| Corangamite Soil Health Strategy 2006-2012 |
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| Community / Events |
| Previous Events | ||||
| Forums on the Erosion Management Overlay held in November 2004 and June 2005 | ||||
| Previous Field Days and Training Events | ||||
| Forums on the Erosion Management Overlay held in November 2004 and June 2005 | ||||
| Erosion Management Overlay Forums were held in November 2004 and June 2005.
The purpose of the Forums was to bring together planners and environmental staff from all Shires
within the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority to discuss how to address erosion and landslide
risks through their planning provision. This Forum was organised by the Department of Primary Industries on behalf of the Corangamite CMA, as part of the implementation of the Corangamite Catchment Authority Soil Health Strategy. Shires who attended these two forums included Ballarat City, Corangamite, Colac Otway, Surf Coast, Moyne, City of Greater Geelong, Golden Plains and Moorabool Shires. Actions and outcomes derived from the two EMO forums included:
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| Previous Field Days and Training Events |
| For further information on Field Days and Training Events, please contact
Shari Wallis, DPI
shari.wallis@dpi.vic.gov.au or on 0437 751 352. |
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| ‘Accuspread’ Field Day – Scotts Creek | |
| Dollars, Dirt and Drought’ Field Day - Heytesbury District | |
| ‘Optimising potential’ - Southern Farming Systems at Minnanera | |
| Whole Farm Planning | |
| ‘Healthy Soils, Healthy Profits’ – Rural Industry Skills Training | |
| ‘Raised Bed’ Field Day - Lismore | |
| Wurdiboluc Soils Field Day - Wurdiboluc | |
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‘Accuspread’ Field Day – Scotts Creek The Heytesbury District Landcare Network (HLDN), as part of the Dairy Action Program (DAP), held a field day at Scotts Creek in March 2006 along with the launch of the DAP. After the launch, farmers attended a demonstration from Accuspread, an initiative by the Australian Fertiliser Services Association (AFSA) and Fertilizer Industry Federation of Australia (FIFA). Accuspread is an accreditation of fertilizer spreading contractors on the calibration of their spreader. Presentations were given by Accuspread representatives and a demonstration was then held to show how spreader are calibrated. Around 40 farmers attended the day. Dollars, Dirt and Drought’ Field Day - Heytesbury District During the 2006/07 drought, the HLDN along with DPI held a field day at a farmer property near Timboon. The day was attended by over 50 farmers and industry reps. and, while focusing on soils, was also to provide a bit of social time and BBQ for farmers trying to cope with the drought. The day included presentations outlining results found from the extensive soil analysis completed by DPI and PIRVic. Industry reps. from fertilizer and seed companies provided technical expertise on how to manage these inputs when the budget is stretched during a drought. DPI staff discussed soil management issues with the aid of a soil pit and drought information and was of gaining assistance was covered. ‘Optimising potential’ - Southern Farming Systems at Minnanera Southern Farming Systems (SFS) held their annual field day at the new Mininera trial site in November 2007. Over 150 farmers came along to hear about the extensive cropping trials covering row spacing through to fertiliser rates and chemical applications. A regular feature of these field days is the soil pit where groups have a chance to see what goes on under the soil. Fluctuations in top soil depth are common in this area due to gilgai’s and created much discussion amongst groups as to where the best growth occurred, in the troughs or at the peaks. It was decided that the troughs, where the B horizon is deepest, are best in wet years as the extended gravel layer allows better drainage while in dry years these are a disadvantage for the same reason. In 2006 the same field day was held at Stretham (original trial site). This field day was specifically a womens day which aimed to get farming women along and able to asking any questions in a non male dominated atmosphere. It gave many women the opportunity to find out why their husbands did the things they did! ‘Healthy Soils, Healthy Profits’ – Rural Industry Skills Training The ‘Healthy Soils, Healthy Profits’ is an accredited soil management course run by Rural Industry Skills Training (RIST). The two day course is generally held as a component of the Diploma of Agriculture however can be run as a stand along course. Over the two days participants learn about a range of soil topics including soil and tissue sampling