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Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms Program
The Australian Government committed $5 million until 2007-08 for a Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms Program to establish stronger links between soil health, rainfall management, agricultural production and water catchment management.
Through demonstration, pilot and research projects the program will provide:
- agricultural management options linked to soil health
- soil monitoring systems from the paddock level to the catchment level
- tools to help producers record and assess production and the management and health of their soils
- opportunities for industry-based best practice accreditation.
The program focuses on increasing practices which maintain and restore farmland soils by involving agricultural industry groups, farmers and community groups in testing new methods in commercial conditions. This means more farmers will have a detailed understanding of soil management issues in their region and can use techniques to improve soil health and farm productivity.
The outcomes of the program will include:
- more farmers building the health of the soils on their farms
- more farmers aware and knowledgeable about soil health issues
- more service providers to farmers being aware, knowledgeable and supportive of soil health factors
- participation by farmers at field days, regional industry planning sessions and national symposiums about the role of soil health in supporting sustainable farm businesses and healthy catchments
- use of tools and guidelines generated by the program.
Program overview
Land & Water Australia (LWA)is contracted to manage the program, which is delivered through two main avenues:
- Adoption projects: are a combination of research, knowledge management, trial and demonstration projects to develop and promote:
- agricultural management options based on local healthy soil processes
- efficient systems for monitoring soil from paddock level to the catchment level
- tools to help producers measure, record, monitor and manage the health of their soils
- opportunities for learning about soils and their management.
- Strategic projects: driven by LWA, will contribute to the outcomes and provide context for the adoption projects, through:
- a nationally accredited soil management learning program – to support regional forums and provide extra training
- resources
- a national soil symposium – to showcase current soils expertise, promote networks and identify gaps in healthy soil knowledge or activity
- a knowledge base – consolidating knowledge for access by resource managers to inform soil management to meet local situations.
Full details on the program, including the program implementation strategy, adoption project guidelines and application forms are available at the Land & Water Australia website.
More information contact Catherine Viljoen on 02 6263 6010 or email catherine.viljoen@lwa.gov.au