Reply #16: Yeah the remedy is easy. Just tell the farmers they have to reduce their yields. [View All]

Whether true or not, that's exactly how the farmers will view it.

Farmers already have access to full land fertility assays and can vary fertiliser application continuously over fields. They can calculate to the last kg/hectare exactly how much and know right down to the square metre where to put it. And at the end of it all, a good many will still dial in a few extra percent to "allow" for heavy rains and runnoff taking it away, which is exactly the situation we're wanting to avoid. And if they anticipate a wet year they will dial higher still. The only time they'll cut back is in a dry year when money is tight and there isn't a bloody problem.

The oil will indeed be a long time going away, but unless it's added to, go it eventually will. Dead zones come back every year, and every year they grow in size and number as more and more land falls under intensive cultivation.

Oil production (and with good management spills) is a declining quantity. Not so fertiliser.