Farm talk

Yeodene Ute Tour pg 02 Sub Soil Composting Trial pg 03 Green Manuring pg 05 Wensleydale Pasture Cropping Trial pg 07 Integrated Pest Management Program pg 08 Soil Monitoring pg 09 Visual Soil Assessment pg 11 Using Compost, Manures and Biosoilds pg 13 Peer Support and Learning pg 14

SEPTEMBER 2015

An overview of Land Health activities in the Upper Barwon Landcare Network area 2014-2015

Overview

In the last 12 months or so, the Network has been involved in a number of interesting activities which could be covered under the banner of Land Health. With this in mind, we thought it appropriate to produce a publication on this theme - complementing but not replacing ‘Tree Talk” - to inform our members, showcase the activities, and promote this important part of Landcare’s function. Two significant funding sources have helped make this happen • A Federal Government Community Environment Grant, “Focus Farm”, run over 18 months (finished June 2015), which provided $53,000 for activities including workshops, field days and two demonstration trials - plus essential staff funding to help make them happen.

• The Corangamite CMA “Land Health Program” a compilation of Sustainable Agriculture opportunities integrating the activities of many partners such as Southern Farming Systems (SFS), Department of Economic Development Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR), Corangamite Catchment Management Authority( CCMA), Landcare Networks and others. The Landcare Network role is to coordinate the projects locally and run field days and farm visits.

Text and Photos (unless credited otherwise) – Mandy Baker, UBLN facilitator + Layout and Design – David Heath

From the President - Peter Greig Soil health and human health have much in common. We humans are usually well when we are careful in how we eat, drink, sleep, work and play. And often unwell if we are not so careful. Soils, too, being full of living things, need careful management for them to remain healthy.

Humans are becoming less healthy, apparently. It’s likely that the next generation will be the first to live shorter lives, on average, compared with their parents, due to lack of self-care, especially over-indulgence. Equally, soils under local farms seem to be declining in health, judging by acidification, carbon content, and water infiltration and holding capacity. This is despite – or possibly because of – lots of tillage and feeding with chemical fertilisers.

Several local farmers are seeking to buck this trend, and it’s their stories that fill this issue of our specially re-named publication. The stories show farmers trying in various ways to work in concert with nature, and in the process, get more production, with lower costs. Much of it is experimental – just having a go – but professional guidance and help is also being applied, for instance in providing benchmark soil testing across the district.

Sponsors and Partners

In the stories, you will read about: • Using calf-shed waste in a sub-soil composting trial • Incorporating green manure into unproductive soils • Using “Integrated Pest Management” to reduce pesticide costs • How to test your own soils using “Visual Soil Assessment” • Trying different sources of compost and lime.

These stories are a wonderful example of farmers and scientists together listening, watching, and learning by trial and error, and conversation, with each contributing their own special experience, knowledge and expertise. In the process, it can be expected that soils will become healthier, and farms more profitable.

As importantly, it’s likely that farmers themselves will become individually more healthy, and rivers too – as run-off from excess chemical fertilizers is reduced, and erosion is reduced through better infiltration of rainfall. That’s good news for Landcare and catchment management.

Cover and back page photo; Pasture Cropping Field day at the McGregor’s farm, Wensleydale.

Disclaimer—This publication may be of assistance to you but the Upper Barwon Landcare Network and staff do not guarantee that this publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Upper Barwon Landcare Network and staff.

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Yeodene Ute Tour 20th March 2015

First stop was Dan Parker who is practising growing a crop then working it into the soil (green manuring) on his potato paddock. The difference between the manured and unmanured sites was marked. We dug a hole in a paddock which has had a number of green manure crops incorporated into it.

Dan has a team of agricultural advisors for his business, including one specifically for potatoes.

His big aim is to restore the land which has been heavily cropped over a number of years.

Annieka Paridaen from Southern Farming Systems was also present as Dan has been using her advice on some different cropping regimes particularly canola, unusual in this area. Annieka reported;”We have planted a spring sown winter habit canola and millet mix which will act as a summer and autumn feed crop and lock up in May for canola grain production. The winter habit canola has a vernalisation requirement (which means it will stay vegetative until after winter), meaning we can sow it very early.”

