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 PHCC, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER).

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.  

“Farmers often apply excess phosphate fertilisers that are not needed for plant production. They can boost their soil productivity by addressing constraints such as soil acidity, or potassium and sulphur deficiencies,” shared Sustainable Agriculture Project Coordinator Dr Deborah Holtham (DWER).

PHCC’s Chair, Paddi Creevey says that “the real indictor of program success has been seeing farmers return to build on their success and keen to experiment with fertiliser use.”

“It’s great to see farmers share the knowledge they’ve gained about their farm with neighbours and peers. PHCC is really impressed with the farmers in the Healthy Estuaries catchment coming back after a year or two to monitor the ongoing condition of their soils and check that they are still on the right track with the amounts of fertiliser, lime and any other amendments they may be applying,” Paddi said.

“We’re excited to be able to offer this fantastic program to farmers in our upper catchment who fall within the 550mm plus rainfall zone. We are also planning ways to reach new farmers who may not be aware of the program in our Healthy Estuaries region on the Swan Coastal Plain.”

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 estuaries.dwer.wa.gov.au. Healthy Estuaries WA and Soils – New Horizons are open to grazing enterprises with at least 40 hectares of cleared, arable land.

For more information, please contact Gen Harvey at genevieve.harvey@peel-harvey.org.au  or 0438 605 112.

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).

ENDS

Media contact:

Jane O’Malley. CEO, PHCC

E: admin@peel-harvey.org.au

P: (08) 6369 8800

We acknowledge the Noongar people as Traditional Custodians of this land and pay our respects to all Elders past and present