The Gippsland Soil School is a new, region-wide farmer education initiative co-led by Gippsland Agricultural Group (GAgG) and the East Gippsland Catchement Management Authority. The school is designed to break down the silos between different soil management approaches – drawing on the best of conventional, regenerative, precision, and biological soil management systems to equipe our farmer to manage soil better in their unique farming and soil systems

This program integrates knowledge across soil chemistry, biology, and physical structure – along with a little bit of human psychology – to help farmers make better decisions. By increasing confidence and capability, participants will learn how to spend their annual amendment and fertiliser budgets more wisely, unlocking stronger plant growth and better returns.

Soil is the most expensive input on most farms – and often the least understood. The Soil School provides a space where farmers can explore, learn, and apply integrated approaches to improve soil health and performance across diverse landscapes and enterprises.

Program Structure

The Gippsland Soil School is delivered in 8 modules across 4 x 2-day training blocks over 12 months. The program includes practical, paddock-based learning, interactive workshops, and expert guest speakers. Each module builds on the last, taking farmers from foundational knowledge to advanced decision-making frameworks.

It is a practical education series designed to build soil literacy, farm resilience, and productivity by helping land managers understand and manage the physical, chemical, and biological foundations of soil.

Topics include:

1. Soils 101 – Geology, Soil Types, Maps & Classification

Understand where your soil comes from, how it's formed, and how its type affects water infiltration, drainage, and storage. This module sets the stage for all soil decisions by linking geology and regional classification with soil capacity.

• Soil texture and particle sizes (sand, silt, clay)
• Soil structure, aggregation, and porosity
• Water infiltration, retention, and drainage
• Compaction and how it affects root growth and biology

2. Soils 101 – Physics & Chemistry Foundations

Explore the essential physical and chemical properties that influence soil performance and plant health. Learn how nutrient dynamics and soil structure interact and why they matter for productivity.

• Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil pH
• Major and trace nutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg)
• Nutrient availability, lock-up, and soil buffering
• How chemistry impacts plant uptake and overall soil function

3. Soil Biology 101 – Soil Life & Nutrient Cycling

Meet the living organisms that drive fertility. Discover the soil food web, how organic matter feeds biology, and how biological activity builds soil structure and resilience.

• Bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoa and their roles
• Nutrient cycling and the soil food web
• Role of organic matter in feeding microbes
• How biology supports structure, plant health, and soil repair

4. Soil & Plant Tissue Test Interpretation

Learn to decode your test results. This session builds confidence in interpreting both soil and tissue tests, enabling better decisions around nutrients and soil inputs.

• Key indicators to watch for in tests
• Understanding ratios, levels, and deficiencies
• Matching test results with paddock observations
• Making cost-effective input decisions

5. Inputs – Granular, Foliar, Compost, Manures & Biofertilisers

Compare different input types and explore how timing, method, and biological support affect outcomes.

• Overview of input categories and functions
• When and how to apply for maximum benefit
• Compatibility with soil types and biology
• Building a system around the right inputs

6. Livestock, Grazing, Plant Diversity & Biofertilisers

Explore how grazing animals and diverse plants contribute to soil health. Understand the synergy between biology, pasture management, and biofertilisers.

• Benefits of plant diversity on soil function
• Managed grazing and animal impact strategies
• Role of livestock in nutrient cycling
• Integrating biofertilisers into the system

7. Soil Carbon – Science vs Hype, Fact & Fiction

Cut through the buzz around soil carbon. Understand the real science, what’s achievable on-farm, and how carbon connects to markets and productivity.

• What builds soil carbon – and what doesn’t
• Soil types and carbon storage potential
• Co-benefits: water retention, structure, biology
• Carbon markets and emerging policy trends

8. Measuring What Matters – Linking Soil Health with Financials & Wellbeing

Move beyond yield as the only metric. Learn how to track the real value of soil health improvements—economically, personally, and ecologically.

• Indicators of soil health and how to measure them
• Linking soil gains to farm profitability
• Mental load, satisfaction, and wellbeing outcomes
• Building a system that sustains people and land

The Gippsland Soils School is funded by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.