Masterclass highlights interest in soils from banking sector
The Soil CRC’s recent masterclass on banking and investing in agricultural soils garnered significant interest from agri-bankers, investors and advisors keen to…
Soil CRC adoption activities are go!
By Felicity Harrop, Soil CRC Adoption Manager Soil CRC participant groups and researchers are heading out into farming regions to share the…
Farming systems group extends Soil CRC research
By Felicity Harrop, Soil CRC Adoption Manager Soil CRC participant Riverine Plains recently completed a federally-funded project to extend results from the…
Burdekin’s Rob Milla joins Soil CRC Board
The Soil CRC is pleased to welcome Rob Milla, Manager of Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS), to our Board of Directors. Rob is…
Developing next-gen biofertilisers to enhance soil health: Meet Rohan Samaratunga
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Soil CRC PhD student Rohan Samaratunga is fascinated by the complexity of improving soil…
Financial costs and benefits of soil stewardship: A review
Unlocking financial investment in soils is the focus of the Soil CRC’s ‘Rewarding soil stewardship’ project (1.1.004) led by Dr Nicholas Pawsey…
Tackling soil water repellency in dryland farming: Meet Naveeda Majid
Soil scientist Dr Naveeda Majid is inspired by the process of discovery – investigating soils at a deeper level, understanding the mechanisms…
Parliamentarians celebrate World Soil Day
The Soil CRC was proud to be a Lead Supporter of the Parliamentary Friends of Soil (PFOS) World Soil Day networking breakfast,…
Field tours, soil carbon and World Soil Day
By Felicity Harrop, Soil CRC Soil Knowledge Broker Building on the success of the recent Program 1 webinar series, Soil CRC Soil…
Soil CRC soiltech showcase at evokeAG 2026
The Soil CRC is excited to be an Exhibition Partner at AgriFutures evokeAG. 2026, Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood technology and innovation event.…
Do you want to be part of the Soil CRC’s evaluation project?
You’re invited! As we near the end of the Soil CRC, the impact of its research effort is being evaluated in a…
Soil CRC PhD leads to groundbreaking rainfall visualisation tool
Dr Peter Weir’s Soil CRC PhD research led to the development of a new tool that reveals spatial variations in rainfall over…
Rural landholder survey heads to Central West NSW
Farmers and rural landholders across Central West New South Wales are invited to share their views in a major national survey investigating…
Exploring how different amendments affect carbon compounds in sandy soils: Meet Tania Monir
A deep interest in soil chemistry and sustainable agriculture led Tania Monir to pursue a Soil CRC PhD with Murdoch University, exploring…
Soil CRC’s Risk/Reward tool helps to boost ag extension efforts
A new Soil CRC tool co-developed by our grower group participants is helping to improve how research findings are communicated to farmers,…
Watch our webinar series: Understanding farmers, sharing knowledge and reporting innovation
In November, the Soil CRC delivered a three-part webinar series on ‘Understanding farmers, sharing knowledge and reporting innovation’, to highlight some of…
WEBINAR SERIES: Understanding farmers, sharing knowledge and reporting innovation
The Soil CRC is hosting a free three-part webinar series in November to explore what drives farmer decisions, how to share knowledge…
WA farmers invited to help shape future ag investment
Landholders across the West Australian Wheatbelt and high rainfall regions of the south-west are taking part in a national Soil CRC survey…
Building global connections: Soil CRC student excels in Japan exchange
Soil CRC PhD student Harleen Kaur (University of Newcastle) recently participated in a two-way student exchange program at Yokohama University in Japan.…
Digging into soil organic carbon to build a sustainable future: Meet Evanna McGuinness
Soil CRC student Evanna McGuinness credits her late grandmother for inspiring her path in life and teaching her to view the world…
Soil CRC out and about during field day season
By Felicity Harrop, Soil CRC Soil Knowledge Broker It is a busy time on field day calendar, and it has been a…
Project results: New farming methods to sequester soil carbon
Many Western Australian farms have sandy soils with low organic carbon, characterised by low water-holding capacity, poor nutrient retention and reduced productivity.…
An address from the Soil CRC’s Patron
The Patron of the Soil CRC, The Hon Penny Wensley AC, provided an inspirational address in the opening session of the 2025…
2025 Soil CRC Conference highlights
More than 160 Soil CRC researchers, PhD students, grower groups and industry representatives from across Australia came together at the Duxton Hotel…
A note of gratitude from Soil CRC PhD students
The Soil CRC’s PhD student cohort is a significant feature our CRC and we are extremely proud of our students’ achievements. So,…
Into the green and gold: Touring the WA wheatbelt
The 2025 Soil CRC Participants Conference concluded with 2 informative field trips to inspect some of our long-term experiments in the West…
The future of soil research is in good hands
The Soil CRC PhD Program underpins our four research programs to build capability in the future of Australia’s soil research. Our annual…
Landholder survey returns to West Australian Wheatbelt
Approximately 4,000 landholders across the West Australian Wheatbelt and high rainfall regions of the south-west are being invited to participate in a…
Harnessing machine learning to predict soil water retention function
University of Tasmania Soil CRC PhD student Chenting Jiang loves a challenge, particularly the kind that involves using mathematical models and algorithms…
Panel spotlight: The farmer filter – How farming systems groups accelerate research impact
By Bret Ryan and Simon Kruger As part of our upcoming Soil CRC Participants Conference, we are excited to be hosting a…
Advancing Australia’s soil knowledge system
The Soil CRC’s Visualising Australasia’s Soils (VAS) project began in 2019 to provide Soil CRC participants with access to data, information and…
Next generation tool for higher performing soils
Soil constraints affect 77% of Australian soils, costing producers over $1,900 million in lost production. There is considerable grower and national benefit…
