Resources at the ready for Mallee farms to improve soil

12 March 2024

Mallee farmers are encouraged to take advantage of Agriculture Victoria’s new online resources and upcoming paddock walks to learn how to reduce erosion and make their soil more productive.

Agriculture Victoria Mixed Farming Development Officer Roger Harrower said the project ‘Building drought resilience of vulnerable soils in low rainfall cropping and grazing systems’ has been running since 2022 across multiple on-farm demonstration sites in the Mallee.

‘Demonstration trials have been set up on farms at Hopetoun, Ouyen and Murrayville,’ said Mr Harrower.

‘Retaining groundcover is a critical step in reducing the impact of wind erosion, improving soil productivity and helping farms to be more resilient during droughts.

‘Different methods for preserving groundcover are being trialled on-farm, including applying bentonite clay, changing sowing directions, spreading straw and using biosolids.’

Mr Harrower said a video is now available on the Agriculture Victoria YouTube channel to gain a general understanding of the project.

For farmers with a specific interest in on-farm biosolid application, an online e-learn module is now also available.

‘Our March paddock walks are also a great opportunity for farmers to talk first-hand with the demonstration site host farmers and soil expert Cassandra Schefe from AgriSci about results, as well as see a soil pit.’

Farm walks will take place on:

Visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/events for further information and to register.

View the ‘Building drought resilience’ explainer video.

To learn more about on-farm Biosolid application visit the eLearn.

The project is supported by Agriculture Victoria, the Mallee Catchment Management Authority, Birchip Cropping Group and Mallee Sustainable Farming through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Media contact: Anna Ferguson

Phone: 0499 540 475