Nutrient use efficiency and managing soil acidity will be the target of the project awarded to Dairy Australia under the $325,000 funding provided by the federal government’s Caring for our Country scheme.

A national two-year project will see about 130 dairy farmers and 50 service providers developing guidelines on nutrient management. The guidelines will be showcased on at least 30 dairy farms nationally. 

Dairy Australia’s Natural Resource Management Program Manager, Cathy Phelps, said there are three parts to the project.

“The first step is to develop national nutrient management guidelines in partnership with farmers, advisors, fertiliser sellers and technical experts. 

“The guidelines will then be piloted in at least three dairy regions to ensure they meet the needs of farmers and farm advisors.  

“The third component involves on-farm demonstration of best practice nutrient management.”

Outputs from the project will be made available through a web-based dairy nutrient management toolkit.

Phelps said the industry had long sought a set of national guidelines for nutrient management and how to integrate them into farmers’ decision making. 

“We need industry-endorsed national guidelines giving clear, consistent messages about best-practice soil and nutrient management.”