Soil CRC researcher awarded prestigious fellowship
Soil CRC researcher Dr Yunru (Chloe) Lai has been awarded a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Early Career Researcher (ECR) Fellowship…
Emeritus Professor Richard Bell to deliver keynote at Soil CRC conference
The Soil CRC is pleased to announce that Dr Richard Bell, Emeritus Professor at Murdoch University, will deliver the keynote address at…
Sandy Soils conference line-up
The 2025 Global Conference on Sandy Soils will be held in Perth, Western Australia from 21 to 24 July. The event brings…
Soil CRC long-term trial sites in focus
Soil CRC’s CEO Dr Michael Crawford, and Soil Knowledge Broker Felicity Harrop headed into the field this month to inspect some of…
Managing soil during and after drought
By Soil CRC Soil Knowledge Broker Felicity Harrop Considering the dry situation many landholders in southern Australia are currently experiencing, it is…
Soil CRC PhD research reveals link between soil type, microbial function and plant performance
A passion for agriculture and a curious mind led Cameron Copeland to tackle a PhD with the Soil CRC at Southern Cross…
Building soil resilience and carbon through plant diversity
Professor Terry Rose from Southern Cross University is leading a Soil CRC project to investigate changes in soil resilience and carbon stocks…
Unlocking soil nutrients with organic amendments
Enhancing nutrient use efficiency in agricultural soils is essential for sustainable production, particularly in the context of declining natural resources, such as…
Strengthening the foundations of on-farm engagement
The West Midlands Group in Western Australia is leading a Soil CRC project to support farming systems groups to improve how soil-related…
Helping NSW farmers navigate soil carbon management
By Felicity Harrop, Soil CRC Soil Knowledge Broker The Soil CRC has produced a range of resources to help NSW land managers…
Soil CRC soiltech one step closer to market
The Soil CRC is seeking investors and development partners for our QUOLL® soil health monitoring tool and BANDICOOT® soil profiling tool. We…
Long-term trials to uncover new approaches to drought resilience
A Soil CRC project is investigating innovative cropping and mixed farming practices through the lens of drought resilience and risk management, to…
Understanding and predicting soil water repellency: Meet Maria Then
Soil CRC PhD student Maria Then’s connection with the natural world was fostered by family hiking trips through southern Australia’s rugged landscape—exploring…
Research collaboration leads to cost-effective, renewable organic carriers for rhizobial inoculants
The Soil CRC’s ‘Evaluation of innovative microbial carrier products’ project (3.4.002) brings together 2 universities and 4 farmer groups to develop new…
Integrated solutions for accessing soil moisture
Many Australian crops are not reaching the potential yields for the rainfall they receive because the soils in which they grow have…
Out of the frying pan, into the soil: Meet Phil Kay
Phil Kay grew up just south of Brisbane in the Redlands shire, a major farming region named after the Ferrosol soil which…
Soil carbon under the microscope in long-term field trials
There is considerable interest in soil carbon sequestration and the potential for new farming practices to improve the supply of nutrients from…
Dr Nathan Robinson to lead Program 2 of the Soil CRC
The Soil CRC is pleased to announce that Dr Nathan Robinson from Federation University will step into the role of Program 2…
Better understanding of within-field spatial variability of soil water
Soil CRC PhD student Peter Weir began his career in irrigated horticulture in the Riverland region of South Australia—working as both a…
Grower-group-led research reveals the risks and rewards of new farming practices
A new reporting tool created by Soil CRC researchers will help grower groups assess and communicate the risks and benefits of new…
Farewell Dr Richard Doyle: Soil advocate, mentor and leader
Last month, the Soil CRC bid farewell to our Program 2 Leader, Dr Richard Doyle, who leaves his teaching and research role…
Tackling soil constraints with computer-based learning
Dr Chloe Lai from the University of Southern Queensland is leading a Soil CRC project that is using a computer-based approach to…
Understanding the value of manure as a phosphorous source
Soil CRC PhD student Maryam Barati credits her family for creating an environment where education and analytical thinking were both encouraged and…
World Soil Day event showcases bipartisan support for soil
Parliamentarians gathered in Canberra in late November at the Parliamentary Friends of Soil (PFOS) World Soil Day breakfast to shine a spotlight…
Soil Knowledge Broker reflects on Soils 2024 Conference
“Te Kiri o Papatūānuku” (the skin of Mother Earth) By Felicity Harrop, Soil CRC Soil Knowledge Broker Recently, I was fortunate to…
Soil water storage: Increasing access and tools for assessment
Soil and plant processes influence soil water storage and a crop’s ability to access this water for growth. There are gaps in…
Closing the knowledge gap on the impact of herbicide residues in soils
Growing up in Myanmar, Soil CRC PhD student Win Win Pyone developed an interest in agriculture early in life. Armed with a…
Watch our ‘Soil carbon capacity building’ webinars
The Soil CRC’s free ‘Soil carbon capacity building’ webinar series aims to help NSW farmers, landholders and advisors navigate the complexities of…
Soil CRC releases Knowledge Sharing Guide
The Soil CRC has released a new guide to help grower groups and extension professionals plan their farmer engagement activities. Aptly titled…
Soil CRC in New Zealand for Soils conference
Soil CRC researchers are heading to Rotorua, New Zealand, in the first week of December for Soils Rotorua 2024 – the quadrennial…
Soil CRC Conference highlights
Last month, more than 150 Soil CRC researchers, PhD students, grower groups and industry representatives from across Australia came together at Charles…
PhD students shine bright
The annual Soil CRC Participants Conference provides the perfect setting for our PhD students to showcase their research, contribute to future-focused conversations,…
