🌾 A great day out for soils, farmers, and future farming 🌾​​​

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Late last year we held the first of our compost, biochar and soil-building field day, and we're pleased to say it exceeded expectations. 

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Despite it being a very busy time of year, 53 enthusiastic farmers and land managers made the effort to attendl What stood out most was the level of engagement - plenty of thoughtful questions, open discussion, and genuine interest in how regenerative and biological farming systems can work in real paddocks, not just on paper. 

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The day began with background on soil carbon, compost and biochar, and how these inputs fit into a broader, more holistic approach to soil health. From there, we stepped through our trial site, explaining what we are measuring, methods used and how the trial will progress over time. 

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A highlight was the live SoilKee demonstrations, where a summer multi-species mix was sown. Seeing the equipment in action helped bring the whole concept together - linking biology, structure, seed placement and practical implementation in one pass. The response from the group was overwhelmingly positive, with many keen to explore how similar approaches could work in their own systems. 

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At its core, the conversation throughout the day kept coming back to one idea: When soil and the environment are the winners, profitability follows. It was encouraging to see so many people thinking long-term and asking how to build resilient, productive soils rather than chasing short-term fixes. 

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Speakers on the day

We were fortunate to have a strong line-up of speakers who shared both knowledge and practical experience: 

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• Edel Stonner - Limestone Coast Landscape Board

• Phil Giles - Mulbarton Compost

• Craig Altmann - AGF Seeds

• Ben Glass - SoilKee 

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Each speaker added a different layer to the discussion, from landscape-scale thinking through to seed seed selection and machinery in the paddock. We're already looking forward to the next field day, when we'll be able to show visible results as the trial develops and the systems mature. 

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While we're not releasing full data just yet, the information shared on the day will be made available. Keep checking here for updates on the data over the three years of the trial. 

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🌱 About the project

Mulbarton Compost, in partnership with the Limestone Coast Landscape Board and through the 2025–26 Limestone Coast Climate-Smart Landscape Grants, will host over three years, Field Day's exploring the power of compost and biochar in improving soil productivity. This trial project demonstrates how targeted soil amendments — such as compost and biochar — combined with multi-species plantings and controlled grazing, can boost soil carbon, improve nutrient and water retention, and strengthen overall soil health.

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🌾 What You’ll See on Field Days 

Experience the trial firsthand across 10 adjacent plots, where a multispecies blend has been sown following a terminal cereal crop. Each plot features varying applications of custom compost and biochar blends — and we’ll be showcasing the SoilKee Renovator, a cutting-edge tool for soil key technique.

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This hands-on project gives local farmers and land managers the chance to:

• Observe real-world results on soil health, carbon levels, and crop performance.

• Learn from scientific soil testing data and on-ground results.

• See how regenerative practices can be applied on land just like yours.

 

By bringing the community together, this initiative aims to share practical insights, encourage collaboration, and inspire the next generation of climate-smart farming across the Limestone Coast.

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Next Field Day Details

Time: TBA
Date: TBA
Location: Mulbarton Compost, 414 Giles Road, Padthaway

BBQ Breakfast provided

Come along, connect with other local farmers, and see how small changes today can grow into big results for tomorrow’s soils.

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This Soil Enhancement for Grazing Project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered for the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel by PC & JL Giles Trading as Mulbarton.