Byron Bay local landholders are halfway through a two-year project designed to help them improve the quality of their soil and protect the Shire’s waterways.

This project was funded under the Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative (NRWI), which received $5 million from the NSW government for works in the Richmond, Evans, Brunswick and Tweed catchments to improve river health and deliver environmental, social and economic benefits.

As part of the project, local landholders have been monitoring their soil for the last eight months through an app called SoilMentor. They recently attended a workshop to discuss the monitoring data and to hear from soil specialists about techniques to improve soil quality. 

Mark Duncan, Council’s Agriculture Extension Officer, said that there were some valuable insights shared at the workshop.

“One of the things landholders have been doing is counting earthworms to track soil health,” said Mr Duncan.

“With regular testing and good record keeping, changes in soil function can be identified and actions taken to improve soil health and plant productivity. Earthworm numbers are a simple way to measure if the actions being taken to improve soil health are effective. 

“Landholders also learnt about some valuable techniques that can help improve soil quality. One example that we discussed for graziers was planting and encouraging a diverse mix of plant species that increase below and above ground biodiversity, improve soil structure, increase soil carbon and water holding capacity. Deep-rooted perennial species such as Plantain and Chicory are particularly useful for improving water infiltration.

“There was also discussion of how trees can be integrated into our farms to help restore the soils’ ability to store carbon, nutrients and water,” he said.

Ryan Severn, Manager of Farm Development and Sustainability at The Farm Byron Bay, is one of the program participants and said that he was enjoying being part of the program and part of the soil health movement.

“Our thanks to Byron Shire Council for leading the Slow the Flow program, which incorporates Soil Mentor. It’s an excellent initiative that strengthens our collective capacity to enhance soil health and water management across the region. 

We’re proud to be part of this movement and to continue driving the pursuit of healthier soils alongside such a committed and capable network of local farmers,” said Mr Severn.

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the project is an important step towards improving agricultural outcomes for the region.

“The Northern Rivers is a prime farming region and good soil health underpins the success of many of our local industries and communities,” Minister Moriarty said.

“This project will help landholders build more productivity and resilience into their land, and I’m excited to see the outcomes of the project.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said projects like this contribute to the long-term prosperity of the Northern Rivers.

“This project is about giving landholders practical tips and tools to improve soil health, protect waterways, and build capacity in the agricultural industry for the future,” Minister Saffin said.

"Investing in soil health is investing in our environment, our economy, and our way of life. This initiative will help farmers adapt to changing conditions while safeguarding the natural assets that make the Northern Rivers such a special place."

The project will continue for another year. The next part of the project will include landholders creating a soil improvement action plan. Outcomes of the project will be shared with other landholders and farmers in the region to demonstrate the importance of soil health and show how regenerative soil management can help ‘Slow the Flow’.

If local landholders or farmers are interested in this project or want to be part of other programs like this, they are encouraged to join the Byron Farmers Network or contact Council staff. More information about the project and contact information can be found on Council’s website.