The GeoCatch Sustainable Agriculture Team have supported their local farmers by increasing their soil testing capacity this summer.
While the program has been previously available through GeoCatch and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, this is the first year that GeoCatch staff have done the soil sampling themselves.
“Soil testing is a critical part of sustainable farm management,” said GeoCatch Chair and local farmer Felicity Bradshaw. “Better management of soil helps to both save money on fertiliser and reduce nutrients entering rivers and Geographe Bay”.
“It’s an exciting venture for us to be able to expand the soil testing program and offer these services to as many Geographe farmers as possible.”
The team recently sampled over 200 paddocks across the Geographe Bay Catchment including dairy, beef and sheep grazing properties.
Soil testing has been popular with local farmers, many of whom have increased their productivity and profitability after participating in the program.
Whole-farm soil testing can reveal nutrient deficiencies and highlight where soil nutrient levels are adequate. Program participants use these results to better match fertiliser inputs to the plant’s requirements. That means healthier pastures and less nutrient run off into our waterways.
If you would like to register your interest for future soil testing programs or be included on the GeoCatch farmer network, please contact GeoCatch on 9781 0111 or at geocatch@dwer.wa.gov.au.
This project is part of Royalties for Region’s Healthy Estuaries WA and Revitalising Geographe Waterways programs. These State Government initiatives aim to support the long-term health of our south-west estuaries.