Soils Coordinator update: how I can help our Growers & Producers in the north...

Hi again, Oscar here! Last week I travelled to Cairns to join all Regional Soil Coordinators from across Australia for several days of presentations and field visits. The RSCs exist to facilitate long term improvement in soil management around the country. I am the coordinator for the Northern Territory and Northern WA and I won't hold it against anyone that raises their eyebrows at the idea that I can service a third of country effectively, or competently.

I have spent the past two months in this role attending events, travelling the region, talking to everyone I can and scratching my head at just what I can accomplish or contribute to the region. Hopefully it's not too frank to say that I've had my doubts, and that as this is my first position not in the private sector (I have an agronomy and farm management background), I can see that the world of government funded roles can generate a fair degree of scepticism from the people I'd like to work with: farmers, pastoralists, agronomists, those on the ground working with the land.

However, in my recent trip to Cairns I realised that the challenges that the NT faces in Agriculture provide more of an opportunity for me than perhaps the other regions. The fields of soil management in the Territory and Northern WA are, to my mind, becoming clearer. In the rangelands that means issues such as erosion, pasture improvement, legumes and landscape function. In irrigated horticulture it's better understanding soils, nutrition and irrigation management. In emerging broadacre industries like cotton it's recognising that our soils are enormously variable and require different management approaches.

I know I can contribute in these areas. The challenge is building relationships with the right people so I can actually be useful. I understand that many people within industry and the agricultural sector are sceptical of another person from the university or from the government telling them what to do. I know this personally because I have been on the other side, rolling my eyes at some very inexperienced person telling me how to manage a farm with no concept of the constant daily juggling act that is farming.

So here is my appeal to industry, I'd like to get out and meet you. I'd like to hear what's happening, what ideas you've been sitting on, and what you've wanted to try but haven't had the time or resources to pursue. I'd like to learn from you and help where I can.

In the meantime, here are just a couple of the things from the Cairns trip that I thought may be of some interest to our region, None of these ideas are likely to be new, but they prompted me to wonder whether they're worth revisiting in the Territory.

Sun hemp as a cover crop.

Sun hemp is increasingly being used as a fallow crop in sugarcane. It produces a huge amount of biomass that can be grazed or incorporated back into the soil. I'd like to know who in the Territory has experience with Sun Hemp and if it is a possibility in a cotton rotation, as a cattle feed, or as a cover crop for soil health in horticulture, broadacre or improved pastures.

Rejuvenation of native Legume species

The Walkamin Research Station in the Qld Tablelands is growing out hundreds of legume species to grow out and reassess them. Commercial seed availability is almost non-existent. I think there is an opportunity to identify species relevant to NT rangelands and assess their utility in pastures. This may be something my role can support if there is sufficient interest.

Multispecies pastures

I'm not aware of how many NT and WA pastoralists have attempted multispecies pastures, but we observed a farm in the Table lands using them. The soil improvements were impressive, although the economics and impacts on herd performance are still being evaluated. 

Soil Biology in Banana crops in the Wet Tropics

Although Panama disease has greatly reduced the number of large banana farms in the NT and northern WA, the presentations on soil biology and ground cover have obvious relevance to our mango industry. I think there is real opportunity to better understand and manage soil biology in tropical horticulture.

Please send me an email: oscar.guidici@cdu.edu.au. and I will respond, or preferably I can call you back!