“One block was trialed replacing plastic with barley straw. Rolling out small bales between the rows, saved the need for irrigation, plastic and paint. Soils could now breathe and even with the cost of labour and straw, the barley came out on top financially and environmentally. No need to dispose of the thousands of meters of irrigation tape or plastic either. The only downside in the first year, was that the barley seed sprouted, and a fungus was found growing up the trunks. As a result, the straw is now steam sterilized when it arrives.”