Soil Events and Farm Walks

The Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan is currently delivering a suite of projects in the area of Sandy Soils and Soil Innovation.

Funding Partners

These projects are supported by Landscapes SA Limestone Coast, Landscapes SA Murraylands and Riverland, Meat and Livestock Australia, and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program.

Useful Links

For more technical information and reports in regard to Soil Innovation please click here.

For more technical information about Soils and Sand Stabilisation please click here.

Project Background

Improving soil health across our landscape will result in a number of benefits including;

• Increased livestock feed production
• Improving the ability to capture rainfall where it falls
• Improved resilience to adverse conditions
• Reduced wind erosion
• Reduced recharge to groundwater, delivering dryland salinity benefits
• Understanding & improvements in; groundcover, soil pH, carbon, structure, water holding capacity

2022 Soil Events and Farm Walks

Carbon on your Farm - Soil Health & Salinity Update

On Wednesday 6th of April 2022 this event was held with 25 participants in attendance.

The day included sessions on;

• A data update from the Roby Downs – Automated Weather Station / Soil Probe / Groundwater Piezometer with Independent Advisor Felicity Turner
• Three Soil Pits across Soil Types. Looking at soil tests results & interpretation, production limitations, dryland salinity, soil carbon, non wetting sands & management options with Brian Hughes - Principal Land Management Consultant with PIRSA
• An overview of carbon flow in local farm businesses in our landscape
• Soil, Carbon and Productivity, Soil Carbon Baseline Levels, Carbon Building Projects in SA. Where to from here? presented by Amanda Schapel, Senior Land Management Consultant with PIRSA. Click here to access this presentation.
• Climate knowledge and local seasonal variability with Darren Ray - Applied Consulting Climatologist

Please click here to access the Information Booklet from the day

Below top: The group listen to Brian Hughes of PIRSA discuss overcoming soil constraints including dryland salinity

Below bottom: Amanda Schapel of PIRSA speaks to to group about Soil Carbon and Productivity

2021 Soil Events and Farm Walks

The Western Flat Driving Field Day was held on Tuesday 9th November 2021 focussing on Boosting Soil Fertility, Using Compost, Crops and Deep Tillage. Around 70 people in attendance, reflecting a strong interest in the topics covered, sites visits, and machinery on display.

Information covered on the day included:

- Meat and Livestock Australia - Improved Grazing Production on Non Wetting Sandy Soils Project, to improve feed production on sandy soils

- How organic waste is transformed into a valuable soil conditioner & how to use it on farm

- The Mulbarton Business story - stacking enterprises for success

- A farmer taking on the challenges & opportunities of cover cropping & establishing summer active feed

- How to select the right tillage implement for your soil conditions

Above: Dr Mel Fraser of PIRSA discussing limitations to plant growth in the soil pit at Bordertown 

Above: Learning about a broad range of soil amelioration machinery on farm at Bordertown 

Several handouts were provided to participants on the day and were referred too at the different sites.

These can be accessed below.

• Cover Crop Candidates Fact Sheet
• Meat and Livestock Australia - Improving production on sandy soils - Western Flat
• Sandy soil constraints in south east South Australia - MacKillop Farm Management Group
• Understanding soil organic amendments & their application in sandy soils - MacKillop Farm Management Group

To access the Meat and Livestock Australia - Improved Grazing Production on Non Wetting Sandy Soils survey results click here

Funding and support for this event was provided by Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Governments National Landcare Program, Coorong and Tatiara District Councils, GRDC, Grasslands Society of South Australia, and the MacKillop Farm Management Group.

Soils, Carbon & Productivity, Mt Charles & Keith - Farm Walk and Workshop

On the Friday 29^th October 2021 a high quality event was held looking at a range of topics of relevance to agriculture across the Tatiara and Coorong with 55 participants in attendance.

The day included sessions on;

• Carbon in your farm business. Looking at carbon footprints, emission reduction & sequestration options, and looking at whether we can we build soil carbon in our landscape. Click here to access the presentation.
• Applying the data - Telemetry for weather, soil moisture, groundwater, & salinity. Click here to access the presentation.
• Soil pH trends across the Tatiara and Coorong. Impacts on yield & feed growth. Economic treatments to overcome acidity. Click here to access the Fact Sheet and Report: Soil Acidity in the Coorong and Tatiara Districts.
• Learning about the Bednar Terraland deep ripper delver incorporator with crumbling roller up close, and learn about its optimum uses and benefits.

Left: Amanda Schapel of PIRSA presents to the group at the Keith Institute

Right: Bednar Terraland deep ripper delver incorporator with crumbling roller

The morning farm walk component at Mount Charles included a technical soils session looking at three soil pits across the landscape identifying limitations to plant growth, and best bet amelioration treatments, and looking at telemetery equipment in the field.

