Recent funding announcements from the Australian Government through the Future Drought Fund – Resilient Landscapes Program included a five-year project led by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD): “Sustainable solutions for sandy soils − A collaborative approach for transformational change”.
The project will partner with Edith Cowan University, West Midlands Group, and Mingenew Irwin Group with a goal of improving the year-round groundcover of over 50% of identified vulnerable land during the project timeline. The combination of variable seasonal conditions and large areas of pale deep sands with low moisture holding capacity, has contributed to the declining groundcover levels across the West Midlands region. The project aims to bring a range of practical techniques, relevant to local conditions and individual farming businesses, to promote consistent groundcover, and ensure farms are both environmentally and financially resilient.
DPIRD Project Lead Geoff Moore says, “The project will offer focused support to farms with a history of low groundcover, while also engaging the wider farming community through local discussion groups and hands-on demonstrations. Management options will include, but are not restricted to, soil amelioration including spading, deep ripping, topsoil claying or incorporation of other amendments, improved annual or perennial pastures, shrubs, rotational grazing management and confinement feeding.”
Understanding the causes of limited groundcover in these areas will allow the project team to assess options for management and discuss them through tailored farm planning workshops. In addition, the project provides an opportunity to evaluate effective land management practices that could be applied to other regions with comparable conditions.
Landholders in the Mingenew to Watheroo to Gingin area are encouraged to contact the Mingenew Irwin Group or the West Midlands Group to register their interest or receive further information.
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 South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, partnering with SoilsWest Murdoch University.
