Workshops help farmers get to the root of soil health

Supported by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, both two-day workshops will be led by agricultural scientist Kim Deans.

Goulburn Broken CMA’s sustainable agriculture facilitator Rhiannon Sandford said the purpose of the events was to provide farmers with practical strategies for repairing soil structure and improving water infiltration and retention.

“For decades, agriculture has looked at soil through the lens of chemistry and physics,” Ms Sandford said.

“But the biological component — the living microbes, fungi, and organisms — is just as critical. It governs aeration, nutrient cycling and how much water the soil can actually hold.”

She said the course offered a rare opportunity for local growers to network, share insights and begin transitioning to more resilient and sustainable farming.

“The workshops will focus on understanding the biological function of soil, a topic that’s rapidly gaining attention but remains challenging to implement at the farm level.”

Tatong farmer Claudia Weinrich has signed up for the course.

“Soil biology goes to the very heart of farming,” Ms Weinrich said.

“It’s not just important, it’s fundamental to understand how healthy, productive soils function and how we can best support this.

“It’s like a complex machine; without understanding how it works, you can’t optimise its performance or keep using it long-term.”

Ms Weinrich said she was already seeing the benefits from smaller paddocks, larger mobs and a faster rotation.

“The paddocks recover faster,” she said.

“The plants have got leaves left on them to keep doing photosynthesis and don’t have to draw on root reserves to start growing again.”

The workshops will be held at Molyullah on Tuesday, September 2 and Wednesday, September 3, and in Seymour on Thursday, September 4 and Friday, September 5.

Anyone interested in attending can contact Rhiannon Sandford at rhiannons@gbcma.vic.gov.au or call 0429 964 609.