Red soil and fields of gold
The 2024 Soil CRC Participants Conference wrapped up with three sun-drenched field trips to inspect Soil CRC and other soil-related research in…
Simon takes BANDICOOT® to the next level
Soil CRC researcher Simon Edwards (University of Tasmania) has been selected to participate in the Beanstalk Drought Venture Studio, a three-month program…
Landholder survey underway in Eyre Peninsula
The Soil CRC’s 2024 landholder survey is landing in letterboxes in the Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia this month. This survey…
Soil indicator survey findings released
Soil CRC researchers at Federation University have shared the findings of their recent soil indicator survey, identifying which indicators farmers are using…
Grower groups delve into soil carbon management
The Soil CRC’s NSW grower group participants are hosting the next round of soil carbon capacity building webinars for NSW’s farmers, landowners…
Eyre Peninsula social benchmarking surveys underway
Landholders in South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula are invited to share their experiences as part of a national Soil CRC social benchmarking study…
‘Accelerator Program’ to maximise soil research delivery
Translating research outputs into tangible, practical outcomes for farmers can be challenging. A new Soil CRC project is addressing the disconnect between…
Soil CRC PhD student takes home national award
Congratulations to Soil CRC PhD student Reuben Mah (University of Tasmania), who was announced as the winner of the Cooperative Research Australia…
Modelling a better future for agriculture
Growing up in a rice-farming family in Nepal, Suman Gajurel witnessed firsthand how small changes in farming practices could significantly impact productivity…
Soil CRC research features at APEC meeting
Soil CRC CEO, Dr Michael Crawford, had the honour last week of representing Australia at an APEC meeting on Food Security in…
Building a soil data legacy: The evolution of VAS
The Soil CRC recently announced an additional $800K funding for the continuation and further development of the Visualising Australasia’s Soils (VAS) portal,…
Unlock your soil carbon potential
There are a range resources, data and tools available to NSW land managers to help uncover their property’s soil carbon potential. The…
Harnessing technology to solve complex problems
Growing up in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Dristi Datta was surrounded by a rich agricultural heritage and a vibrant community life. A fascination with…
Lifting a lid on farmer decision-making
North Central Victorian landholders are being invited to share their experiences as part of a national Soil CRC social benchmarking study led…
The Hon Penny Wensley receives esteemed international soil award
The Hon Penelope Wensley AC, Patron of the Soil CRC and of Soil Science Australia, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal at…
100 years of the International Union of Soil Sciences
1500 scientists, practitioners, and policymakers with a passion for soil came together in Florence, Italy, last month for the International Union of…
Smart Soils community in action
Last month, the Soil CRC and University of Newcastle hosted the National Soil Science Extension Team Smart Soils Community of Practice (CoP)…
New technical fact sheets on soil management
The Soil CRC recently released 28 new fact sheets on priority soil management issues as part of our ‘Building technical capacity for…
Meet Muhammad Salik Ali Khan
The Soil CRC is pleased to introduce our newest PhD student, Muhammad Salik Ali Khan, who is based at the University of…
Building on success: Soil CRC announces eight new projects
The Soil CRC is investing a further $4.1 million in new research with another eight projects approved for delivery over the next…
Program spotlight: New products for soil fertility and function
Program 3 of the Soil CRC is focussed on developing new fertilisers, amendments and delivery mechanisms to enhance soil fertility and function.
The fertiliser value of manures
Professor Terry Rose from Southern Cross University is leading a Soil CRC project to develop recommendations for the use of animal manures…
A bird in the hand and two feet on the soil
An Australian wildlife enthusiast, Soil CRC PhD student Melissa Wales has always been passionate about the natural world. She was known to…
Program spotlight: Soil performance metrics
Program 2 of the Soil CRC seeks to define the indicators of soil performance, create better tools for on-farm soil measurement and…
Next-gen soil sensors on the horizon
With the recent completion of the Soil CRC’s ‘Smart soil sensors’ project, we’re one step closer to delivering easy-to-use, field-based senor technology…
Visualising Australasia’s Soils: extending the soil data federation
The Soil CRC’s Visualising Australasia’s Soils (VAS) project provides an online portal to quality soil data from across Australia and New Zealand.…
Sky’s the limit for ‘Lab-on-a-Chip’ creator
Known for his sharp wit and steely determination, Soil CRC PhD student Reuben Mah is a self-proclaimed perfectionist who strives for continuous…
Program spotlight: Integrated soil management solutions
Program 4 of the Soil CRC aims to develop cost-effective and sustainable soil management solutions to build more productive and resilient soil.…
Food waste solutions for a sustainable future
With a fierce curiosity and a passion for science, it’s not surprising that Novocastrian James O’Connor is on the verge of completing…
Understanding soil microbial functional resistance and resilience to drought
Sustainable agricultural ecosystems rely on healthy soil that supports beneficial organisms and functions. Environmental stressors such as drought, heat, fire, and compaction…
Grower group conversations: Reflecting on knowledge sharing
The Soil CRC Knowledge Sharing Project extension series is now available on the Soil CRC YouTube channel. This four-part series is produced…
Supporting grower groups to better inform farmers
Based in the wheatbelt of Western Australia, West Midlands Group is one of 20 grower group participants in the Soil CRC. Their…
PhD research shines light on regen ag
Soil CRC PhD student Mathew Alexanderson doesn’t consider himself a traditional academic. As an avid traveller and a passionate environmental advocate, he…
