Twice a year, the Regional Soil Coordinators (RSCs) from around Australia come together in a different part of the country to connect, collaborate, and learn. These gatherings provide valuable exposure to the diverse soil types, management practices, and challenges faced across our landscapes, while also strengthening national networks and knowledge exchange between local soil experts, farmers, and the RSCs.
The most recent meeting took the RSCs to the Monaro region and Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. Starting in Canberra, the group travelled through Cooma and Jindabyne, visiting multiple sites along the way. These visits were generously supported by local soil professionals from South East Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, who facilitated insightful discussions and shared their expertise.
Topics covered included erosion management techniques, rotational grazing practices, the benefits of regular soil testing to inform nutritional application, and the use of technology to assess areas at risk of mass movement in soil structure.
The trip was coordinated by Soil Science Australia, as part of their role convening the Smart Soils Community of Practice – a national network supporting knowledge sharing, collaboration, and climate-smart agricultural outcomes. The Community of Practice helps RSCs and other soil experts and stakeholders across Australia access practical tools, learn from each other’s experiences, and drive improvements in soil management at both local and national scales.
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The Regional Soil Coordinator project provides opportunities for researchers, primary producers and community groups to collaborate and share knowledge related to soil health and management. This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust. The project is led by the SW WA Hub, partnering with SoilsWest at Murdoch University.
