms mangoes and know they are getting fresh fruit grown in a sustainable way, straight from the farm.

Growcom’s Hort360 GBR Facilitator Andrew Conway and Daniel Le Feurve

John said their approach to growing has served them well in this market.

“Us not spraying under the trees and showing that we’re trying to look after the land a bit better is quite attractive to consumers.”

Reef Certification is next on the Le Feurve’s list. For them, it is a way to stand with industry to show that farmers love this natural resource as much as everyone else.

Hort360 GBR Facilitator for the Burdekin Andrew Conway commented on the Le Feuvres’ operations saying they are in good stead as they work toward certification.

“The mulch layer under the trees, the extensive grass cover, it’s just great. You’ve got erosion control and weed control. Nothing is moving off this property.”

We look forward to catching up with the Deane Farms team as they progress on their Reef Certification journey.

Hort360 GBR is funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.