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Capes farmers boost soil tests

Catherine MasseyBusselton Dunsborough Times
Geocatch’s Bree Brown with Robert McFerran and Adam Acosta.
Camera IconGeocatch’s Bree Brown with Robert McFerran and Adam Acosta.

An increase in soil testing this summer has seen Capes farmers flourish in sustainability and productivity as they fight to reduce their fertiliser use.

For the past decade, GeoCatch has carried out various soil testing programs in an attempt to better educate farmers on how to manage their farm land, and now its efforts have started to pay off.

The 2020-21 program was the first time GeoCatch had individually completed soil testing. Chair Felicity Bradshaw said it was a critical part of sustainable farm management.

“Better management of soil helps to both save money on fertiliser and reduce nutrients entering rivers and Geographe Bay,” Ms Bradshaw said.

“It’s an exciting venture for us to be able to expand the soil-testing program and offer these services to as many Geographe farmers as possible.”

More than 200 paddocks across the Geographe Bay Catchment were tested in the program, which saw local farmers greatly increase their productivity and profitability.

More information on future soil testing programs is available by emailing geocatch@dwer.wa.gov.au.

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