For more info:
Contact SoilCare Inc

---

Latest News and
Newsletters

International Biochar Initiative News
July 2010

Northern Rivers CMA
July 2010
E-news
(including funding opportunities)

Clarence Landcare Newsletter
August

all the dirt...
Winter 2010 soil newsletter from I & I NSW funded by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority

Soil Health
Prof. Lyn Abbott's website

New - DAFF website...
Soil Health Knowledge

North Coast Weeds

drumMuster
how and where to dispose of chemical containers

AIMS
Agriculture Information and Monitoring Services

Acres USA - Compost
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science - Studies & Advances in Composting Technology

---

Videos

ABC Catalyst program on Agrichar (biochar)
click on this video

Rodale Institute CEO, Tim LaSalle,  explains how organic farming (& regenerative/biological farming) will combat climate change
click here

Dirt! The Movie
coming to theatres late 2009!
About the movie
featuring Bob Shaffer, guest presenter at
SoilCare Expo

Composting food
'watch this video' also featuring Bob Shaffer.

The Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority supports on-farm demonstrations... Ground Covers for Soil Health Thursday, 27 May 2010 SoilCare farmers enjoyed a Biological Farming Safari to visit farms cooperating in the 'Ground Covers for Soil Health' project. SoilCare members at Garry Fetherston's banana plantation details The Northern Rivers CMA funded SoilCare farmers to demonstrate the value of ground covers to improve soil structure, increase soil biological activity, promote nutrient cycling, increase water infiltration, control soil erosion, enhance IPM systems and more. The CMA and SoilCare will host another safari to visit these farms in November. Click on the 'details' for each farm to learn about what farmers are doing to improve soil health on their farms. Wilson River Pecans details Kuranita Macadamias details Above: Otto Saeck (left) of Blueberry Fields details talks about soil health challenges. Right: Oxley Plantations details uses a soil aerator to incorporate ground covers into the soil with mimimum soil disturbance.   ‘SOIL HEALTH IS THE FOUNDATION OF SUSTAINABLE FARMING’ SoilCare Inc invited Bob Shaffer (Soil Culture, Glen Ellen, California) to the Northern Rivers area of NSW in November 2009 to talk to farmers about sustainable soil management. Farmers enjoyed five workshops presented by Bob on the topics of transitioning to sustainable practices, soil biology, compost, ground covers/cover cropping and soil minerals. Bob investigates soil health in the Northern Rivers. 'Soils Are Alive' (the book) by Professor Lyn Abbott is now uploaded, available and free to everyone on-line.  THANK YOU, LYN!  Click below for link to the book. Soils Are Alive SoilCare Inc Workshop with Professor Lyn Abbott, 'Soils Are Alive', was held on 13 March 2009. Workshop participants examined their farm soils under the microscope. Other websites to visit to learn about Lyn Abbott's work: www.soilhealth.com .... www.soilquality.org.au ...www.soil.org.au   'Put the fun back in farming', Gary Zimmer says. You would not find a group of farmers having more fun than those pictured below in the SoilCare/Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority sponsored TAFE Wollongbar 'Biological Farming' class with teacher Dave Forrest. Northern River's Soil Health Cards and Soil Best Management Practice Guides Northern Rivers Soil Health Cards and Soil Best Management Practice Guides for Perennial Horticulture and Vegetables have been released. The documents were produced by farmers for farmers in a project funded by the NR Catchment Management Authority. Dave Forrest demonstrated the Soil Health Cards to (above) pecan growers at their recent AGM and (right) to vegetable growers at a recent field day at Cudgen. Dave demonstrates the soil aggregate stability test.   National Landcare Programme Project Best Practice Soil Health and Conservation in Macadamia Plantations  Participants enjoyed the SoilCare Farmer to Farmer field day on 6 February. Learn how four innovative farmers have taken steps to manage soil erosion and improve soil health.
Debra Lewis and Mark Atkinson  (McLeans Ridges) are planting a new macadamia orchard.  To reduce the volume of water entering the orchard from an adjoining property they have constructed a drain to redirect run-on to a stable gully catchment thus minimising erosion. Details of this project.	John Webster (Agnutta at Clunes) has removed 25% of the trees (every 2nd tree in every 2nd row) in a crowded block to improve light penetration.  The trees have been chipped and chips spread on the orchard floor.  Smother grass has been planted in squares throughout the block. Details of this project.
Meg and Peter Fleming (McLeans Ridges) have removed 25% of the trees in a block with little or no light penetration to the orchard floor and minimal ground cover. Trees were chipped and a mixture of millet, carpet grass, broadleaf paspalum and haifa clover was broadcast planted and sprigs of smother grass manually planted. Details of this project.	Anne and Shaun Stead (Jiggi) are using limb removal in 18 year old macadamia trees to enhance light penetration through the canopy and down to the ground covers. Prunings are chipped and the chips are put directly back under the trees to enhance erosion control and increase biological activity. Details of this project.