FarmTalk #32 – Improving Farmers’ Skills & Knowledge on Soils through the Health Soil Project

Fact Sheet #32 – February 2008

Darryl Pearl, Soil Health Officer, DPI Victoria

The issue
The area of arable land in Australia is relatively small compared to other countries. Our country’s soils are old and prone to erosion, acidity, sodicity and structure decline.

Australia’s wealth and well being are dependent on the sustainable use of our soils; it is the foundation for farming and mineral production and is important for water quality, carbon stores, soil biota, and waste management.

The Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms project will bring together and build on existing soil health information. The project is working with farmers, community groups and advisers to improve the management of Mallee soils. Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are the key parties involved in the project in this area of Victoria.