Program spotlight: Investing in high performance soils
Program 1 of the Soil CRC is focused on human aspects of soil management. Led by Professor Catherine Allan from Charles Sturt…
Managing your research data
How do you store your research data? And what happens to it when you move on? The Soil CRC’s ‘Improving soil data…
Professor Ravi Naidu wins Glinka World Soil Prize 2023
Congratulations to Soil CRC researcher Laureate Professor Ravi Naidu (University of Newcastle and crcCARE) who was announced as the winner of the Glinka World…
Decarbonising agriculture in India
Soil CRC CEO Dr Michael Crawford was a Guest of Honour and International Speaker at an International Conference on Decarbonizing Agriculture in…
National Soil Action Plan launched
The Soil CRC is excited to be contributing to the implementation of the inaugural National Soil Action Plan, which was launched by…
Canberra celebrates World Soil Day
The Soil CRC was honoured to be a Lead Supporter of the Parliamentary Friends of Soil (PFOS) World Soil Day event at…
Our new Strategic Plan: 2023-2027
The Soil CRC Strategic Plan 2023-2027 was released at our Annual General Meeting in late November and will take us through the…
Life-long learner Linda Wirf explores gender in ag
Soil CRC PhD student Linda Wirf’s passion for social justice and a desire for life-long learning has guided her on an inspiring…
Collaboration delivers new sandy soils map
If you read our ‘Enabling soil data’ story last month, you’ll know about Dr Nathan Robinson’s Soil CRC project that is helping…
Green light for longitudinal landholder study
The next phase of the Soil CRC’s national social benchmarking study kicks off this month as we seek to understand how farming…
Henry’s hydrochar research highlights
Hailing from Uganda, Henry Luutu first visited Australia in 2014 after finishing his undergraduate degree. It was this visit, and a passion…
Enabling soil data
Good decision making is inextricably linked to good data, so it’s important that we reliably capture, store, analyse, and manage the wealth…
New soil management resources build technical capacity
As farmers better understand the importance of sustainable soil management for their productivity and profitability, they need advice, technical assistance and expertise…
National social benchmarking study complete
The Soil CRC’s social benchmarking of rural landholders across Australia wraps up this month with the release of the final reports for…
Meet Dr Rahat Shabir
Dr Rahat Shabir recently completed his PhD in Agriculture with the Soil CRC and Griffith University and is now looking to embark…
Soil CRC in China
The Soil CRC was on the international stage last month as our CEO, Dr Michael Crawford, was invited to present in the ‘High Level…
Making sense of soil indicators
Soil CRC researchers at Federation University, in partnership with Charles Sturt University and the University of Newcastle, are examining how farmers use…
Panels explore challenges and opportunities
The Soil CRC’s Participants Conference featured four constructive panel discussions that highlighted some of our research projects while delving into key challenges…
Soil CRC Conference wrap-up
We were thrilled to see over 140 Soil CRC participants and stakeholders gather in Launceston, Tasmania, from 29 to 31 August for…
PhD students in the spotlight
Soil CRC PhD students shone bright at our 2023 Participants Conference in Launceston last month – showcasing their research projects, contributing to…
Digging into Tasmanian soils
The 2023 Soil CRC Participants Conference concluded with three jam-packed field trips focused on soil management issues in northern Tasmania. Delegates elected…
$3.94M for drought research
The Soil CRC has received a $3.94 million grant from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund to help Australia’s farmers prepare for…
New film highlights importance of soil health
Thankful4Farmers has partnered with Nviro Media to produce a new film that celebrates what Australian farmers are doing to improve soil health.…
Improving soils with plant-based solutions
Professor Terry Rose from Southern Cross University led a recently completed Soil CRC project to uncover how soil performance is affected by…
Knowledge sharing for good soil stewardship
Dr Hanabeth Luke of Southern Cross University is leading the Soil CRC’s research effort to address the challenges and opportunities associated with…
VIDEOS: Improving decision support systems
Soil CRC’s Improving decision support systems project wrapped up in 2022, helping address soil constraints by improving the tools growers, agronomists and…
Spotlight on emerging soil technologies
Presenting at the Soil Science Australia conference last month, project leader Dr Marcus Hardie from the University of Tasmania outlined some of…
Bhavya’s war on biowaste
Soil CRC PhD student Bhavya Mod is enrolled at the University of Newcastle and was recently announced as a finalist in the…
Soil science conference wrap-up
Soil CRC projects took centre stage at the 2023 Soil Science Australia Conference last month, with over 20 of our researchers and…
Natural materials to retain soil moisture
Drought is an enduring feature of the agricultural landscape across Australia. The inability of soils to supply sufficient water reduces crop productivity.…
Meet our new Soil Knowledge Broker
We caught up with the Soil CRC’s new Soil Knowledge Broker, Felicity Harrop, to find out what inspires her and how she…
Grower groups lead the way to adoption
While profitability is often the driving force behind adoption of new farming practices, there are many other factors at play. Emotional, social,…
New book: Soil Constraints and Productivity
Soil Constraints and Productivity is a new book aimed at helping scientists and advisors identify, understand and manage multiple soil constraints. It…
Soil Science Australia conference line up
For the first time in its history, Soil Science Australia is holding its biennial national conference in the Northern Territory, with the…
CRC invests in new soil research
The Soil CRC has announced funding for six new research projects with a cash investment of $2.7 million and a further $6.2…
Soil microbial indicators: What do they mean and how can we use them?
The last decade or so has seen an increased recognition of soil biology’s role in crop and pasture production and ecosystem health.…
PhD student shines light on soil health
As a former chef, Phil Kay’s passion for sustainable food production led him to embark on a PhD with the Soil CRC…
Investing in soil stewardship
Rewarding farmers for good soil stewardship requires financial markets that are willing and able to invest in soil management. Unlocking this investment…
Soil amendment trial underway in Burdekin, Queensland
Australia’s agricultural soils are often plagued with multiple physical and chemical constraints that hinder crop root growth and access to water. By…
Managing phytotoxicity in soils for stronger grain yields
Residual effects of herbicides in soil can linger longer than we realise. Little is understood about the toxicity threshold levels of such…
Charles Sturt University and Soil CRC – collaboration makes for better research outputs
Professor Michael Friend, Pro Vice Chancellor at Charles Sturt University, explains that collaborating with cooperative research centres not only builds the capabilities of…
Talkin’ Soil Health Conference
Soil CRC participant Wheatbelt NRM held their Talkin’ Soil Health Conference in August at York in Western Australia.
Have your say on the National Soil Action Plan
The National Soil Action Plan is now open for public consultation until 7 November 2022.
Legend of biochar
Soil CRC Program Leader, Dr Lukas Van Zwieten from the NSW Department of Primary Industries is officially a legend! Lukas was announced…
Five minutes with a farmer group – Mallee Sustainable Farming
MSF formed largely through the need to conduct local, on-farm research for farmers in low rainfall environments.
Overcoming soil constraints in highly calcareous soils
Calcareous soils present a host of challenges that can severely limit crop production.
PhD students gather for Participants Conference
We had a fantastic day of PhD workshops on day one of the Soil CRC Participants Conference in Adelaide.
Soil CRC future opportunities
There were two valuable panel discussions at the Participants Conference, providing both industry perspectives and farmer group perspectives on future opportunities for…
CRC invests in new research projects
From GRDC Groundcover: The Soil CRC announced funding for six new research projects.
Partner Profile: Wimmera CMA
Wimmera CMA are delivering projects aimed at improving farming practice, water management, biodiversity and building community.
Software engineer drives soil carbon analysis
Soil CRC PhD student Mohammed Arifur Rahman (Arif) is putting his software engineering expertise to address the challenges of understanding carbon sequestration.
Soil carbon in Australia and Europe
These webinars explore the practicalities of managing soil carbon in diverse farming conditions with a focus on both Australia and Europe.
NSW Country Hour ABC Radio
CEO Dr Michael Crawford speaks to ABC Country Hour about reaching the half way mark of the Soil CRC.
Soil CRC launches drought fact sheets
CEO Dr Michael Crawford launched two new fact sheets on managing soils during and after drought – both in cropping and grazing systems
McCormack joins Board for research tour
Michael McCormack joined the Soil CRC Board for the first part of a research tour in Wagga Wagga, NSW last week.
Soil CRC announces six new projects
The Soil CRC has announced funding for six new research projects with a cash investment of $3.2 million and a further $6.7 million of in-kind contributions from participants.
Incentives for improving soil health
Policy advisers, researchers, bank and finance representatives and soil-related groups came together for the National Soils Advocate Forum 2022: Economic considerations and market-based drivers of soil health change.
Challenges in making soil-carbon sequestration a worthwhile policy
Soil CEO Dr Michael Crawford co-writes this article with David Pannell.
What drives farmer decisions?
This project aimed to find out what drives farm management decisions.
Soil CRC shines the spotlight on soil health
From Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection website: Underperforming agricultural soils cost Australian farmers billions of dollars in lost revenue each year…
Soil CRC at Innovation Showcase
Last week, a small team from the Soil CRC headed to Canberra to showcase our collaborative soil research at the Cooperative Research Australia Innovation Showcase.
PhD student profile – Cameron Copeland
Cameron discovered that he loved his degree so much that instead of pursing professional rugby league, he chose a PhD.
Why soil management practices are adopted
A recently completed Soil CRC project investigated why new tools and approaches for improving soil management are under-used by farmers, and how adoption can be improved.
Soil CRC contributes to drought research
A foundational Soil CRC project is contributing to important drought resilience research.
International Women’s Day and listening to female farmers
Across the Soil CRC, women lead and work on research teams, advocate, communicate, administer, facilitate and tirelessly work towards improving the health and productivity of Australia’s soils.
Soil CRC PhD graduate lands job with farmer group
In a serendipitous turn of events, CRC PhD graduate Md. Zahangir Hossain has just begun his role of Cropping Systems Officer at the West Midlands Group (WMG) in Western Australia.
Five minutes with a farmer group – Wheatbelt NRM
Wheatbelt NRM began life as the Avon Catchment Council, and have been operating in the wheatbelt region of southern Western Australia for around for 20 years.
Herbicide residues in soil
This project is investigating the potential for sampling and analysis of herbicide residue concentrations in soil to help inform decisions on which crops can be safely planted.
Soil fungi could help reduce climate change
From Cosmos magazine: It’s not enough anymore to simply cut back on CO2.
Sandy soils organic amendment trials
Six soil amendments have been added to sandy soils under four tillage systems.
New research project for soil carbon
The Soil CRC has a new research project trialling crop sequencing and modern farming technologies to sequester carbon in the soil.
Digging up Data to Unlock Production Potential
Large amounts of previously hidden soil data in the public and private sector are being unearthed, collated and made available to improve agricultural productivity across Australia and New Zealand, thanks to ‘Visualising Australasia’s Soils’ (VAS) — a foundation project of the Soil CRC.
Partnership to overcome soil constraints
A partnership between one of the world's leading silicon fertiliser companies, Agripower, and the Soil CRC was announced last week.
Parliamentary Friends of Soil celebrate World Soil Day
Parliamentarians, scientists, farmers and policy makers gathered ahead of World Soil Day at a Parliamentary Friends of Soil breakfast in Canberra.
