Events

Expressions of interest are now available for farmers in south-west WA to join the latest round of the soil testing and fertiliser management program.

The program is a part of government-funded programs Healthy Estuaries WA and Soils-New Horizons, delivered in partnership with Torbay Catchment Group, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER). Healthy Estuaries WA and Soils – New Horizons are open to grazing enterprises with at least 40 hectares of cleared, arable land.

More than 2000 farmers have already saved an average of $12,000 per year on fertiliser costs and expanded their soil fertility knowledge as a part of the program. By participating, farmers also protect our waterways by reducing excess nutrient runoff that can cause algal blooms.

Grazing beef, dairy and sheep farmers receive discounted soil testing for their whole-farm, agronomic advice, and develop a fertiliser management plan specific to their production targets for each paddock tested.

For the first time, farmers who have previously participated in Healthy Estuaries WA can refer a friend to the program and in return, both farmers are eligible to receive a $100 discount on soil testing fees. That means new farmers that haven’t previously been involved can participate in a program worth over $5,000 for only $200.

Expressions of interest are open until 20 July 2025, at https://estuaries.dwer.wa.gov.au/strategies/sustainable-agriculture/soil-testing/

For more information, please contact: Jemma Peters: nrmo@torbaycatchment.org.au or call 0408 693 461.

This activity is a part of Healthy Estuaries WA and the Bindjareb Djilba Protection Plan, State Government programs; and Soils – New Horizons, a bilateral partnership agreement between the Australian Government and the State Government of WA (DPIRD).