Photos; Above– Nellie Shalley and Ralph Cotter inspecting the two soil pits on the Shalley site. Below – Annieka Paridaen, Dan Parker and local farmers in the Parker spud paddock

The second stop was to look at the Green Manuring Demo site at Nellie Shalley/Rose Sgro‘s property. The big attraction was two recently dug soil pits with different soil types on the trial site. The pits indicated the different soil layers and rooting depth of the pasture. DEDJTR staff Nerissa Lovric and Ralph Cotter have been overseeing this trial ( see ‘Green Manuring – is it worth it?’ article page 5). Neil James has also trialled the introduction of a mix of pasture species which are new to the site, grazing tolerant lucerne and a phalaris pasture mix.

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Sub Soil Composting Trial A project in partnership with DEDJTR and with funding from the Focus Farm Project Interview with Irrewarra farmer - Bruce Bilney

Irrewarra farmer Bruce Bilney bought his property in 2010. It is 1000 acres plus 200 additional acres leased.

Predominately rearing dairy heifers for supply to domestic and overseas dairy industry, joined or unjoined. He also runs a small beef herd. As part of the Focus Farm Project he has hosted a sub soil composting trial.

Bruce; “The trial site came about through our calf rearing. We have somewhere in the order of 400 cubic metres of manure coming out of the shed each year. We have a number of paddocks of very heavy soil, and I asked about soil types and composting and what would be the likely impact. We gained technical advice and information from the Department of Primary Industries, and we thought “Why not do trials?”.

We had compost and some problems, have a few problems, having to deal with heavy soils and trying to work out which are the pasture types best suited for the soils.

Also another element was that 2012 was the driest period on record in this region. We were fencing and discovered about 10” (250mm) down the soil was moist but the grass couldn’t access that moisture. So put all that together, hence the reason for the trial.

I am a member of the Irrewarra Farm/ Landcare group whose members are most interested in the trial. The basis of the group is a general interest in agriculture and trying to improve their knowledge.

We in the Irrewarra Farmcare Group facilitate topics of interest that are relevant to the area and to the type of farmers and farming that are here, climatic condition, soil types etc.

Connections with other farmers helps, Bruce Bilney there’s no substitute for experience.

It tends to be that someone has done something similar before and technology I’ve noted some changes albeit a little bit does change and progress. Every farmer subjective, but things like when we were is looking at ways to improve things. A sowing plots, all the soil types are very lot of the traditional farming methods similar across the seven trial plots. One and tradition fertilizers are now being was control and six were trial. Two plots questioned and there’s a search for had compost put on top. Two had been better ways of doing things. deep ripped and had compost put into them. The moisture of the two plots that We need to change. This heavy black soil had been treated with gypsum and lime grows a hell of a lot of grass and then became very sticky to the point where it becomes fairly dormant. If we can we couldn’t put a tractor on them until improve the soil health, and do it with they dried out slightly. The other minimal or preferably no use of treatments were fine where the soil chemical fertilizer and try to utilize had either been loosened or ripped or (farm) by-products, it seems to be a through a surface application of smarter way of doing things. The results compost. They didn’t clog the drill, and are not immediately evident though. If didn’t stick to the wheels of the tractor you put down Super Phosphate you can and they’d had the same amount of rain. usually see the results in one year. This is Also where there was surface a much longer term process but application of compost the surface clods everything still points to the fact that broke down. this is the right way to go.

I realize that it’s anecdotal but I had to stop seeding the two paddocks that hadn’t been treated and won’t until they have dried out.

Future direction; The plan is to continue the trial with the Department to 2018. We’ll keep monitoring it.

Basically we’ll have to do soil tests again to track changes and look at germination rates for any variation and the amount of pasture we actually pull off each plot.

Each trial site is independently fenced.

We hope to be able to monitor stocking rates fairly accurately.

Demonstration of applying compost to paddock 03

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SEPTEMBER 2015

Benefits; we are hoping that it will provide a direction in terms of soil treatment.

Hopefully that will give us a roadmap forward for similar soil types on this property.

• Whether the application of compost above ground or in the ground works.

I expect it to take 2 – 3 years before we actually see any improvement in the soil health, the level of worm activity, and the water infiltration rather the surface ponding. Sometimes this time of the year if we’ve had a lot of rain, those paddocks can be flooding. This country doesn’t need a huge amount of rainfall to grow a lot of grass, but we need to do things to take advantage of the rain that does fall.

