North Central Catchment Management Authority and Agriculture Victoria have teamed up to create the region’s new Soil Health Guide.
North Central CMA Sustainable Agriculture Program manager Mandy Coulson said the guide included a physical and digital book, a step-by-step website, and instructional videos on how to understand, test and improve your soil.
“Soil is central to a lot of the challenges farmers face, so understanding the make-up of soil and how to improve it can go a long way to helping them make the right decisions,” Ms Coulson said.
“No matter whether you’re in a paddock, at your desk, on the lounge, or in the garden, you’ll have access to the information you need to test and improve your soil.
“These resources are perfect for our catchment, but the knowledge can be easily used anywhere around Victoria or Australia.”
Agriculture Victoria grains northern biosecurity and agriculture services regional manager Rebecca Mitchell launched the guide at Pyramid Hill recently, and said the resources offered practical information and solutions.
“The Soil Health Guide is a toolkit and identifies a range of simple tests anyone can do to determine management actions to improve soil health,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The Soil Health Guide looks at ground cover, biological activity, soil colour, pH, texture, topsoil, structure, compaction, and stability.
“The guide also discusses the valuable role played by existing soil carbon stores and how they offer great benefit to both agricultural productivity and the wider environment.”
For more information and to access the free resources, go to: https://www.nccma.vic.gov.au/projects/agriculture/soil-health-guide
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