techniques, test interpretation and calculating fertiliser requirements, barriers to growth in the subsoil, landclassing and assessing the health of their soils. Both days involve theory sessions to cover the above topics, followed by an afternoon session in the paddock. The afternoon sessions used covered soil profiles and their properties in the soil pit, assessing soil health using the Northern Rivers Soil Health Card, and performing texture, pH and dispersion tests on their own soil sample from home. Group dynamics can range from farmers to students. The 2004 Diploma held at Coleraine consisted of around 19 participants mostly made up of full time farmers. The group enjoyed both theory and outdoor sessions with most discussion being held in the out door sessions when farmers could really start comparing their soils and talk about soil issues they’re challenged with. In 2005 the ‘Healthy Soils, Healthy Profits’ course was held as a stand along two day accredited course for a group of 24 full time farmers at Strathdownie. The participants background knowledge range a great deal with this group with some having no soils knowledge apart from practical experience, while a few participants had completed Degrees in Agriculture. This presented challenges with keeping everyone engaged but also allowed the more experienced farmers to assist others. In contrast, the 2006 course which was held in Hamilton as part of the two year Diploma, was composed of 22 students either straight out of highschool or with only a year or two farming background. All groups require different levels of knowledge and the course can be adjusted to meet the groups needs. Whole Farm Planning Whole Farm Planning (WFP) courses are run each year in conjunction with South West TAFE and the local Landcare group. Courses are generally 4 full days held over 4 weeks and cover a range of topics. While course are generally of interest to new landholders and lifestyle farmers, the course can be alter to suit full time farmers who may have different interest and requirements of the course. A typical WFP course covers topics such as soils, pest plants and animals, trees, pasture management, water management and planning your farms layout. Similar to other courses, the morning session is held in doors when photos and power point presentations are used discuss the days topics. This is followed by an outdoor session in the afternoon which usually involves a visit to a participant’s farm and a paddock walk to look at and discuss issues and topics covered in the course. This may be an eroding gully, a saline area, a successful direct seeded shelterbelt or a rabbit warren and weed problem they need to tackle. In 2006 a course was held at Birregurra which 8 people attended. All were relatively new landholders and gained a lot from the course as well as the chance to meet other locals and discuss their aspirations and issues for their property. Each year a course is held at Grovedale in Geelong which always attracts a large group, usually 20 – 25 and is generally made up of new and small landholders. ‘Raised Bed’ Field Day - Lismore In 2004 and 2006 a Raised Bed Field day was held at Brian Wilson’s property north of Lismore, organised by DPI and Southern Farming Systems. This proved to be a huge field day with both years attracting between 300 – 350 farmers. A large number of displays were held by local and further a-field contractors, fertiliser companies, biological companies, tree plantation companies and several ‘in–house’ displays such as weed management, Victorian Volcanic Plains Tender to name a few. Participants saw a range of machinery demonstrations including cultivation techniques, raise bed forming and stubble mulching machines. There was also talks given on raised bed management for fertiliser application and drainage, a soil pit talk discussing soil properties. Excellent feedback was received from those attending and the day is now planned to be held as a bi-annual event, with the next scheduled for March 2008?? Wurdiboluc Soils Field Day - Wurdiboluc In 2005 the Upper Barwon Landcare group along with DPI held a soils field day at a farmers property near Wurdiboluc. The day was attended by around 60 farmers and focus primarily on managing soils on steep country. Several experts were invited to speak at the day and covered fertiliser management and budgeting and landslide and erosion issues on steep land. Along with the talks, three soil pits were dug on the property which showed three different soil types of the area. This allowed detailed discussion to be held on each soil type and how its appropriate management could avoid soil degradation issues. As all good field days, an excellent BBQ lunch was included. |
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