• What grass types are better and more sustainable? We have gone for perennials in the hope that while they’re slower growing they will ‘hang on” longer and establish a deeper root base.

We are attempting to loosen the soil base and access the moisture in the lower levels.

We hope to extend our season. We typically have 160 – 180 wet days per year. I grew up in South Gippsland. It receives 2 – 3 times our rainfall and it occurs in about 90 days! The average here is about 600-650 mm per year; however it’s been variable the last few years”

Demonstration Site - improving production on heavy grey clay with sodic sub-soil

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Treatment 2

7

Treatment 5

6

Treatment 3

5

Treatment 1

4

Treatment 6

3

Black Grey Clay Loam

Control

2

Treatment 4

1 Not Included

Beals Rd.

Treatment Number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

– Control (no activities) – Phalaris sp. Sown + surface lime/gypsum (at recommended rates) – Fescue sp. Sown + surface lime/gypsum – Phalaris sp. Sown + surface lime/gypsum + surface compost (high quality) – Fescue sp. Sown + surface lime/gypsum + surface compost (high quality) – Phalaris sp. Sown + ripping - Yeomans plough, sub-soil manuring – using compost (high quality) – Fescue sp. Sown + ripping - Yeomans plough, sub-soil manuring – using compost (high quality)

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NB. Treatment 5 + 6 involve ripping with Yeomans plough and sub-soil manuring (Didn’t get applied due to machine availability high demand of the machine) FARM TALK

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Green Manuring - is it worth the effort?

By Nerissa Lovric – Land Management Extension Officer, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources

The practice of green manuring or growing a crop with the intention of incorporating it into the soil is not a new idea or fad. It can be traced back to ancient Chinese and Roman agriculture.

The practice has been an important feature in the development of organic farming systems and continues to be used in modern systems as an important component of soil nutrition and conditioning programs.

Potential benefits of this practice include: improved soil structure, increased soil biological activity, reduced nutrient leaching, improvements to water holding capacity and improved soil cation exchange capacity (Victorian Dept of Agriculture, 1993).

Depending on the choice of green manure crop there is also potential to provide a nitrogen source to the next crop or pasture. Green manure mixes can also have benefits for weed control and pest and disease control. Some green manure crops can break the pest and disease cycle by releasing chemicals into the soil that act as bio‐fumigants or by ensuring there is no host for the disease to live on.

Despite the potential benefits of green manuring, it has not been commonly used in dryland agricultural systems of south‐west Victoria.

So are the potential benefits real? Are they hard to achieve? What’s involved and what are the costs? These are some of the questions that have led to the establishment of a demonstration site on a grazing enterprise in the Upper Barwon Landcare Area.

The project is a joint initiative between the Corangamite CMA the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) and the Upper Barwon Landcare Network.

The demonstration site was established in February 2014 with monitoring planned to continue through to June 2016.

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Site description When the call went out for a farmer in the UBLN area interested in implementing this practice on a poorly performing paddock, Nellie Shalley and Rose Sgro responded. “We were prepared to give it a go as we had a paddock that has always struggled, we had attempted to sow it to perennial pasture several times with no success” said Rose.

A site visit by DEDJTR soil scientists to the poorly performing paddock confirmed its suitability. Located at Yeodene in the Otway foothills, the site is located over tertiary sediments that have weathered to soils with loamy sand or sandy loam surface textures.

These soils are prone to leaching and wind erosion, leading to nutrient and moisture deficiencies (Robinson et. al., 2003).

Soil coring to 1m across the paddock revealed variations in soil type across the 1.8ha paddock. Three different soil profiles were identified with the predominant one being classified a ‘Semi‐ Aquic Podosol’ (Figure 1).

This soil type features a hardpan or ‘coffee rock layer’ that occurs at varying depths across the paddock (between 50cm‐1m). Below this layer is a bleached loamy sand overlying a light medium clay layer.

The term ‘semi‐aquic’ indicates that the B horizon of this soil experiences ‘short‐term’ saturation, due to the impeded vertical drainage. The initial pH of the surface soil (0‐10cm) tested in March 2014 was 5.8 (in water) making it quite acidic. Magnesium levels in the surface soil were also low (65 mg/kg).

