Eungella landholder Di Williams collecting a soil sample.
Pioneer Catchment and Landcare ecologist Peter Alden with soil collected in an augur.
Unlocking the secrets in soil
UPPER Broken River landholders are working with soil experts to enhance soil health, increase pasture productivity, and improve livestock nutrition and economic bottom lines.
A ‘Eungella Soils and Pastures’ workshop scheduled for 1 April was postponed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 virus.
When it is held, it will bring landholders together to share information about on-farm soil and pasture trials that are being carried out in the region.
The group has yet to discuss the results of soil samples, that were taken in February at eight properties in the Upper Broken River region by Jim Fletcher, of DAF.
The group will learn about landholder support options for pasture yield estimations and measures, and economic analysis as well as discuss fertilising options.
Every little bit helps
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.
In the past 12 months LDC has hosted soil gurus David Hardwick, of Soil Land Food, and Dr Christine Jones, of Amazing Carbon, to provide one-on-one trainng and small group workshops.
LDC has also enlisted the expertise of Jim Fletcher, DAF, to undertake soil sampling for landholders and report back the analysis of those samples, to help landholders devise actions and management strategies to improve soil and pasture.
Soil health knowledge will move landholders towards restoring hydrological balance on a catchment scale and therefore strengthen the region’s farm profitability.
Getting the best in the business to come into the region to workshop soil health, aligns with the overarching aims of the LDC project, working with landholders to reduce sediment on the Great Barrier Reef by targeting erosion hotspots and grazing land management practices.
