You'll often hear how hard it is to manage soil health and one of the best ways to do this is to test and analyse the soil data regularly. Soil testing funding has become available for eligible farmers. 

However, testing comes at a cost. 

The Australian Government has announced the Pilot Soil Monitoring and Incentives Program, where eligible farmers and land managers are able to access benefits of up to $10,000 and assistance from Commonwealth funded soil extension officers.

The program will pay up to $10,000 towards the cost of testing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of your soil. 

This includes:The Australian Government has announced the Pilot Soil Monitoring and Incentives Program.

  • Bulk density
  • Texture
  • EC
  • pH
  • Total organic carbon
  • Available nitrogen (Nitrate and ammonium nitrogen)
  • Available phosphorus
  • Soil microbial biomass

Soil sampling and analysis must occur over four sites minimum on your property.

There is also the option to do additional soil sampling and testing that meets your specific needs, at your own cost.

The testing can be used to meet the participation requirements for the Emissions Reduction Fund. 

Testing can occur on multiple properties owned by a business; the funding is based on each business's ABN.

However, funding is maxed at $10,000 per ABN.

But is there a catch, given there is no such thing as free money?Firstly, the data gathered through the soil testing process will be shared with and stored by Australian National Soil Information Systems.

Firstly, the data gathered through the soil testing process will be shared with and stored by Australian National Soil Information Systems and aggregated soil information of your property will be publicly available.

You will retain the ownership of your soil information, and Commonwealth agencies will have the ability to apply for access to that information from the Australian National Soil Information System.

Secondly, as a participant in the scheme, you will have to use the approved service provider.

However, the government is currently opening tenders for more soil testing providers to join the scheme.

Although having this information stored by the Commonwealth may be a concern for farmers and land managers, it’s important to note that this scheme will allow a key process in farming to be undertaken at a significantly reduced cost, allowing the potential benefits to be accessed at a time of ever-rising costs.

Contact Us

Do you want more information about soil testing and your eligibility for the grants? Contact your local RSM office to assist you.