To address these issues 1.5 ton/ha of Dolomite was spread over the site before the green manure crop was sown.

The goal of growing and incorporating a green manure crop at this site was twofold: 1. To improve soil organic matter levels in the surface horizons of this loamy sand surface soil. Leading to improvements in the cation exchange capacity (nutrient holding capacity) and moisture retention of the surface soil.

2. To aid the establishment of a deep rooted perennial pasture that would provide a high value feed source for cattle and continue to improve sub‐soil organic matter levels over time.

loamy sand

light/medium clay

Figure 1‐ Predominant soil type over the 1.8ha paddock. Classified as a 'Semi‐aquic Podosol'.

Results So far the results of the green manuring at this site are encouraging. Soil testing has shown improvements in organic matter per cent, total carbon per cent and cation exchange capacity. However, it is still early in the demonstration and more data is required to confirm these trends over time. the new perennial pasture was successfully established and incorporated at the site (see time line of trial below).

Figure 2 below shows the Grazing Tolerant Lucerne coming back after grazing over spring/summer 2015.

Phalaris plants are also starting to emerge after recent grazing. Some plants are showing yellowing and may be showing signs of stress due to the low pH conditions at this site. Lime at 2.0 ton/ha has recently been applied (autumn 2015) to continue to address pH levels in the surface soil.

Figure 2: New pasture (GT Lucerne/Holdfast Phalaris) after grazing, May 2015)

Watch this space Monitoring at this site is planned to continue until June 2016. Stay tuned for further analysis of soil test results and monitoring observations of the new perennial pasture over winter 2015.

Future reports will further examine the cost/benefits of this practice. Early results are indicating that green manuring may well be worth the effort, particularly on the light textured surface soils common in the Otway foothills.

Time Line of Trial

References Victorian Dept of Agriculture, 1993. Green Manure Crops‐ the organic alternative for improving soil. AgMedia, Melbourne, 1993.

Robinson N, Rees D, Reynard K, MacEwan R, Dahlhaus P, Imhof M, Boyle G and Baxter N (2003) A land resource assessment of the Corangamite region. Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.

31/3/14 - Soil test green manure paddock 24/3-3/4/14 - Graze paddock hard 30/4/14 - Spray site to control weeds 23/4/14 - Seed bed preparation 04/4/14 - Spread 2 tonne dolomite 10/5/14 - Sow winter green manure and fertilise 19/5/14 - Inspect paddock 21/5/14 - Spray for red legged earth mites 14/10/14 - Tissue test green manure 14/10/14 - Re-soil test post green manure 03/11/14 - Plough winter green manure

- Spray weeds in prep for pasture sowing

- Sow perennial pasture

Summary of Progress

Project time-line ‐ 2014‐2015 March (2014) ‐ First 0‐10cm soil tests sent for chemical analysis.

Late March (2014) ‐ 1.5 ton/ha dolomite lime surface spread across the (1.8ha) paddock.

May (2014) ‐ Paddock lightly cultivated and sown to green manure crop comprising ryecorn (Southern), Vetch (Popney Woolley Pod Vetch) and lucerne (9.5 Cropper).

September (2014) ‐ Green manure crop mowed and incorporated into the surface soil using speed discs.

Perennial pasture mix (GT Lucerne/ Hold Fast Phalaris) sown using a Vanderstad seed drill. Soil test (0‐10cm) taken (one week after incorporation).

December (2014) ‐ First grazing of the new perennial pasture.

March (2015) - Autumn application of lime 2.0 ton/ha.

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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Wensleydale Pasture Cropping Trial A project in partnership with DEDJTR and with funding from the Focus Farm Project This trial, on the McGregor property “ Maclyn Farm” in Wensleydale, is a demonstration of innovative direct sowing of three types of summer crops into perennial pastures, using prepared sites. Wide spacing of direct drill techniques are used with the aim to investigate the ability to maximise summer crops into existing pastures and measuring the effects after an autumn break. Discussions and ideas are encouraged on grazing compared to harvesting.

A field day in October 2014 included a presentation from Peter McGregor on the owner’s perspective; a presentation from Southern Farming Systems Consultant Simon Falkiner discussing the concept of pasture cropping as a process and benefits for increasing feed return on paddock management; and a Visual Soil Assessment conducted by soil specialist Tim Johnson. This was a fantastic example of the integrated approach of the Land Health Program, where participants got to see a variety of topics at one property, adding value to the event.

