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 […]
The art of creating healthy soil
South West farmers are looking to improve soil health, increase pest and disease resistance, reduce nutrients entering our waterways and enhance biodiversity. The popularity of GeoCatch’s latest workshop, Optimising Pasture Nutrients for Growers, shows that Geographe farmers want to learn more about what can be achieved by building a more nutrient-rich soils environment. Despite the […]
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 […]
New study highlights benefits of soil testing
A Western Australian study of nearly 700 soil samples has provided new insight into whether agronomic soil testing can be used to assess the likelihood of phosphorus being ‘lost’ into the environment. Phosphorus applied as fertiliser on farms is lost to waterways through leaching and run-off, which not only leads to a loss of farmers’ […]
Preparing your garden for summer
We are expecting a long, hot, dry summer and with the increasing pressure on our water resources it’s important for gardeners to reduce water use. But how to do this whilst also ensuring that our gardens have enough moisture for growth and to thrive in the heat? Follow these key tips and you will be […]
Grazing Matcher
It was a chilly afternoon in Abba River for the June Grazing Matcher meeting at Jane and Peter’s farm, Boltham Downs. It was consensus amongst the group that our catchment has had a slow start to the season. Dan Parnell explained that the below-average June temperatures have been causing a slow leaf emergence, with […]
Bay OK Gardening tips for winter
In preparation for the cooler months and rain approaching, now is a great time to prepare your garden for winter. Here are some tips from GeoCatch’s Bay OK program and the Garden Guardians of the Bay. Apply coarse chunky mulch Apply some coarse chunky mulch to stop the weeds from sprouting. A layer of mulch […]
Collaborative approach to fertiliser trials
Four years of trials have found that national phosphorus recommendations are relevant for soils in South West Western Australia. This means that South West WA farmers can have confidence in applying the recommendations of their soil test results to apply only the fertiliser needed for plant growth. While this often means that less phosphorus fertiliser […]
Soil testing success
Farmers from across the Geographe catchment joined experts from Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and local agronomists to learn more about nutrient management on their farms this week. The farmers have been participants in the Geographe Soil Testing Program, providing access to whole farm soil testing and lab analysis, nutrient mapping, […]
Seagrass under the spotlight
Scientists from Edith Cowan University were joined by Marine Park divers from Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia last week to monitor Geographe Bay’s seagrass meadows. Each February, the team monitors seagrass health at eight sites from Dunsborough to Capel. Scientists measure shoot density of Posidonia sinuosa, epiphyte (algae) cover on seagrass leaves, and take […]
