Capes farmers aid waterways with soil testing

Farmers in the Capes have bolstered the region’s waterways in recent years thanks to soil testing and improved fertiliser management alongside a local environmental consultant. GeoCatch has worked with more than 200 farmers over the past 10 years to boost fertiliser knowledge and its effects on the catchment, now stopping about five tonnes of phosphorus from entering the Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands and Geographe Bay every year. GeoCatch chair Felicity Bradshaw said it was important to recognise positive steps being taken to improve the area’s waterways following unfortunate reports of algal blooms and fish kills in both systems in recent weeks. “(We) are working hard with our farmers, community, and industry groups to reduce nutrients entering our waterways and wetlands,” she said. Several programs to help farmers improve their environmental outputs in the catchment are being undertaken with more than 40 per cent of grazing land now being soil tested.