Healthy soil is the cornerstone of life on earth, facilitating ecosystem biodiversity, ample food production, effective water filtration and storage, and carbon sequestration. 

CHRISTINE JONES

Earlier this year, Christine was a keynote presenter at a NQ Dry Tropics’ masterclass for field staff to build their capacity around key grazing land management issues, particularly the linkages between grazing practices, soil health and pasture productivity.

The two-day masterclass was held in Collinsville in May. Read about it here.

Christine was the in-field soil expert during a NQ Dry Tropics Stomping Out Sediment field trip in May.  The project is investigating a range of options for improving grass cover to manage erosion and increase productivity, while also trying different methods for fixing gullies and remediating erosion sites.

More than 50 graziers, technical experts and scientists attended a two-day field trip in May, visiting two properties that are taking part in the project, located near Collinsville.  Read about it here.

Healthy soil makes for a healthy, productive region

Collective action will secure the conservation and economic benefits of healthy soils in the BBB region.  

That’s why LDC is taking a region-wide approach to bring together soil health professionals and graziers to improve awareness of existing, new, and evolving regional soil health practices and assessment methods. 

From Monday, 19 August, LDC is hosting a week-long tour of the BBB region by soil gurus David Hardwick, of Soil Land Food, and Dr Christine Jones, of Amazing Carbon.

A combination of one-on-one training and small group workshops with Christine and David will provide:

  • hands-on training on soil health practices;
  • improve understanding of the practical barriers producers face when implementing soil health practices; and 
  • increase familiarity with tools that can be used by producers to make decisions related to soil health. 

Understanding soils for pasture production

With David Hardwick.

22 August, Todsure Station, Scottville

23 August, Borderway Ridge Station, Eungella

Contact:

DAVID HARDWICK

David Hardwick has worked on numerous NQ Dry Tropics projects, working with graziers to provide knowledge and skills to improve soil health on their properties.

David has helped NQ Dry Tropics develop a Rapid Assessment of Soil Health (RASH) manual, along with seven short complementary videos that address the different ways landholders can test their soil. 

The RASH Manual and the videos can be found on our LDC website in the knowledge section. 

Thanks to David, these resources were produced with support from two projects: Landholders Driving Change, a Burdekin Major Integrated Project funded by the Queensland Government’s Department of Science, and Building Dynamic Burdekin Grazing Businesses, funded through the National Landcare Program.