Farmer Michael Taylor, “The Hill”, Kentucky, shows UNE soil scientist Dr Lisa Lobry de Bruyn a sample of his farm’s soils.

Soil scientists from across northern NSW gathered at UNE recently to discuss how farmers test their soil health, and the conclusions they draw from those tests.

The regional meeting of Soil Science Australia was convened by Dr Lisa Lobry de Bruyn, a senior lecturer in the School of Environmental and Rural Science, who built the theme around a 2016 paper she co-authored with Dr Susan Andrews of the United States Department of Agriculture.

They observed that although soil testing is upheld as an important decision tool for farmers, only a quarter of Australian farmers (30% in the US) actually do it — and then it is unclear how many use the information they glean.

The meeting discussed the role of soil scientists in improving the rate of farmer soil testing, and interpretation of the results.

One day was spent on a field excursion talking directly to local farmers about their soil knowledge and decision-making processes. The tour took the group to the Taylor family property “The Hill”, where Michael Taylor showed the scientists the differences in soil in the farm’s extensive farm forestry plantations and under pasture.