Far East Gippsland Landcare (FEVL) is excited to launch the Topsoils Program.
This program follows on from 10 years of previous work by East Gippsland Farmers. It has incorporated their learnings into its direction.
“It’s available to assist all interested landowners in East Gippsland,” facilitator, Josh Puglisi said.
The Topsoil Program will involve:
– Soil/tissue tests (increased awareness of the health and profile of soil)
– Events
– Trials
– On-ground demonstrations
– Expert speakers
The direction of the project will be driven by farmers to assist with land management practices.
Soil health, plant nutrition and soil biology, are about integrated sustainable farming, as well as managing microbial ecology, crop and soil nutrition to optimise plant immunity, soil function and carbon sequestration.
“Drawing on a ‘soils first’ approach it is about putting control back into farmers’ hands in regard to nutrients and soil, crop and animal management,” Josh said.
A series of experts will be sharing both scientific and practical knowledge on agroecological growing practices.
“Farming is all about producing food, this project will be directed to support farmers learning; to ensure the food quality produced is the best in the world now and into the future,” Josh said.
Topsoils is funded for four years, and key goals will concentrate on:
– Increase soil carbon and reduce carbon loss on farm
– Nutrient management
– Acidity management
– Soil biology
– Groundcover
This aims to build specific solutions to reduce on-farm emissions and enhance resilience.
The impact of the project will be monitored by measuring knowledge, skills, confidence and adoption of practices and identify areas needing more support.
Landcare and partner organisations are working on locations for soil tests and are developing lists of interested participants.
The TopSoils project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