Soil health – Why it matters
As we celebrate World Soil Day on December 5, let’s reflect on the importance of soil health to our economy, our environment and to our society.
Soil carbon sequestration: how will it work?
Soil carbon sequestration seems like a win for everyone.
Soil carbon needs technology
Much has been said about the Government’s objective of reducing the cost of soil carbon measurement, but less has been said about the options that farmers have for sequestering carbon in their farming systems and businesses.
Trials test soil microbes for resistance and resilience
This project uses the response of soil microorganisms as a new way of measuring resistance and resilience to environmental stresses.
Five minutes with a farmer group –Holbrook Landcare Network
Holbrook Landcare Network caters for mixed farming and livestock enterprises. They began 32 years ago.
Soil CRC researchers chosen as finalists
Two Soil CRC researchers have been selected as finalists in the Cooperative Research Centres Association’s Early Career Researcher competition.
Cover cropping trials to improve soil moisture
Soil CRC PhD student, Hanlu Zhang from the University of Southern Queensland is running a trial to find out how cover cropping affects soil moisture and yield.
Project Update: Evaluating alternative rhizobial carriers
Several promising rhizobial carrier materials have been developed in the project so far.
Profile: Professor Megh Mallavarapu
Professor Megh Mallavarapu’s passion lies with the incredible microbiology of the soil.
Partner Profile: SAGIT
SAGIT is a major partner in the Soil CRC. They are a charitable trust, and unlike our other major partners, do not provide research capability to the CRC, but they do contribute cash.
First Soil CRC PhD thesis submission!
We are very excited to announce that Soil CRC PhD student Xiangyu Liu from Griffith University is the first of our PhD cohort to submit his thesis!
Soil science critical to food production in a climate challenged future
From Australian University Science magazine: Australian farming is backed by a century of soil science critical to our capability to support food…
Farmers consulted in investment round
Planning for the next round of Soil CRC research investment has begun.
Five minutes with a farmer group – SPAA
SPAA is Australia’s leading independent precision agriculture research, development, and extension organisation.
Building soil knowledge in grower groups
This project has successfully increased the soil knowledge and technical capacity in grower groups, Landcare groups and NRM organisations.
New expertise joins the Soil CRC
The Soil CRC will increase its soil research capacity with two distinguished scientists joining one of its partner universities.
Five minutes with a farmer group – Facey Group
Facey Group aims to bring the community together to explore new farming methods and systems to improve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of their region.
Investing in the future of soil research
An important feature of all CRCs is building capacity for the future, and the Soil CRC is no different.
Project Update: Regenerative Farming Systems
This Soil CRC project aims to test a suitable research approach to quantifying the effectiveness of regenerative farming systems for improving soil performance.
Discovering soil like a mystery novel
Sepide Abbasi is a Soil CRC PhD student studying at the University of Newcastle.
Soil scientists gather from around the country
For those who live and breathe soil research, the 2021 Joint Conference of Soil Science Australia and the New Zealand Society of Soil Science was the place to be.
Supporting women in STEM
Two Soil CRC researchers, Dr Yanju Liu and Dr Penny Cooke, have successfully completed the veski inspiring women STEM sidebyside program.
AORA Conference 2021 – Recycling organics for better soil health
The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) held their annual conference in the Hunter Valley in June.
Survey helps build resilience for farmers in Central West NSW
Check your mailbox! That’s the message to more than 2000 landholders across Central West NSW.
How soil research renaissance will have on-farm impacts
From FarmOnline: SOIL science is in the midst of a research renaissance.
New soil research aims to increase agricultural productivity
The Soil CRC announces 12 new research projects with total investment of $7m.
Soil Strategy a boost for soil health
The National Soil Strategy is a rallying call for all Australians with an interest in the management of one of our greatest resources – our soil.
Project Update: Application of liquid biosolids
Using nutrient-rich organic waste materials could be a viable option to mitigate the rising costs of fertilisers.
Partner Profile: Agriculture Victoria
Agriculture Victoria work in partnership with farmers, industry and communities to grow and secure agriculture in Victoria.
Project Update: New sensors to measure soil nutrients
This project is developing novel technology to directly measure soil chemical status, soil hydraulic characteristics and water retention influencing nutrient movement in a cost-effective way.
Policy makers discuss soil organic carbon on Earth Day
Policy advisers and decision makers involved in climate change and soil-related policy heard about soil organic carbon.
Five minutes with a farmer group – FarmLink
FarmLink is a member-led farming systems group, based at the Temora southern NSW.
CRC Alumnus – Dr Michael Crawford
Dr Crawford’s story starts in 1994 as a PhD student at the CRC for Soil and Land Management, one of the very original CRCs.
Soil CRC announces Penelope Wensley as new Patron
The Soil CRC has announced the Honourable Penelope Wensley AC as its new Patron.
Students learn from experience
The Soil CRC PhD student cohort participated in a workshop where they learned about communicating their research and gained some valuable career insights from some of our most experienced researchers.
Cover crops trials continue
Take a look at the update from the summer crop trial site at Wagga Wagga for the Soil CRC Project Plant based solutions to improve soil performance.
2021 Participants Meeting a success
Participants enjoyed the sharing of ideas and research, the discussions and the connections they made.
PhD Student Profile: Xiangyu Liu
Xiangyu loves that his research with the Soil CRC isn't all based in a lab.
Biochar: an ancient waste-to-value product
From AU Manufacturing: A miracle all-in-one soil improver, waste disposer and planet saviour, or a biomassive waste of time?
Five minutes with a farmer group: Birchip Cropping Group
BCG is one of the largest farming systems groups in Australia.
Serious research making a practical difference
It’s the combination of agriculture, science and making a practical difference that inspires Soil CRC research scientist, Dr Richard Bell.
