Posted: 22 November 2005
Soil expert to pass knowledge on to Northlanders
Farmers and other landowners with an interest in getting the best from their land are being urged to attend one of two free mid-North workshops on maximising soil efficiency.
Agricultural consultant and author Graham Shepherd of Palmerston North will speak at the Northland Regional Council-organised workshops in the Lake Omapere area on Friday 9 December.
Mr Shepherd – who was a soil research scientist for 27 years - is recognised as a New Zealand authority on the dynamics of soil organic carbon and the physical quality of soils under pastoral and cropping systems.
He has also authored a booklet on Visual Soil Assessment (VSA) and the two workshops he is presenting will focus on how to use this system, the science behind it and its potential uses.
Kate Banbury, a Land Management Officer with the Northland Regional Council, says Visual Soil Assessments are quick and reliable, yet require little equipment, training or technical skills.
“They allow you to assess soil quality and health easily and cheaply. This is because many physical, biological - and to a lesser degree chemical - soil properties show up as visual characteristics. Changes in land use or land management can markedly alter these.”
Ms Banbury says Mr Shepherd will also give an on-farm demonstration of Visual Soil Assessment in action.
She says two workshops are planned – with numbers limited to 40 at each event on a first-come, first-served basis. The first workshop will run from 9am-11.30am and look at gumland soils, while the second from 1pm-3.30pm will focus on volcanic soils.
People interested in attending, or who wish to know more, should contact Kate Banbury no later than Monday 5 December to book a place. She can be reached at the Northland Regional Council on freephone (0800) 002 004 or via email: kateb@nrc.govt.nz
Spaces are limited and full venue details will be given upon registration.