Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan delivered a series of projects to improve our local understanding of the role of carbon, climate and methane in our landscape and agricultural businesses.  We are grateful for the project support received from; Murraylands Riverland Landscape Board, Limestone Coast Landscape Board, Future Drought Fund  & Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal and Landcare Australia.

Scroll down to find more about recent events, baseline soil carbon test results and links to useful resources.

Project Outcomes

Please find below;

- A summary of the key outcomes from the Carbon suite of projects

- Click here to access the Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan Carbon Projects Update 2023

- Click here to access the Soil Carbon in the Coorong and Tatiara Districts Fact Sheet

Building Carbon and Climate Expertise in the Upper SE and Limestone Coast

With Limestone Coast Landscape Board's support and funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, Sustainability Officers were able to attend the University of Melbourne ‘Carbon Neutral Agriculture Program’ facilitated by Professor Richard Eckard. This was a terrific opportunity to boost our level of technical knowledge on carbon neutrality and climate change.

We intend that this increase in capacity will enable;

- Communication of accurate and relevant technical knowledge,

- Interpretation of information for the local context,

- Ultimately increase the confidence of land managers by improving their understanding of climatic trends, carbon neutrality and building soil carbon for resilient systems in future projects and workshops, and

- Improving our carbon and climate expertise enables us to better advocate for our region.

For further information about this high value course please click on the link below Carbon Neutral Agriculture Program 2 day course at the University of Melbourne, presented by Professor Richard Eckhard.

Sustainability Officers also attended the;

SA CliSA Industry Climate Change Conference 2023, and the

LGA Climate Change Practitioners Workshop

2022 EVENTS

The following series of events were held over August 2022 hosted by the Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan and the Coorong District and Tatiara District Councils with an impressive line up of speakers and topics. Attendance at these events was strong in spite of the wet weather.

Linkages to Farm Walk and Workshop Notes, and key presentations can be accessed below.

FIELD FARM WALK - IMPROVING PRODUCTION on NON WETTING SANDS

Field Farm Walk Notes - Improving Production on Non Wetting Sands

COONALPYN & KEITH WORKSHOPS - CARBON, CLIMATE & YOUR FARM - making sense of it

Workshop Notes - Coonalpyn

Workshop Notes - Keith

Presentation -  Carbon Overview - Emma Winslow SARDI-PIRSA

Presentation - SA Soil Capacity to store Carbon - Amanda Schapel SARDI-PIRSA

Presentation - Methane emissions in livestock – Emma Winslow SARDI-PIRSA

WESTERN FLAT FARM WALK - IMPROVING PRODUCTION on NON WETTING SANDS

Western Flat Farm Walk Notes - Improving Production on Non Wetting Sands

Western Flat Deep Ripping Demonstration

Western Flat Meat & Livestock Australia Improving Sandy Soils Case Study

Australian Government Soil Testing Incentives Program Factsheet

PADTHAWAY WORKSHOP - LATEST TOOLS & TRENDS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY & SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TATIARA

Padthaway Workshop Notes

Presentation - Limestone Coast Acid Soils - Dr Melissa Fraser

Presentation - SA Soil Capacity to store Carbon - Amanda Schapel SARDI-PIRSA

These events were supported by the following organisations; Meat and Livestock Australia, Future Drought Fund and the Foundations for Rural and Regional Renewal, Landcare Australia, and the National Landcare Program.

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, soil carbon, non wetting sands, salinity & 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

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 a very well received session 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 presented by Amanda Schapel of PIRSA. Click here to access the presentation.

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

These projects are supported by the following funding bodies and organisations: