Using soil probes for seasonal preparedness

Summary

To manage the climatic variability, along with increased input costs, more informed and timely decision making will be required by producers to maintain farm productivity and increase their farm business resilience.

Soil probe information has been used to inform decision making in other parts of the state in cropping enterprises for many years. Soil probe data has the potential to be valuable in grazing enterprises and their use has increased, however it is a relatively new tool for farmers to utilise in the east Gippsland region.

The aim of this producer demonstration site is to improve Gippsland farmers knowledge of soil probe information and to increase the use of the soil probe data to provide a better guide to decision making strategies in grazing enterprises through the development of seasonal trigger points, thereby improving management of climate variability impacts upon grazing enterprises in the Gippsland region.

Objectives

By December 2025 in the Southeast regions of Victoria the project will establish a minimum of 3 demonstrations farms, engaging 10 core producers and 300 observer producers to:

1. Demonstrate on three sites the correlation of pasture growth and productivity data with soil probe data and the value of soil probes for making informed seasonal decisions.
2. Use modelling to demonstrate an increase in pasture growth from more timely decision making in comparison to existing farm practice. Modelled decision making using soil probe date will lead to a hypothesised 10% increase in pasture growth
3. Run three workshops with 30 producers to discuss/develop seasonal trigger points to assist timely decisions including soil probe data. In the workshop situation, we will demonstrate the use of partial budgeting to show the impacts of delaying or bringing forward different decisions and their impact on the bottom line.
4. Extend and promote soil probe data from the network of 17 probes across central and east Gippsland through monthly updates in local media.
5. Have 100% of core members and 40% of observer members with improved knowledge, skills and confidence in accessing and basic interpretation of soil probe data, including understanding the soil moisture and temperature graphs and the use of the MLA tools for pasture assessment.
6. Expanding on the partial budgeting used in the workshops, the project will provide a CBA to demonstrate the
   benefits of timely decisions.
7. Widely disseminate the PDS results and learnings through targeted extension activities such as paddock
   walks, workshops and media.

Progress

The PDS, Using soil probes for seasonal preparedness, aims to improve use of soil moisture probe data on grazing enterprises across central and east Gippsland. The PDS focuses on assisting with management decisions under an increasingly variable climate.

The project has established three demonstration sites monitoring on-farm decisions made using soil probe information. The groups have trialed urea and Gibberellic Acid (GA) alone and in combination.

In 2023, the project demonstrated pasture production increases from urea and GA applied in August, despite a very dry winter/spring.

In 2024, the trials are measuring response after addressing low soil fertility at the Omeo and Buchan south sites.

To date, two workshop sessions have been held at each location, for farmers to develop trigger points for seasonal decisions. A further workshop is planned for next year at each site, which will help plan around key points through the year that soil moisture and temperature levels influence management decisions, such as sowing, selling stock or buying in feed.

Monthly soil probe updates from the Gippsland probe network (17 Gippsland soil moisture probes) with key messages and tips for seasonal activities.  16 editions have been sent to the mailing list of more than 750 central and east Gippsland producers.

This PDS is managed by Agriculture Victoria. Please contact James.Paulet@agriculture.vic.gov.au for more information or to be put on the mailing list.