Left: Brian Hughes of PIRSA at the soil pit identifying limitations to plant growth

Right: Independent Advisor Felicity Turner explains on farm telemetry equipment

Expert speakers on the day included;

Brian Hughes, Amanda Schapel & Andrew Harding - Land Management Consultants from PIRSA covering carbon in your farm business and soil carbon, identifying and overcoming soil limitations to production, and soil pH impacts on yield and plant growth

Felicity Turner – Independent Advisor, covering optimum use of on farm telemetry equipment, and using this data for seasonal decision making

Simon March –EarthServ Pty Ltd, showcasing the Bednar Terraland deep ripper delver incorporator with crumbling roller

Please click here to access the technical notes handed out on the day.

Funding and support for this event was provided by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board through funding from the Australian Governments National Landcare Program, Coorong and Tatiara District Councils.

Coomandook Ag Bureau Sticky Beak Tour - 15th September 2021

On Wednesday the 15^th of September the annual Coomandook Sticky Beak Tour was undertaken in partnership with the Coomandook Ag Bureau.

Between 48 – 53 attended the different sessions at Coomandook and Malinong across the day which included;

• Soil pit, limitations identified vs soil amendment techniques, Meat & Livestock Australia Sandy Soils Project
• National Crop Variety Trial Site – Cooke Plains
• Telemetry for weather, ground water, soil moisture, soil salinity
• Commodus Clear Field Barley demonstration site
• Canola variety demonstration site

Funding support for the event was provided by Meat and Livestock Australia, Murraylands and Riverland Landscapes Board, the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, Coorong Platinum Ag, and GRDC.

To access the Coomandook Sticky Beak Tour Farm Walk Booklet please click here

To access the Coorong Platinum Ag Malinong GM Canola and Technology Trial Site Booklet please click here

To access the Meat and Livestock Australia - Improved Grazing Production on Non Wetting Sandy Soils survey results click here

Above: Dr Jack Desboilles - Uni SA discusses his display of soil amelioration equipment and inclusion rippers - Coomandook

Meningie East - Field Healthy Soils Farm Walk - 23rd September 2021

On Thursday the 23rd of September a Meningie East Field Healthy Soils Farm Walk was held.

24 producers attended this event which covered the following components;

• Improving Grazing Production on Non Wetting Sands Project, Meat & Livestock Australia Project
• Dr Mel Fraser of PIRSA led the group through an in field discussion of three soil pits across the landscape at Field identifying soil chemical and physical limitations to plant growth, and encouraged the group to consider what amelioration techniques they would like to try during the roll out of the MLA Improving Grazing Production on Non Wetting Sands Project
• Revegetation to reclaim saline areas
• Telemetry for weather, ground water, soil moisture, soil salinity

Funding support for the event was provided by Meat and Livestock Australia, Limestone Coast Landscapes Board, and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

To access the Meningie East Field Healthy Soils Farm Walk Booklet please click here

To access the Meat and Livestock Australia - Improved Grazing Production on Non Wetting Sandy Soils survey results click here

Meningie East Healthy Soils Farm Walk - 4th March 2021

This event was held on Cold and Wet Road at Field, generously hosted by Jo and Nigel Williams with 29 people in attendance.  This event was held with funding support from Meat and Livestock Australia, the Limestone Coast Landscapes Board, Coorong District Council, and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program.

Key speakers at this event were;

- Amanda Schapel - Senior Soils Consultant with PIRSA Rural Solutions, covering soil carbon in our landscape and interpreting soil carbon tests, and

- Dr Melissa Fraser - Senior Soils Consultant with PIRSA Rural Solutions, introducing the Meat and LIvestock Australia funded Improved Grazing Production on Non Wetting Sandy Soils. Mel encouraged the group to start considering the types of soil amendments they are interested in exploring to improved feed production and plant water use on sandy soils.

Above: Dr Mel Fraser looking at Soil Profiles with the Meningie East Healthy Soils Group 04.03.2021

Please find below a copy of the hand outs and presentations from this event;

Meningie East Healthy Soils Farm Walk Handout

SOIL CARBON - Amanda Schapel - Senior Soils Consultant with PIRSA Rural Solutions

Presentation

Handout - Soil Health Check Up Fact Sheet

Meat and LIvestock Australia funded IMPROVED GRAZING PRODUCTION ON NON WETTING SANDY SOILS PROJECT

Dr Melissa Fraser - Senior Soils Consultant with PIRSA Rural Solutions

MLA Improved Grazing Production on Non Wetting Sandy Soils Project Overview

Presentation

LANDCARE AUSTRALIA - NBN SUSTAINABLE AG REMOTE MONITORING

Salinity Update – Use of automated monitoring equipment;

depth to water table, soil moisture & soil soil salinity levels

What saltland management questions should we be looking at next?

