BCCA ran workshops specifically on soil health recently in Mundubbera and Monto.
Extension and technical staff from the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries with extensive soil agronomy skills shared their knowledge to assist landholders with all things soils – especially with relation to the changes and effects of the floods.
Mike Bell and David Lawrence covered topics on soil organic matter (which is ‘everything in or on the soil that is of biological origin…dead or alive’), soil carbon, and overall soil health and the nutrient dynamics of healthy soils. Soil sampling was undertaken prior to the workshops so a comparative analysis of the results was discussed—particularly on soil organic matter and carbon—and whether the floods had an impact on same. One landholder commented that this was a highlight of the workshop.
Flood affected landholders who attended the workshops were also eligible to receive follow-up comprehensive soil testing and agronomy advice. Experienced agronomists will be undertaking this assessment over the coming months.
The funds to run these workshops were made available through the Queensland and Australian Government’s On-farm Productivity and Riparian Recovery program to assist primary producers to recover from flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.