Sustainable Soils, Grazing – Enhancing Natural Capital

We were fortunate to learn from Joel Williams of Integrated Soils, who walked us through the three essential pillars of soil health: physical, chemical, and biological. The key takeaway? Biology drives the other two. All three pillars only function optimally when they work in unison. Microbes and minerals must collaborate to create resilient, productive soils, and biodiversity plays a vital role in this process. By increasing plant diversity above the ground, we also enhance microbial diversity below. Joel’s approach to teaching is both straightforward and impactful, connecting scientific principles with real-world applications. A key focus was the importance of root exudates, as they supply carbon to the soil and support microbial life.

Grant Sims from Down Under Covers reinforced this message with his insightful talk on planting for biodiversity. If we didn’t all leave the field day inspired to plant sunflowers, turnips, and multispecies blends, we must have missed something! These plants help generate biomass both above and below ground, feeding soil microbes and increasing organic matter. Grant’s passion shone through as he shared stories from his own farm, and it was heartwarming to see his presentation slides filled with pictures of his kids—a beautiful reminder of the bigger picture of why we do this work.

Hamish Webb from Precision Pastures outlined soil carbon projects and did an excellent job of breaking down the process. He explained the costs, key principles, and actionable steps for getting started. Even more interesting was that Hamish shared his own personal carbon project on his farm, providing a tangible example of the possibilities.

Despite the heat, the paddock walks were filled with hands-on learning experiences. We split into two groups, and literally dug into the soil to explore its structure. Guided by Courtney Young of Soils for Life, and Joel Williams, we learned how to assess soil quality by observing key factors like aggregation, porosity, and compaction. We also covered simple, at-home soil tests, such as slaking and dispersion tests, which help evaluate soil stability and water infiltration.

The second paddock demonstration was led by Tom Lawson, Grant Sims, and Stuart Austin. Tom shared the journey of Paringa and how biodiversity corridors became a key strategy. By working with the land and improving soil health, we’ve directly influenced livestock health and productivity. Grant then showed us the diverse plant mix from Down Under Covers planted at Paringa, and seeing it firsthand reinforced the critical role plant diversity plays in driving soil health and enhancing overall farm resilience.

We enjoyed locally sourced beef steaks from Greenhams expertly cooked by Yea Rotary Group.

After lunch, we heard from Dom Walker of RCS, who gave a heartfelt and engaging talk on sustainable grazing management principles. His message about the importance of support and accountability resonated widely —it’s clear that we can accomplish more when we work together and hold each other accountable to our goals. Building ecological capital is a team effort.

To wrap up the presentations, Imogen Semler from Farming for the Future shared valuable insights on how On-Farm natural capital directly benefits farm business performance. She presented the latest data and explored what motivates landholders to invest in natural capital, showing the tangible link between ecological health and farm profitability.

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The day concluded with a farmer panel session with Jo Bear, Olivia Lawson, and David Allen leading an insightful conversation about the benefits of good land stewardship. A key theme that emerged throughout the day was the concept of natural capital—viewing investments in soil, biodiversity, and ecosystem health as critical farm assets. These discussions emphasized how we can build healthier farming systems by understanding and nurturing the resources we already have, rather than relying solely on external inputs.

Huge shout-out to our MC, Stuart Austin from Audacious Ag, whose energy and enthusiasm kept us engaged and reflective throughout the day. His passion for agriculture made the event even more meaningful, reminding us that each of us can make small but impactful decisions to benefit the wider agricultural industry.

This year’s Field Day was designed to be about more than learning  — it also brought together a community of farmers, students, and soil advocates to share knowledge and experiences in the many aspects of natural capital. We thoroughly enjoyed hosting the incredible line up of high calibre speakers and farmers, and are left truly inspired with future possibilities for our agricultural communities.

This event was made possible thanks to sponsors: Goulburn Broken CMA, Yea River Landcare Group, Meat & Livestock Australia, Munash Organics, Greenhams, Commonwealth Bank, and Sea-Agri Minerals. Shout out also to Risk Pass.

Photography: Stock Vision Media (Abbey Webb Promotions)