Pasture Cropping - It’s all about capturing opportunities

by Simon Falkiner

Innovative farmers in southern Victoria are challenging our traditional farming systems looking at ways to better maximise production and returns. With increased climate variability upon us they are looking at ways of better utilizing plant available moisture, a critical driver of productivity. They are looking at techniques such as “stacking enterprises” (Pasture Cropping), “grabbing a free a lunch” (grazing grain crops) and utilising out of season moisture (cover cropping) to supply high quality feed to productive animals to help build robustness into their farming systems.

Wensleydale farmer Peter McGregor is one such producer who is challenging the “system”, trialling several forms of pasture cropping in a bid to provide high quality feed, as both pasture and silage, to his beef cattle herd. Peter’s existing perennial pasture base is being manipulated to help cover the normal winter and summer feed shortages currently experienced on his farm.

Over the last few seasons he has used a trait found in perennial species, an ability to cope with/be subdued by low rates of chemical (Paraquat, Diquat namely Sprayseed) whilst other species are established, then grown, with the aim of supplying out of season grazing or fodder production opportunities. The benefit of this system is that as the perennial species are not completely removed from the pasture but just subdued, whereas many annual weeds are removed, so once the sown crop is finished with the pasture returns albeit in a cleaner state.

This activity is designed to provide high quality feed to fast growing highly productive animals so turnoff times can be reduced, profitability increased and resilience improved. If the system is managed well, the unseen bonus is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The secret is the matching of a high performing pasture production system with an animal production system that captures the benefits of both.

Oats Sown into a perennial pasture July 2015

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Integrated Pest Management Program The Focus Farm project gave the Landcare Network the opportunity to fund an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) workshop and field day with farmers in the Irrewarra area using instructors Paul Horne and Jessica Page from IPM Technologies.

The workshop was designed to help farmers understand what is involved in implementing an IPM approach on-farm and what they will need to do. Topics included: - - - - - -

Examples of different control methods The role on monitoring Identifying pest and beneficial species Effects of chemicals on pests and beneficials Cultural control methods Decision making

The Field day was conducted six months later in a paddock on Will and Kate Hanson’s property, which had not been sprayed since the workshop. Bugs in the paddock, both good and bad were vacuumed up and identified. It is hoped that regular monitoring over seasons will be able to be conducted which would give a bigger picture and demonstrate any effects of applying IPM methodologies.

Paul Horne vacuuming up the bugs

Irrewarra members using magnifying glasses to identify bugs in the workshop

Jessica Page demonstrating species found in the paddock

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Soil Monitoring

A soil monitoring Project run by Lisa Miller from Southern Farming Systems is being conducted throughout the Corangamite catchment. Twelve landholders with a representative spread of soil types and agricultural land use are participating from the Upper Barwon Landcare Network.

A further two sites are also participating in Lime trials, “Cloverleigh” – the Gannon property in Murroon, and “Yan Yan Gurt West” of the Stewarts in Deans Marsh.

The first soil samples were taken last spring, and on the 23rd of March this year all landholders, plus 12 from the Surf Coast Inland Plains Network ( SCIPN) were invited to a dinner/presentation at the Winchelsea Pub where Lisa gave a summary and analysis of results.

Summary of soil test findings in the Upper Barwon and Surf Coast Inland Plains Networks.

By Lisa Miller, Southern Farming Systems

Soil Acidity • Both SCIPN (6 out of 10 sites) and Upper Barwon (10 out of 12 sites) have acidity issues within their topsoil (0-10 cm) which is likely to be limiting pasture production and will cause the soil below 10 cm to become more acidic.

• Soil pH in the topsoil (0-10 cm) needs to be above 5.5 to achieve lime movement to treat and prevent any subsurface acidity issues • A soil pH of at least 4.8 is required for the soil below 10 cm as plant roots rely on accessing nutrients and moisture at depth and at pH 4.8 aluminium precipitates into a toxic form which affects root growth.

• In the SCIPN area 5 out of 10 sites are below pH target in the 10-20 cm soil layer but currently all are above target in 20-30 cm layer.

• In the Upper Barwon group 5 out of 12 sites are below pH target in the 10-20 cm soil layer and one site at Murroon is just below target in 20-30 cm.

