ON FARM SOUTHERN CATTLE FEEDBASE f Tools for RESEARCH INREVIEW healthier soils PROJECT NAMEThe Healthy Soils Package Producers are getting their and will be rolled out further north. RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS hands dirty learning how to “When we launched the project, we were Southern Farming Systems, diagnose and manage soil over‑subscribed, so MLA will be making overseeing 11 soil discussion and pasture health issues a second call in 2020,” Mick said. groups: in a new feedbase project. Meningie – Field Livestock Groups are expected to get together & Pasture Group; Agriculture Through the MLA‑funded project, 11 about six times over two years Kangaroo Island; Holbrook ‘Healthy Soils Club’ groups across and, at the end of the project, Mick Landcare Network; Tableland southern Australia are investigating said members could move into the Farming Systems; Coolac Farmers challenges such as soil acidity, coaching‑based Profitable Grazing Group; Flinders Island Productivity waterlogging and soil variation so Systems soil decision‑making course. Group; Tamar Natural Resource producers can prioritise investment. Tools Management; Perennial Pasture Project coordinator Lisa Miller from The Healthy Soils Club project will Systems; Grassland Society of Southern Farming Systems said the develop a tool for producers to assess Southern Australia – Goulburn program gives groups the freedom soil condition, using visual indicators. Broken Branch; Southern Farming to design their own activities around Systems – Gippsland branch; specific soil issues. This guide will outline more than 40 Cavendish BestWool/BestLamb/ common soil conditions as well as Pasture Tech/Hamilton SFS Branch “Producers choose their topics of common weed species, so producers FUNDING ORGANISATIONS interest then the group facilitators bringcan assess their own paddock and MLA in technical experts to support them to identify the best time to manage soil develop skills and test solutions in the health and what tests are available to GOAL paddock,” Lisa said. confirm each condition. To provide practical information and actions to producers and advisors Although the Healthy Soils Club is a Other resources include case studies on managing common soil issues pilot project under MLA’s Feedbase explaining how Healthy Soil Club impacting pasture production. Adoption Plan, MLA Project Manager members are managing soils (page 35). Mick Taylor said strong interest means Each club will host field days which BUDGET the program will continue in the south non‑members can attend. ■ $446,950 DURATION Feedbase future‑proofing October 2018 – December 2022 KEY FINDINGS TO DATE The Healthy Soils Clubs are part of comprises awareness activities, • Poster of visual indicators of soil MLA’s feedbase program, which training and supported learning condition developed. began with the $22 million Feedbase programs across four areas: • Seven of 11 pilot soil discussion Investment Plan 2013–17. • soil health groups commenced. This program included extensive • pasture weeds collaboration with producers through • plant nitrogen (specifically research sites designed to improve sub‑clover management in Mick Taylor livestock productivity. southern areas) E: mtaylor@mla.com.au In late 2016, MLA brought • pasture persistence. Lisa Miller participants together to map out a E: lmiller@sfs.org.au Phase 1 of the plan is underway strategy for driving adoption of all and includes activities such as the More Beef from Pastures, that had been learned as part of the Healthy Soils Club project. module 2: pasture growth Feedbase Investment Plan; the result mbfp.mla.com.au was the Feedbase Adoption Plan, Phase 2, for northern Australia, is which officially began in 2018. in development and will expand on the key areas identified in the The Feedbase Adoption Plan southern model. ■ 34