Soil is one of our most important resources; responsible for 95% of the food we eat. So its sustainable management is critical for our future.

The National Soil Strategy has three main goals – prioritise soil health, empower soil innovation and stewardship, and build soil knowledge and capability.

The Digging Deeper Podcast does this by promoting the work of local soil champions to their peers.

It profiles people in the region who are undertaking new practices or thinking differently about the health of their soils.

And it explores why and how they are building soil health, their key concepts and their thoughts, rather than just the practicalities of what they are doing.

The Digging Deeper Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and is delivered by the North Central CMA through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Episode 1 - Marlies Eicher 

Marlies and her husband Peter, both engineers, own and run the award-winning Salute Oliva, a certified organic olive grove in Boort. The journey started in 1998 with the purchase of irrigated grazing land and over five years, 2100 olive trees were planted on eight hectares.  All production, selling and distribution of the olive oil, table olives, soap is done by the Eichers.

They have focused on regenerative farming practices and a closed nutrient cycle to improve soil health and have seen significant positive changes in the soil structure and biological activity.

Listen here 

Episode 2 - Kelvin Free

Third-generation farmer Kelvin Free with his wife Deanne and son Nathan run and manage Mallee Organic Farms in the Tresco area which comprises 160ha of stone fruit and vegetable production and irrigated lucerne.

With an increasing demand for organic produce, the Free family converted to certified organic in 2010.  

Since then, the family have built full control of their produce from production, marketing and then selling, with their produce found in Coles, and Woolworths. 

Listen here 

Episode 3 - Bill Twigg

Bill Twigg has farmed successfully for many years and endured the highs and lows of farming including drought, floods, high interest rates and declining population. 

Now in his 80s, he continues to farm , with the business producing 10,000 prime lambs annually. 

Bill’s deep wisdom and farming experience has been built around observing the natural environment to guide him in decision making.  

Very early on in his farming journey he could see the benefits of a low-cost, low-input system and so  he developed a  farming approach in sympathy with the environment and nature.

The secret of this system was lucerne, a deep-rooted perennial plant that mimicked the original vegetation of the area – saltbush, kangaroo grass, wattles.

Listen here

Episode 4 - Adam Campbell

Adam Campbell and his family operate Springlake Farming, a 3350ha broadacre farming enterprise at Corack, north of Donald.

There are two distinct soil types on the farm: heavy self-mulching grey clay found commonly in the Wimmera district and a more Mallee-type soil comprising red clay and red sandy loam.

Both require different management approaches. With a priority on soil health, Adam undertakes minimum tillage practices including direct drilling, stubble retention and inter-row cropping.  

Hay production is also included in paddock rotations to manage chemical resistance, build nitrogen, and carbon levels in the soil. 

Adam implements effective management strategies by using sheep grazing, off-farm employees (contractors and Overseas students) and marketing options for grain and hay to run a profitable farming business.

Listen here 
 

Episode 5 - Ryan Garratt

Ryan Garratt is employed in a combined role as Education Lead for The Diggers Club and as Garden Curator at Buda, Historic House and Garden, in Castlemaine.

Ryan has a wealth of horticultural knowledge combining 25 years of nursery and garden industry experience, including roles as Retail Manager, Nursery Production Manager, Garden Curator and Garden Educator.

Growing up in Castlemaine, Ryan has a deep understanding of the ecology of Castlemaine, its plants, soils, and growing conditions.

Listen here

Episode 6 - Hamish Toll

John Toll, his son Hamish, and their families manage Circle T, a fourth-generation farming property next to the Gunbower Forest.

The Toll family’s focus is on sustainability and regenerative principles including soil health.  

A large amount of planning and effort has been invested in native biodiversity plantations, regenerative pastures, and sheep breeding to create a landscape that both builds the natural environment base and provides a profitable sheep enterprise.  

In this podcast, Hamish speaks about Circle T’s evolving farming journey, its challenges and the importance of soil health in the now and in the future/

Click to listen 

Spring is the perfect time to dig a little deeper and investigate what’s really happening under your growing crops, pastures, vines and plants.

This spring we would love to work with you and your networks to deliver activities to help build your understanding of the current soil condition, the value of soil data and how to use this data in future decision making to improve soil health and productivity.  

Half day workshops are open to all farmers and land managers in the North Central CMA region.

Host a workshop with a soil pit or host an in-paddock demonstration on your property.  In paddock demonstrations could be a fertilizer comparison or a soil amendment assessment, let us know what you would like to try

If you would like to know more about the workshops or project, please contact Felicity Harrop at the North Central CMA felicity.harrop@nccma.vic.gov.au

Click here to submit an expression of interest (EOI)

Details of workshops will be communicated to applicants via email as soon as numbers and locations are confirmed.

If you would like to know more about the workshops or project, please contact Felicity Harrop at the North Central CMA felicity.harrop@nccma.vic.gov.au 
 

These extension activities will support the Pilot Soil Monitoring and Incentives Program - the Australian Government funded program to support farmers and land managers to access low-cost soil sampling and certified testing in exchange for sharing their data.

Farmers and land managers may be eligible for benefits of up to $10,000 and receive assistance from Commonwealth-funded soil extension officers to interpret their soil test results.

The program may assist farmers to gather data for Emissions Reduction Fund projects. 

Register your interest today.

Or find out more at Pilot Soil Monitoring and Incentives Program - Frequently Asked Questions