Geographe Soil Testing Program now open for farmers
Beef, sheep, and dairy farmers are now invited to apply for the 2024 Geographe Soil Testing Program. Since 2010 over 40% of farmers in the catchment have been involved in the program, reaffirming that soil testing on farms is now common practice amongst the agricultural community. Local beef farmer, Robyn Robertson highly recommends the program […]
Farmers fired up learning about biochar
Local farmers’ interest was sparked at GeoCatch’s ‘Discovering Biochar: A Guide for Farmers, Foresters, and Gardeners’ workshop, gaining a newfound respect and enthusiasm for biochar and how it can be incorporated in an agricultural setting. Participants were lucky to have an extensive panel of presenters including Professor Stephen Joseph AO, a globally recognized authority in […]
Liquid gold helping farmers renew paddocks
What do worm poo and compost tea have to do with helping both farmers and the environment? Geographe farmers gathered at Greg Norton’s farm last week to find out. Mark Tupman, from Productive Ecology, delved into the invisible world of biological treatments utilising compost and worm extracts, giving farmers practical techniques for incorporating compost extracts […]
Precision testing out in the paddocks
Farmers in the Geographe catchment have been learning how to significantly enhance the effectiveness of their fertiliser program. Accurate application of fertiliser not only saves farmers money, but also helps our environment by limiting the amount of fertiliser that is lost through runoff during winter and spring. Last week seven fertiliser spreaders were put through […]
Unlocking farm success with Grazing Matcher
Geographe Bay farmers eager to enhance their grazing management practices and boost business performance are urged to register for the upcoming 2024 Grazing Matcher program. The Grazing Matcher program welcomes livestock farmers of all backgrounds and experiences, ranging from third-generation sheep farmers to young families embarking on their farming journey with smaller acreages. Participants kickstart […]
How do farmers test their soil?
Michelle Priest from GeoCatch presented a light-hearted yet informative ‘DIY Soil Testing” session to farmers at the South West NRM Pasture Challenge final results event. Michelle was interviewed by Rick Shaw (AKA Peter Clifton, South West NRM’s Sustainable Agriculture Manager) who somehow managed to ask all the wrong questions, to which Michelle gave all the […]
Passionate breeders return to farming
Farm Weekly recently caught up with Metricup beef farmers, Paul and Amanda Payne, to have a chat about their return to farming and working 120 ha where they run 86 Angus breeders, and the GeoCatch programs that they have been involved in. Mr Payne said “When it comes to pasture management and rotational grazing, […]
Geographe farmers celebrate achievements
Last Thursday was the perfect balmy summer evening for GeoCatch’s annual Farmer Sundowner at Lentedal Winery. The rural setting of Marybrook provided the perfect setting for farmers, industry, and government partners to gather and reflect on the collaborative efforts of the past 12 months. The evening, hosted by GeoCatch and supported by RegenWA, Lottery West […]
Farmers get hands-on with soil testing
You’d never put oil in your car without checking your dipstick, and the same is true with applying fertiliser on farms. Knowing what’s in your soil before you start applying nutrients is vital. Last week an enthusiastic group of Geographe farmers learnt the ropes on how take their own farm soil samples as a part […]
Results: ‘Soil Your Undies’ challenge
What could burying 7 pairs of cotton undies in a Busselton paddock for 11 weeks tell the environmental experts at South West NRM about soil health? The experiment might sound a tad quirky but the idea was based on a citizen science trend developed by a Queensland university which has swept through farms across Australia […]