CANCELLED – 2021 Participants Conference
The 2021 Soil CRC Participants Conference has been cancelled (again!).
Soil carbon: what role can it play in reducing Australia’s emissions?
From The Guardian Australia, featuring Soil CEO, Dr Michael Crawford.
Farmers look to carbon capture to tackle emissions
Dr Michael Crawford, CEO of the Soil CRC says more research and data are needed for farmers to make the best possible decisions on carbon storage.
Soil CRC celebrates women in science
Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science and we are here to celebrate!
Partner Profile: PIRSA
As a partner in the Soil CRC, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) values the depth of shared experience and knowledge that comes from the partnership and collaboration across universities, grower groups and industry.
Vale General Jeffery
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery in December last year.
General Jeffery honoured in Soil Health Award
The General Jeffery Soil Health award recognises the efforts of the people who are caring for our land and honours the work of Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, the late Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery
Soil CRC hosts inaugural meeting of Parliamentary Friends of Soil
The Parliamentary Friends of Soil breakfast, held in Canberra yesterday, brought together farmers, scientists, industry representatives and politicians to celebrate World Soil Day.
Politicians, farmers, scientists, and industry celebrate World Soil Day
People with a passion for soil health converged in Canberra this week for the first meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of Soil.
Almost a marine biologist
Professor Chengrong Chen of Griffith University is well known to many Soil CRC participants as a soil biogeochemist. However, he could well have followed a different path.
5 minutes with a farmer group: Herbert Cane Productivity Services
Herbert Cane Productivity Services is servicing the sugarcane growing region around Herbert River in far north Queensland.
Project Update: New amendments for sandy soils
A Soil CRC project team led by Prof. Richard Bell at Murdoch University hypothesise that the solution is to permanently raise the reactive surface area of a sandy soil with added clay or recalcitrant organic matter, or both, to help address the lack of supply of resources.
Biochar improves soil properties
The application of biochar, the charcoal produced from the slow pyrolysis of a biomass, has been found to improve soil properties in several ways.
Soil carbon – if it is cheaper to measure, will it increase faster?
Reducing soil carbon measurement costs and saying it will increase soil carbon sequestration is like saying “get a better stopwatch and you will run faster”.
Partner Profile: NSW Department of Primary Industries
As a major partner in the Soil CRC, NSW DPI value the collaborations that occur between universities, grower groups and industry.
PhD student profile: Jaye Hill
Jaye Hill is a Soil CRC PhD student studying at the University of Southern Queensland and working on the PhD project Proximal soil sensing to measure and map soil nutrients.
The impact of age on farmer behaviours
The Surveying Farm Practices team has been digging deeper into the results of their survey in north central Victoria to examine what difference age makes to farm management decisions.
From weeds to WANTFA
Growing up in Perth, David's exposure to rural life was limited to visiting a friend’s farm, but as an adult he has found himself immersed in agriculture and food production.
GRDC co-invests in Soil CRC calcareous soils project
The Soil CRC has announced a $4 million project with co-investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to investigate innovative solutions for low crop performance on highly calcareous soils.
Project Update: Smelling soil
Farmers often intuitively assess soil by smell. There's evidence that the fingerprint of gases emitted from soil can identify the composition and activity of the microbial community which relates to soil health.
Parliamentary Friends of Soil group announced
A Parliamentary Friends of Soil group has been established, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Michael McCormack, with the Hon Linda Burney MP acting as co-chair.
Five with a farmer group – AIR EP
In May this year, the Lower Eyre Agricultural Development Association (LEADA) and the Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation (EPARF) officially amalgamated to form AIR EP.
Partner Profile: Southern Cross University
The team of Soil CRC researchers from Southern Cross University work in the School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Southern Cross Plant Science and the Centre for Organics Research.
Profile: Mark Morrison – Environmental Economist
Unlike many of the researchers who work for the Soil CRC, Professor Mark Morrison’s academic life didn’t begin with soil.
Soil CRC Patron steps down
The inaugural Patron of the Soil CRC, Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery will step down from his role as Patron, effective immediately.
Central West Farming Systems’ Diana Fear selected for NFF Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program
CEO of Central West Farming Systems is one of 12 women to be selected for the NFF Leadership program.
Five with a farmer group – MacKillop Farm Management Group
MFMG operates in the south east of South Australia where they have high rainfall zones and winter dominant rainfall.
Project Update: New products for subsoil constraints
The project team has made significant progress in developing new organic-based gypsum and lime products.
Seeing the bigger picture: From fungi to regenerative agriculture
It took Dr Gwen Grelet a little while before she discovered her passion for ecology and how various types of living creatures are interconnected (including humans!).
Partner Profile: The University of Newcastle
As the host organisation for the Soil CRC, the University of Newcastle is well positioned to provide research expertise and resources that give farmers the knowledge and tools they need to make decisions about complex soil management issues.
Future proofing our soils
New research from the Soil CRC is showing how we can naturally care for the fragile soils of Australia, the mainstay for our food, biodiversity and water future.
Soil CRC announces eight new research projects
Another eight research projects, totally $3.5 million in funding have been announced by the Soil CRC.
Why do farmers adopt soil management practices?
Working with farmer groups from across Australia, this project is finding some interesting factors that influence why some farmers adopt soil management practices.
Conference Webinars
We cancelled our Participants Conference for 2020, but we hosted a series of five amazing webinars.
Soil data portal goes live
Farmers across Australia and New Zealand can now see soil data from both public and private sources through a new internet portal.
Soil Tech a major focus at EvokeAG
Many speakers highlighted the opportunities in better managing our soil for productive and sustainable outcomes.
