Continued funding for Soil Health supports farmers and communities on ground
The eight Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs have welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of grant funded soil health projects through the Natural Heritage Trust’s $302.1 million Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
This investment includes a $6.26 million commitment to continue the national network of Regional Soils Coordinators who support the delivery of integrated and targeted soils services to farmers and communities, broker partnerships with industry and stakeholders and provide networks for researchers, primary producers, First Nations peoples and community groups to work together.
The collaboration between the Drought Hubs as well as the soil coordinators provides real on-farm practical benefits that farmers can adopt for sustainable land management practices, whilst also improving economic returns, and is significant for Southern Australia.
Lucy Porter, SA Regional Soils Coordinator, said the extension of the program allows the Regional Soils Coordinator network to build upon the work they have undertaken over the past two years and to further assist Australian farmers in the best practice management of soils.
"I can continue to share information with advisors, land managers and farmers, to enable best practices adoption for soil health, as well as engage in further activities that extend the works already commenced.
I can also continue to learn from other soil coordinators and First Nations communities to enhance the work undertaken in South Australia".