• Subsoils generally start to occur at about 25 cm where there is less organic matter and more clay and so soil testing at the 20 to 30 cm depth is useful for picking up subsoil acidity issues.

• Three sites within the Upper Barwon group had zones with subsoil acidity issues (pH < 4.8) which was found by DEDJTR testing 1 metre deep core samples. Subsoil acidity issues were generally found on light textured soils in high rainfall areas.

Farm locations 09

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Soil Fertility

Sulfur

Phosphorus

Sulfur levels were generally good and are unlikely to be constraining production.

*Generally phosphorus levels are pretty good with most sites not being constrained by phosphorous deficiencies.

Potassium

Take home messages:

* In the Upper Barwon area, four out of 12 sites had potassium deficiency.

• The only way to diagnose soil acidity is to sample the soil and test the pH. Testing topsoil pH (0-10cm) only tells you about topsoil pH. Subsurface soil also needs monitoring so the right amount of lime can be applied.

* Potassium deficiencies are occurring on sedimentary based soils rather than on basalt soils. These are lighter textured soils and potassium can be leached out of the root zone. Hay cutting removes lots of potassium.

• As a generalisation it is unlikely that basalt soils will have soil acidity issues below 20 cm but soils formed on sedimentary, alluvial, marl and granite parent material require monitoring at depth in the 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm soil layers.

* We saw a visual response and a statistically significant response to potassium applied at the Murroon Lime trial. This site had a loam soil and Cowell potassium of 141 mg/kg. The plots fertilised with potassium grew an extra 60% compared to the nil treatment as recorded from our September cuts and an additional 26% from cuts our November cuts.

• Potassium deficiency is the main nutrient deficiency detected across the two networks.

Table 1 - CCMA Soil acidity monitoring results from Upper Barwon Landcare Network 2014

Table 2 - Median pH and aluminium results for landcare networks and the Corangamite catchment with the highest and lowest recorded values shown in brackets

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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Visual Soil Assessment Program From the successful 2012 and 2013 South West Soils Conferences, the Heytesbury District Landcare Network initiated a program of conducting Visual Soil Assessments (VSAs) on farming land in the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority area.

Tim Johnston (ex-DEPI) facilitated the project. Tim has 20 years’ experience in soil and water science and grain crop agronomy in south-eastern Australia and had a lead role in

DEPI’s Soil Health program 2006-2010 in South West Victoria.

The Upper Barwon Landcare Network facilitated a number of VSA sessions as part of various field days.

The VSA provides landholders and advisors with a quick and simple method to assess soil condition and plant performance, and how they are affected and modified by farm management.

The VSA can also be used to assess the suitability and limitations of a soil for pasture and cropping. The method is based on the visual assessment of key soil ‘state’ and plant indicators of soil quality and plant performance, presented on easy to use score cards.

Tim Johnston demonstrating the VSA step by step to landholders at field days in the Winchelsea and Wensleydale districts.

What’s in it for landholders?

• • • •

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Empowerment through increased knowledge of soil condition.

Development of skills to assess and monitor soil quality and identify constraints to crop or pasture plant performance.

Visual Soil Assessment test results for the landholder’s paddock.

Opportunity for learning and participation at on-farm demonstration days.

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Visual Soil Assessment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Step by Step The Visual Soil Assessment process was developed by Graham Shepard in New Zealand, (Field Guide booklet is available in the Landcare office to loan).

The premise is that most physical, biological and chemical soil properties show up as a visual characteristics .

A Step by step assessment of these characteristics, put into a score card, gives a overall picture of the soil condition and plant performance.

Soil indicators

1. Soil Texture 2. Soil structure 3. Soil porosity 4. Number and colour of soil mottles 5. Soil colour 6. Number of earthworms 7. Soil smell 8. Potential rooting depth 9. Surface ponding 10. Surface relief (smoothness)

Process of visual soil assesment

Digging the soil cube

Soil texture

Soil Structure

Soil smell

Mottles

Worm count

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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Using Compost, Manures and Biosolids To achieve soil management goals How to get the ‘best value for money’’ when using soil organic amendments was the key topic for discussion at the Winchelsea ‘Feed your Soil’ field day held in February 2015.

A group of 20 farmers gathered at Robert Earl’s property to look at a range of organic soil amendments stored at the site.

