UNDERSTANDING, assessing and managing the structural aspects of your soil is fundamental to healthy and productive farming.
What you grow, how many livestock you run, efficient use of soil amendments and avoiding serious erosion problems can all be aided with a better understanding of your soil.
As 2015 is the International Year of Soil there is no better time than now to learn how to protect this precious resource.
To help celebrate this, Bridgetown-Greenbushes Community Landcare are running a 'Soil Matters Field Day' on Friday April 24. The field day will introduce landholders to a new way of thinking about managing structural aspects of soils.
Soil conditions can lead to water erosion, especially when rain falls faster than the soil surface can absorb it (gully erosion) or where a combination of slope and dense subsoil leads to the phenomena known as tunnel erosion. Tunnel erosion is an increasing local problem.
The field day will give you the tools and knowledge to assess the dangers of these forms of land degradation on your property and, equally importantly, what to do about them.
The field day will be led by Adrian Williams, who has a long career in soil and water conservation and land use planning. The day out will involve visiting local rural properties so as to see different scenarios of erosion and develop an understanding of local soil profiles.
For more information or to register your interest, please contact the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Community Landcare on 0428 723 111 or e-mail nrmbridgetown@gmail.com.
