VLPA Update (Issue 49)

PETER MCCLUSKEY from the Victorian Limestone Producers Association reports on several series of seminars and field days aimed at combating soil acidity through the use of lime.

SOIL acidification is now gaining increasing recognition as a national problem and attracting attention at Commonwealth Government level. The VLPA has for a number of years now made submissions to the Commonwealth “Caring for Country” Land & Water programs for assistance to deliver extension information and seminars on the need for lime to combat soil acidification in southern Australia.

The VLPA has had the support of Southern Farming Systems for several funding applications in the last couple of years and although not successful in obtaining our own funding, the VLPA can claim to have been part of the movement to recognize the deleterious effects on agricultural productivity caused by soil acidification.

Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Authority (GHCMA) recently obtained Commonwealth “Caring for Country” funding to run a series of workshops in western Victoria on acidification.

GHCMA has contracted Southern Farming Systems to organise the seminars which in turn has invited VLPA to provide input via specialist speakers. The VLPA has obtained the services of Dr Kevin Reed ex-DPI Hamilton and now of Reed Pasture Specialists to speak on pasture matters and the use of lime together with Scott Cameron of Westlake Fertilisers to speak on lime application in cropping.

In addition Tim Johnston of DPI Geelong is speaking on the general need to combat soil acidity. A field day was held at Lake Bolac in late February followed by seminars in March at Cavendish, Mininera and Beaufort with the final one on 25th March at Dunkeld. These events have been well attended and it is pleasing to see Commonwealth Government financial support directed towards this important problem for which lime provides a quick acting and natural solution.

Details of these and future events are available at Southern Farming Systems website (www.sfs.org.au) or email Michelle McClure at E: mmclure@sfs.org.au or ring Peter McCluskey on 0408496588.

Several further events are planned that will cover the use of lime to address acid soil issues, including:

• Evergraze group free seminar at Ararat on 23rd March, contact Rob Shea (Ph. 5352 1357), and
• Westvic Dairy group free seminar/field day near Warrnambool 23rd April, contact Geoff Lawes (Ph. 5592 2477).

VLPA members are most welcome to attend any of these events.

Further information is available from Peter McCluskey on 0408 496 588

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