What does it take to be a Soil Health Champion?

In 2022 Rob Hetherington from Lake Camm was chosen as the Wheatbelt NRM’s regional Soil Health Champion.  Rob is a broadacre cropping farmer on 3000ha, out past Lake Grace.  He was nominated because of his personal vision for healthy soils, sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.  He willingly shares his learnings with others, whilst demonstrating an enthusiasm for trying new things. 

You only have to have a chat with Rob to hear that he passionately shares information on his knowledge of the science of soil health.  He voraciously seeks information on soil systems and their functioning, and willingly shares this knowledge with anyone who cares to listen.  He uses low levels of traditional fertiliser inputs, while extensively applying biological plant stimulants.  To improve soil fungi levels, he uses mixed species cropping techniques.  Earthworms, an indicator species for healthy soils, are abundant across Rob’s property. Further soil health practices include use of zero tillage predominantly, plus minimal use of pesticides.

In 2020, Kane Page was the winner of the soil health accolade.  He operates a mixed farming property out of Brookton.  He is passionate about improving the property which he took over from a relative.  It was quite run-down, suffering from salinity and non-wetting, highly compacted soils but through applying various techniques such as mixed perennial pastures and saltbush plantings, he is returning the land back to productivity.  His son states that, “He is always digging holes with a shovel to see what is going on under the soil surface to improve his understanding”.   On another area of the farm, Kane applied deep ripping prior to sowing winter species mix consisting of tillage radish, clover, vetch, cereal rye, oats, black mustard and peas, with different root structures, to help increase soil aeration, break down the compaction and improve water infiltration.  This was followed up with a summer mix of sunflower, millet, sorghum, pillar forage rape and chicory.

Kane is always willing to try new techniques to improve the soil and spends many hours working towards this goal.  Kane is a fourth generation farmer and has inspired his son and daughter to continue farming for their future.

Soil Health Champions is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.

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Published eNews #395, October 2024