Know Your Southern Soils is one of two Western Australian based projects currently funded by the Australian Government through the National Soil Action Plan (NSAP). The other WA based project is Soils – New Horizons.
The Know Your Southern Soils Project is led by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), in partnership with South Coast Natural Resource Management (South Coast NRM), and will run through to June 2028. It brings together three key components: soil assessment and data collection, local engagement and extension, and soil workforce training.
The soil assessment and data collection component, led by DPIRD, involves the analysis of at least 800 new soil sites using soil health metrics identified in the National Soil Monitoring Program. Testing these metrics will help identify a subset suitable for paddock-scale assessment by farmers and consultants in the Western Australian context. On completion, two new soil–landscape assessment reports and high-resolution maps will be developed for the region shown on the map below.
South Coast NRM will lead the local engagement component in partnership with North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources and ASHEEP & BEEF. This will include regionally tailored workshops and on-farm demonstrations showcasing practical, research-based approaches to managing soil , along with insights into the economic benefits of improved soil management.
The workforce training component is a partnership between DPIRD and South Coast NRM, focusing on recruitment, mentoring, and training. This will help build the project’s internal soil expertise while strengthening local capacity to monitor soil condition and trends for evidence-based decision-making.
Local growers are encouraged to express interest in having their properties considered for soil sampling. Contact the DPIRD team at southernsoils@dpird.wa.gov.au for more information about the soil sampling program, or the South Coast NRM team at ag@southcoastnrm.com.au to register interest in workshops and events.
Farmers can also reach out to North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources and ASHEEP & BEEF to suggest topics for locally hosted demonstrations and discussions.
Bridget Watkins is the South-West WA Regional Soil Coordinator (RSC). The RSC project provides opportunities for researchers, primary producers and community groups to collaborate and share knowledge related to soil health and management. The project is supported by the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust, and in South-West WA is led by the SW WA Hub in partnership with SoilsWest at Murdoch University.
