Soil Extension - Invest in the Test
2022 – 2024
Investment: $244,132
Funding body: Australian Government’s National Landcare Program
Project purpose: Incorporate soil testing regimes into production systems to make more inform management decisions
Key achievements:
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- 42 landholders received soil testing on 84 paddocks totaling over 713 hectares
- Enhancement and skills of 84 producers on the importance of soil testing
- 70% of producers involved in the project indicated an increases desire to undertake soil testing as part of their management practices into the future
- 63 workshop attendees
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The Invest in a Test project aimed to enable farmers to confidently invest in soil testing regimes, appropriate to their production system, by demonstrating the tangible benefits and value. This helped landholders to be well-placed to use this information to inform management decisions that are both profitable for their business and sustainable through enhanced resource condition.
The project encouraged and support landholders to incorporate routine soil testing into their management to inform management practices, to monitor the impact of any changes made and adjust practices accordingly.
The focus was the Inland Burnett region and targeted beef cattle grazing, dryland and irrigated grain, pulse and hay cropping including many mixed farming enterprises.
The Invest in a Test project worked with Inland Burnett landholders to generate local soils data and practical examples of using soil testing and associated interpretation for improved soils management. Forty-two landholders, managing more than 16,200 ha receive soil testing on 84 paddocks totaling over 713 ha and averaging 9 ha each. Farmers were provided with laboratory analysis, basic soil morphology and interpretation and recommendations by agronomic consultants. The farms were geographically spread right across the inland Burnett and incorporated both grazing and cropping industries.
The most significant outcome of this project was the enhancement of skills and knowledge of 84 producers from right across the inland Burnett region on the importance of soil testing and saw an increase of 70% in producers desire to undertake soil testing as part of their management practices into the future. Our extension activities and ongoing support created a better understanding of soil and the need to monitor its health over time as a means to better manage it now and into the future.
Workshops were held in Mondure, Kumbia, Murgon, Coalstoun Lakes and Mundubbera; bringing 63 landholders together in a comfortable environment to discuss the soils data and what it means in their production system including management options as well as peer-to-peer discussion & learning supported by soils expertise.
Resources can be found on the Burnett Ag Hub.
Program News
Wittwer’s Investing in a Test
Check out the Wittwer's experience as part of BCCA's "Invest in a Test" project. Thanks to Steve & Gill for sharing. BCCA have conducted over 80 soils tests from right across the inland Burnett over the last 2 years. This project was thanks to funding by The...
Workshops in Understanding Soils with Jack Milbank
Landholders from Mundubbera and Coalstoun Lakes attended an Understanding Soils workshop with Jack Milbank in September. The workshop focused on creating a better understanding of soils and the need to monitor soil health over time as a means to improve management...
Understanding Soils Workshop – with Jack Milbank – Coalstoun Lakes & Mundubbera
Understanding Soils workshops with Jack Milbank coming up in September at Coalstoun Lakes and Mundubbera. Free event - morning tea and lunch provided. Bring along any laboratory soil test results that you would like Jack to help you interpret.Register here...
Understanding Soils Workshop @ Mundubbera
Producers gathered in Murgon for Burnett Catchment Care Association's Understanding Soils workshop, which is part of our Invest in a Test project, funded by the Australian Government's Smart Farms Small Grants program. David Hall presented to producers, providing them...
Soil Testing – Invest in the Test
BCCA Officer's Marisa & Katie are out and about in the Mundubbera district conducting soil testing as part of the our "Invest in a Test" project funded by the Australian Government's #SmartFarmsSmallGrants program. #WomeninAg #NationalLandcareProgram #SoilTesting...
Understanding Soils Workshop – with David Hall – Murgon
Looking to understand your soils? Join BCCA and David Hall (independent agricultural consultant) for a soils workshop in Murgon on the 25 July.Bring along any laboratory soil test results and have them interpreted by David.To register follow the link...
Understanding Soils Workshop – with David Hall – Mondure & Kumbia
Soils workshops with David Hall in the South Burnett this month - Mondure and KumbiaRegister by 12 August, follow the link - https://us10.list-manage.com/survey?u=4ac7c78954ee8236a7aee9784&id=d0dee439d6&e=*[UNIQID]*
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – FREE SOIL TESTING – NORTH BURNETT PRODUCERS
The Burnett Catchment Care Association are seeking interest from North Burnett farmers & graziers who would be interested in taking part in our “Invest in the Test” soil testing project. Eligible producers will receive free soil testing for 2 paddocks with a...
Expression of Interest – Free Soil Testing – South Burnett Producers
The Burnett Catchment Care Association are seeking interest from South Burnett farmers & graziers who would be interested in taking part in our "Invest in the Test" soil testing project. Eligible producers will receive free soil testing for 2 paddocks with a...
Program Sponsors
This project was supported by the following partners and investors.
