With World Soil Day being held earlier this month now is a great time to talk about soil health in our region.
The soils of the NAR are derived mainly from ancient sedimentary and crystalline rocks which have been subjected to extensive weathering over geological time periods. The outcome of this is that deep sandy soils are dominant in the NAR. These soils have deeply weathered profiles that are inherently low in nutrients.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Report Card On Sustainable Natural Resources Use In Agriculture (2013), the condition of soil acidity and water repellency – an important factor in wind erosion – are trending towards a poorer condition with the drying and warming climate in many parts of the region contributing to an increased risk of reducing soil organic carbon levels.
In addition, the loss of native vegetation and biodiversity threatens the health of both ecological landscapes and productive systems – so any trees, shrubs and grasses that we can get back into the landscape is a big win for farmers and local communities alike.
Farmers in the Northern Agricultural Region have always been resilient and innovative in the way that they approach these issues and NACC looks forward to collaborating with them again over the next five years to continue the efforts to improve the condition of our soils and native vegetation.
If you want any more information please contact NACC’s Sustainable Agriculture Projects Manager Callum Love on (E) callum.love@nacc.com.au or (P) 0438 989 500.
NACC’s Supporting Smarter Farms project supported by the Australians Government’s Regional Landcare Partnerships initiative of the National Landcare Program.
In case you missed it 5 December was World Soil Day - an initiative of the International Union of Soil Sciences, and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It aims to raise global awareness and celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system, and as a vital contributor to human wellbeing.
This year’s theme was ‘Be the Solution to Soil Pollution’ - with 95 per cent of our food coming from soil, and one third of our global soils already degraded - it is now more important than ever that we start to put changes in place to stop soil pollution, acknowledge the importance of healthy soil, advocate for the sustainable management of our soil resources and be the solution to soil pollution. Find out what you can do to help protect our soil – here http://www.fao.org/world-soil-day/about-wsd/en/