- link to discussion points

- Felicity Turner, Turner Agri

Link to local automated monitoring equipment; including weather stations

depth to water table, soil moisture & soil soil salinity levels

Ag Production Update - Coomandook Ag Bureau - 3rd March 2021

This update workshop was held on Wednesday 3rd of September with around 22 people in attendance. This event was held with funding support from Meat and Livestock Australia, the Murraylands and Riverland Landscapes Board, Coorong District Council, and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program.

Expert speakers in attendance and topics covered are shown in the table below.

Presentations and further information can be accessed by clicking on the links provided.

Coomandook Ag Production Update Workshop Handout

2020 Soil Events and Farm Walks

Colebatch Farm Walk - 22nd September 2020

This event was held on a wet and windy day on Tuesday 22nd of September from 10am - 3.30pm visiting properties around the Colebatch and Woods Well area. Around 30 - 37 people attended a range of sites. This event was held with funding support from the Limestone Coast Landscapes Board, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Coorong District Council, and the Primary Industries and Resources SA Regional Growth Fund .

Topics covered included;

To access the full farm walk booklet please click here

Below: Forage Brassica                                                    Above right: Colebatch Soil Cores

Below: Lined Catchment Tour

Coomandook Agriculture Bureau Sticky Beak Tour - September 2020

This event was held on Wednesday 16th of September from 10am - 5.30pm followed by BBQ tea visiting sites around the Yumali, Cooke Plains, and Coomandook area.  This event was held with funding support from the Murraylands and Riverland Landscapes Board, Coorong District Council, and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program.

Sites and topics covered on the tour included;

To access the full farm walk booklet please click here

Bednar Terraland

Examining the results of Plozza Ploughing

Recent events

2020 Soil Events and Farm Walks

Western Flat Farm Walk

34 people attended the Western Flat Farm Walk held on Wednesday 9^th of September 2020.

Support for this day was provided by Landscapes SA Limestone Coast, Tatiara District Council, and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program.

The group examine the soil profile on Verco's

The key speakers at this event were;

-     Dr Melissa Fraser - Senior Consultant (soil & land management), PIRSA Rural Solutions

-     Felicity Turner - Independent Advisor

-     Shane Oster - Alpha Consulting

-     Nathan Tink

- and the hosting landholders; Greg Funke, Hamish Verco and Martin Harvey

Key features of the day were;

- Irrigation induced sodicity and salinity

- Cover cropping on sandy soils to increase production  and plant water use

- Soil constraints and soil amendments to increase production  and plant water use

- On farm weather stations and soil probes, how to maximise their use

- Discussion of the Smart Farms Salinity Projects outcomes and local application

The Farm Walk Booklet can be accessed by clicking here

Left: Hamish Verco discussing soil amendments Right:  Shane Oster - Alpha Consulting explaining the on farm weather station & soil probe

Meningie East Healthy Soils Farm Walk

35 people attended a Meningie East Healthy Soils Farm Walk held on Wednesday 5^th of August 2020.

Support for this day was provided by Meat and Livestock Australia, Landscapes SA Limestone Coast and Murraylands and Riverlands Boards, Coorong District Council, and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program.

Felicity Turner presents to the group at Menalpyn

The key speakers at this event were;

-     Brian Hughes - Principal Consultant (soil & land management), PIRSA Rural Solutions

-     Felicity Turner - Independent Advisor

Key features of the day were;

- Visits on to soil pits on second year salt tolerant Lucerne and Messina, deep sandy flat and a limestone ridge

- Soil test analysis interpretation and discussion

- Discussion of soil constraints, physical & chemical features, water holding capacity, optimum management to increase production  and plant water use

- Soil Acidity Demonstration Site, Veris & EM Mapping

- Discussion of the Saltland Pasture Redemption Project outcomes and local application

Brian Hughes pointing out features of the soil pit          Soil pH test results

Brian Hughes in the Green Plains limestone ridge soil pit

Farm Walk Resources

To access the full handout booklet from this day which includes;

- Soil profile descriptions, data sheet, and soil tests and interpretations for three different Meningie East soil types

- Saltland Pasture Redemption - tips and tools for identifying and dealing with saline soils report

- Neptune Messina Fact sheet

- Veris Mapping

- Information on the Meningie East Liming Demonstration site

To access this booklet please click here

To access the Understanding your Soils Manual compiled for use on this farm walk please click here

Conclusions and what next....

At the conclusion of the day participants expressed interest in looking at or learning more about the following at future events or other opportunities;

- Revisit the soil pH and soil acidification trial

- Testing soil carbon in paddocks vs under native vegetation

- How could you go about finding your own liming material

- We need a regional response to dryland salinity, perhaps through on ground works incentives

- A fresh look at revegetation on and around small saline areas

- Matching water use across the landscape

- Aqua till tillage equipment