2022/23 ANNUAL PLAN PROGRESS REPORT – Q4 Stronger Councils, Stronger Region

Strategic Intention

Annual Plan Action

Tasmanian Soil Extension Program

Activity this quarter Status

• Project delivery complete, with final compliance reports being prepared for submission by the end of July 2023.

• Highly successful field day delivered on King Island with the KI Beef Producers Group in mid-May on soil fertility and nutrient budgeting and the importance of soil testing and pH management.

• Afternoon workshop focussed on two different soil pits to discuss soil structure and biology, compaction, and drainage management.

• Last nine one-to-one landholder visits conducted by SEO on-farm to facilitate soil testing and soil health assessment.

Production Systems Approach to Soil Ecological Restoration

• Highly successful community extension event held on 2 May at Westmore attended by 16 participants to learn from the farm manager and consulting agronomists about the implementation of the multi-species pasture infield demonstration. The event was attended by a wide range of representatives from the farming community, as well as industry bodies and research institutions. Post event feedback was all very positive, with several participants considering changing practices in both beef cattle and dairy operations.

• Community extension events scheduled to take place on two Simplot grower properties to showcase in-field demonstrations of cover crops on 15 and 17 August. Speakers to include farm managers, agronomist and UTAS PhD candidate studying cover crops on the NW Coast.

Minor delays