What drives farmers to choose their farming method?
Understanding what management decisions farmers make, and why, is vital.
Participants Conference Webinars
As is the way for so many at the moment, in lieu of holding our Soil CRC Conference, we are having a series of five webinars.
Smelling soil – developing an eNose to monitor soil biology
We're developing an eNose that will help smell the soil to determine the health of the soil.
Profile: Dr Craig Lobsey
Craig is a mechatronic engineer putting his skills to use in proximal soil sensing. He's leading the Soil CRC project "Novel sensor technology to measure and map nutrients".
Project Update: Building Technical Capacity
This project will build soil knowledge and technical skills of thirty grower and NRM groups from around the country.
Partner Profile: University of Southern Queensland
It's a diverse team from USQ who work with the Soil CRC, they are mostly based in the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems.
Five with a farmer group – Southern Farming Systems
Operating in the high rainfall zone of Victoria, Southern Farming Systems is a farmer driven organisation.
It’s World Soil Day!
Hot on the heels of World Toilet Day and Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, it's easy to be cynical about another Day to celebrate.
Project Update: Plant based solutions to improve soil performance
Having a diverse farming system provides multiple benefits, including resilience, weed and disease suppression and improved soil health. However, in Australia, crop diversity is often limited.
Profile: Lukas Van Zwieten
You know that cliche about finding a job you love and never working a day again? Well, that’s just what Lukas Van Zwieten has managed to do.
Partner Profile: Charles Sturt University
For the past 30 years, Charles Sturt University has been producing professionals for rural regions from across multiple campuses.
Profile: University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania (UTAS) has campuses across Tasmania, with one in Hobart in the south, Launceston in the north and Burnie in the north-west, as well as two campuses in Sydney.
Five with a farmer group – Hart Field Site Group
The Soil CRC’s Communications Manager caught up for a five-minute chat with Sarah Noack, Research and Extension Manager at Hart Field Site Group.
Profile: Dr Francisco Ascui
Life has come full circle for Dr Francisco Ascui, an expert in environmental accounting and finance. He grew up on a small farm in northern Tasmania, studied at the University of Tasmania and after a long stint working and studying in the UK, he has recently returned to the University of Tasmania to work as an Adjunct Associate Professor based at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA).
Project Update: Recovering nutrients from organic waste streams
This project aims to develop innovative fertiliser products derived from wastewater from various sources such as poultry and pig manure, dairy farm wastes, sewage and industrial effluents.
Profile: Federation University Australia
Federation University Australia is home to the Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) who contributor a strong team of researchers to the Soil CRC.
Project Update: Surveying farm practices
At the workshop at North Central CMA Project: Surveying on farm practices Project Leader: Dr Hanabeth Luke – Southern Cross University Program:…
Profile: Dr Richard Doyle
It is hard to have a conversation with Richard Doyle that doesn't somehow end up leading to soil. That's why he was the perfect choice for Program Leader at the Soil CRC.
Five with a farmer group – Burdekin Productivity Services
Burdekin Productivity Services is a not-for-profit grower and miller owned organisation in far north Queensland. We caught up with Rob Milla, Manager, for a five minute chat.
Soil CRC Patron reappointed as National Soils Advocate
Patron of the Soil CRC, Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery was reappointed as National Soils Advocate by Prime Minister, Scott Morrison…
Prime Minister praises Soil CRC
The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, today praised the efforts of the Soil CRC at the Bush Summit in Dubbo.
NSW EPA joins the Soil CRC
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has joined the Soil CRC as a Partner.
Five minutes with a farmer group: West Midlands Group
The Soil CRC caught up with a very busy Nathan Craig – the Executive Officer from West Midlands Group for a five minute chat.
Profile: Murdoch University
The Sandy soils project team at the Soil CRC conference Located in Perth, Murdoch University is the only Soil CRC University partner…
Profile: Professor Nanthi Bolan
For Professor Nanthi Bolan, Program Leader of Program 3, agriculture is in his blood. It has been his life.
Project Update: Visualising Australasia’s Soils
The Visualising Australasia's Soils project has hit the ground running, holding a workshop that brought together farmer groups and researchers for some valuable conversations about soil data and the online portal the project will produce.
Injecting new life into biosolids
A trial soil injection of biosolids in liquid form to improve soil productivity was showcased at a field day hosted by South East Water.
Soil CRC hosts inaugural conference
Over 100 delegates from around the country came together last week in Newcastle, for the inaugural Soil CRC participants conference.
$5.6 million funding for new soil research
The Soil CRC has announced another 15 new research projects, bringing the number of current Soil CRC projects to 24.
Profile – Catherine Allan
Catherine Allan is an Associate Professor in Environment, Sociology and Planning at Charles Sturt University and is the Program Leader for Program 1 – Investing in high performance soils at the Soil CRC.
Participant Profile – Griffith University
Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Queensland, is one of Australia’s leading research universities and is a Major Partner in the Soil CRC.
Five minutes with a farmer group
The Soil CRC spent five minutes with Diana Fear, Acting CEO of Central West Farming Systems (CWFS).
Soil CRC Participants Conference 2019
The Soil CRC will be holding its Participants Conference in Newcastle on 2-4 April 2019. Registrations are open for all staff and members of the 39 Soil CRC participant organisations.
Media Release: On World Soil Day, Newcastle leads the way
Newcastle is making a major contribution to Australia’s soil research efforts, with two soil-related Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) headquartered at the University of Newcastle.
How is healthy soil measured?
Which soil indicators would be most practical to improve the profitability for Australian farmers?
Nine new projects announced by Soil CRC
Nine new projects have just been announced by the Soil CRC in Major Investment Round One.