July was a busy period for Regional Soils Coordinator Dhiraj Gajera. Providing educational opportunities for land mangers continues to be a priority for the hub. Dhiraj recently presented alongside hub partner Gulf Savannah to 15 local growers and producers in Georgetown on 12 July who were eager to learn more about soils health, best practice management, ground cover and stock management. The attendees brought along a soil sample to test microbial biomass and carbon levels and learn about the biological makeup if their soil.

Dhiraj also presented at a business resilience workshop at Lakeland with hub partner Growcom. The workshop, held on 18 July focused on building farm business resilience through soil health and ecological balance. 13 banana, passionfruit, mango, melon and cattle producers participated in a field trip to an organic Paw Paw farm where the group again tested the health, microbial biomass and carbon levels of the soil. The tests, which can be done easily through a soil microbiometer testing kit, empower the growers and producers to make better management decisions that could include rotating different crops at a specific site and trialing different composts.

Dhiraj attended the 2023 Soil Science Australia Conference from 25-30 June in Darwin where he met with researchers and scientists from across the world and learnt about different findings on carbon farming, crop production and microbiology. Attendees visited the largest African mahogany plantation in the world which grows on 14,000ha on red loam soil. This region is ideal for a range of crops due to the soils nutrients and water resources.  

Dhiraj is also collecting data to help us understand soil extension and knowledge in our region. If you are a landholder, land manager, in extension, agronomist or service provider working in soils, then please make a cuppa and take 20 minutes to complete the survey

If you have a question about the survey, your soil health or would like Dhiraj to present at a workshop, get in touch today: dhiraj.gajera@jcu.edu.au