Australian native grasses can be beautiful and productive. As they are well adjusted to Australian soils and climate they make a hardy addition to both revegetation projects and forage systems.

Wheatbelt NRM are excited to announce an upcoming opportunity for mixed farmers. “Forage for Nature” is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. See our website for details. Expressions of interest will be open in January 2025 so stay tuned for the cue to apply.

New saltbush carbon metrics could be a gamechanger for saline land restoration and carbon accounting in Australia.

The Soil CRC has shared preliminary insights from our partnership on a project to identify soil microbial indicators of soil health in the Wheatbelt. Early analysis of 2022 soil samples show a promising link between nematode populations and land management. Final results will be presented at our Talkin’ Soil Health symposium in York on 13th March 2025, where we hope to determine if farmers can use nematodes as a measure of soil health.

The pilot ‘Wheatbelt land-use paradigms – navigating new industries in the low carbon and natural capital era’ is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture program under the Natural Heritage Trust.

What qualities make a person a Soil Health Champion?  This edition revisits SHC of the past, Rob Hetherington (2022) and Kane Page (2020).

Wheatbelt NRM recently attended a webinar on the potential arrival of HPAI H5N1 in Australia. With Oceania being the last unaffected region, experts warn that this virus could reach us as soon as this spring, posing severe risks to wildlife and poultry.