These included chicken manure, pig yard scrapings, compost made from a range of products and dried biosolids from Barwon Water’s Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant.

Guest presenters for the day included Johannes Biala, one of Australia’s leading figures in composting and compost use.

Johannes emphasised that farmers need to firstly ‘know what they are trying to achieve’ when considering whether to use a particular organic soil amendment. “Is the intended purpose primarily to supply nutrients, to provide soil conditioning benefits, to boost carbon levels, to enhance water holding capacity, or are you seeking a combination of all?” questioned Johannes.

‘Johannes also highlighted that there were a number of risks to look out for when selecting organic soil amendments. These include heavy metals, physical contaminants, high salt content, nitrogen draw down and biosecurity issues such as weeds and pathogens.

This message was reinforced by Simon Falkiner, whose enthusiasm for using compost was severely dampened by low quality ’green waste’ compost he used within a Geelong City Council project (GOSIP). ‘Rather than boosting production and yield, grain yields declined where I had used compost’, Simon lamented. He stressed that farmers need to be aware that compost quality can vary greatly and recommended that farmers test their compost so they know what they are dealing with and can match production goals to expected compost performance.

‘It is essential that farmers request a current product analysis that provides the required information to assess the benefits and risks’ said Johannes.

Nerissa Lovric (DEDJTR)

According to Johannes the product analysis needs to be comprehensive and clear enough to show fertiliser values (P, K, N, Mg, Ca, trace elements), liming effects, supply of carbon, and the product’s value from a soil conditioning perspective. Paramount to this is that analytical results are presented in a way that are meaningful and easy to understand for farmers.

Many farmers who attended the event emphasised this need.

This is something that the recycled organics industry, laboratories and government needs to work on acknowledged Johannes. ‘We are currently planning a joint project with Sustainability Victoria to address this need and hope to test different forms of presenting test results with farmers over the next 12 months’ said Johannes.

The day concluded with a BBQ lunch at the Winchelsea Golf Club and a presentation by DEDJTR Extension officer Nerissa Lovric on monitoring soil health. Nerissa’s key messages included; • Know your soil types and your soil constraints on different parts of the farm • The sub-soil may be where the constraints lie. Surface application of organic amendments may not be the most effective way to address these constraints.

• Identify and target soil types that are in particular need of improvement in topsoil condition eg. lighter textured soils with low organic carbon levels and low nutrient holding ability.

• Be aware that improving soil condition requires time frames of at least 3 years. When aiming to improve soil carbon levels, setting goals and monitoring over a 10-year period is recommended.

Feedback from the event showed that participants are very interested in this topic. A number of people indicated that they were planning to trial organic amendments on their properties and would like support in the monitoring and evaluation of these products.

For more information on using organic soil amendments or monitoring soil condition contact Nerissa Lovric (DEDJTR, Colac), nerissa.lovric@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

Simon Falkiner (local farmer and farm consultant) speaking to field day participants about his personal experience using compost.”.

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SEPTEMBER 2015

Peer support and learning - Irrewarra Farmcare Group The Irrewarra Farmcare Group meets regularly between March and October – generally in the morning on the third Wednesday of the month. Sustainable farming topics, guest speakers and farm tours are scheduled based on the interests of group members.

Over the last 12 months the group has participated in the following activities; Guest speakers on Animal Health, Animal Nutrition, On line Auctions, Rabobank, Farm Apps, Pasture Cropping and Grazing Management.

Tours to Mingawalla and Cam Nicholson’s farm, Oz Trees Nursery tour and presentation on species for Cypress decline.

Bruce Bilney’s sub soil composting demonstration site, Visual Soil Assessment. Integrated Pest Management workshop and Field day. Other landholders are always welcome to attend, there is an opportunity for a chat over a cuppa and muffin as well.

To contact the group President Kaylene Wood – 0429 115 125 Secretary Bruce Bilney 0417 372 219

Mark Prascevic from Oz Trees demonstrating indigenous species to Irrewarra Farmcare members

FARM TALK

SEPTEMBER 2015

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Produced by the Upper Barwon Landcare Network 57 Main St Birregurra 3242 Office Phone: 52 362 401 Mob: 0427 316 395 mandy@ubln.org.au www.ubln.org.au

“This project is supported by the Corangamite CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.”