Healthy subsoils produce more red meat
| Project start date: | 01 November 2021 |
| Project end date: | 31 January 2028 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | Victoria, Cold wet, Mediterranean, Temperate, Temperate sub-humid |
| Site location: | North Central VIC: Boorolite, Gruyere, & Coldstream |
Summary
The purpose of this producer demonstration site (PDS) is to show that once a subsoil constraint is detected, then amelioration of soil constraint(s) will improve pasture production, and grazing enterprise resilience and profitability. This will give producers the required confidence to apply the practices being demonstrated and unlock the potential of their pastures and utilise the latest genetics.
Objectives
By December 2028, in North Central Victoria:
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11 core producers will be engaged and3 producer demonstration sites established to demonstrate property specific best practice subsoil amelioration to:
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Ameliorate the subsoil constraints identified
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Improve pasture dry matter production levels compared to the control by 10% and maintain or increase this every year of the project
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Increase knowledge, skills and confidence of core and observer farmers to implement the practices by refreshing key soil management criteria including chemical, physical and biological management skills plus FOO dry matter assessment of pasture
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Conduct a cost benefit analysis to determine the relative economic performance of the best practice subsoil management programs compared to the control based on dry matter results.
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As a result of the project and associated extension / communication activities, 100% of core producers and 50% of the observer producers will implement subsoil constraint diagnostic testing and amelioration management practices on their farms.
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Implement a series of skills and training development workshops to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of 100% of the core producers and 50% of the observer producers in the best practice soil nutrition for high rainfall pastures including the subsoil constraints and their management and best practice topsoil plant nutrition.
Progress
The ‘Healthy subsoils produce more red meat’ producer demonstration site project has selected 3 core producer sites after an initial round of detailed soil testing of 9 producer properties in Central and North Central Vic.
The soil testing involved soil profile testing using deep soil cores to 50cm sectioned into 10cm increments at each site. Soil Carbon is also being monitored with sampling being done to a depth of 1m. The three core sites also had grid sampling of the topsoil and variable rate maps generated to highlight this technology to round out a complete best practice topsoil and subsoil testing and amendment management package.
Two workshops have been held so far to present all of the soil test results and to discuss the subsoil issues uncovered in the region. The Workshops also included detailed discussion around how the three sites were chosen to continue as the demonstration sites.
While all of the sites showed subsoil constraints, not all could be used as demonstration sites. This was not apparent at first, however preference had to be given to sites with good access for large equipment and with a low risk of bringing up submerged rock. The subsoil constraints identified from the soil testing round included one or more of the following of acidic subsoil layers, water logging, soil compaction and critically low nutrient status for one or more of the major nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Sulphur. Soil Carbon also showed that levels were generally low and had potential to be increased significantly at some sites.
The best practice amelioration practices that are expected to counter the identified subsoil issues were discussed by experts in their respective fields. The experts were invited to present at the workshops and to discuss the issues and how to manage them, such as subsoil acidity and the incorporation of lime at depth.
A prescription approach has been utilized for each site as subtle differences between sites meant a one-size-fits-all approach would not necessarily give the best results in all sites. The project is about to embark on applying the treatments on the three chosen producer demonstration sites. A third workshop will be held at one of the sites in early 2023, possibly February, to showcase the soil profile layers with an open soil pit and to also highlight the methodology being used in the project to ameliorate the subsoil.
