Terrain NRM is encouraging businesses, industry and communities to look at new ways to unlock future prosperity through sustainable and inclusive economic approaches while also improving the region’s landscapes from reef to rainforest.

Board Chair Dr Keith Noble recently launched Terrain’s new five-year strategic plan, identifying six focus areas – soil health, waterway health, biodiversity, climate, regenerative economy and organisational excellence.

Dr Noble said the region is at a pivotal moment in time in terms of the COVID pandemic, climate change and biodiversity loss.

“Worldwide disruption caused by COVID has created fertile ground for change and has shown us how quickly society can adapt to new circumstances,” he said.

“While we are facing immense environmental challenges, there are also exciting opportunities for Australia and for the Wet Tropics, as communities recognise the need to maintain the world that sustains us all.”

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Tropical Soils – A Guide to Soil Health (for printing)

Tropical Soils – A Guide to Soil Health (to read online)

Soil health, mulch trials and spray drones were hot topics at the recent Wet Tropics Soilcare (WETS) field day and annual general meeting.

Forty farmers from across the Wet Tropics visited farms in the Tablelands region to make plans for the year ahead, hear from soil specialists and share knowledge on soil health practices.

Terrain NRM Landcare Leader Sally Fields said it was great to see a broad range of growers and landholders participate and share their knowledge and experience.

“Community groups like WETS are important in our region because they foster information and knowledge-sharing and provide a platform for soil health discussions within the agricultural industry,” she said.

“Building soil health and agricultural resilience is a major priority for Terrain NRM and our region and supporting groups like WETS means the momentum of soil health advocacy grows.”

Avocado, custard apple, soursop and lime crop soil health were in the spotlight at the field day’s first stop – John Jennings’ family farm in Mareeba.

Comparing hay, woodchip and tea tree mulch with normal practices on the Caamano’s lime farm was also an insightful experience for growers.

Presentations from BioHub Solutions on their range of bio stimulants, used to help improve the biological balance in soil, and from Brolga Tech on the capabilities of drone technology, including spraying of herbicides, fertilisers, seeds, and beneficial insects for pest control, were also part of the field day.

Tully tropical fruit grower and the WETS group’s newly appointed vice-chair Warren Orsmond said being actively involved in groups like WETS helps to keep soil health front-of-mind and enables growers to learn from each other.

“There’s a broad range of people in the group who all bring different skills, knowledge and experience to the table,” he said.

“I’m continually learning and fine-tuning our practices on the farm – healthy soils help grow a healthy crop and provide environmental benefits, so it’s an important part of our business.”

Two soil health field days will be held in the Wet Tropics region over coming months.

The Lower Wet Tropics Soilcare Group and Terrain NRM are hosting a field day in the Tully region on Saturday 18 September.

And the Wet Tropics Soilcare Group is hosting a field day in the Mareeba region on Saturday 16 October. This day will be combined with the group’s AGM.

Anyone with an interest in soil is invited to come along. Farmers will be sharing their experience and soil heath practices across the industries.

Terrain supports these events through its Wet Tropics Regional Agricultural Landcare Faciliator. This position is funded from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.