Upcoming SoilCare Events 

ALERT!  Change of venue.  The Biocontrol Strategies seminar venue has been changed from SCU Lismore to NSW DPI Wollongbar - see below.
Biocontrol strategies: Eco-smart tools and systems for integrated pest & disease management.
Seminar:  Tuesday, 1 July, 2025 ~ NSW Department of Agriculture (DPIRD), 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar 2477
​Bookings on Humanitix ~ $30.00 + GST  (includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea)
SoilCare proudly presents a distinguished lineup of researchers, presenters, and hands-on practitioners who will address current and future challenges related to pests and diseases. We invite you to join us to meet these experts and empower yourself to meet future challenges head-on, including those brought on by a changing climate. Be part of the innovative solutions and promote sustainable practices that will benefit our environment for generations to come! Your involvement is key to creating a resilient future. 
9.00 to 9.25 AM  Morning Tea
9.25 to 9.30 AM ~ Welcome
9.30 to 10.00 AM ~ Tools for farming in a changed climate
My Climate View with Dr Stephen Snow, CSIRO and  Dr Yuwan Malakar, CSIRO
10.00 AM to 12.00 PM ~ Beneficial microbes for healthy crops.  
Dr Dean Metcalf,  Biocontrol Australia PL
General introduction & interactions to the microbes in the soil (fungi, bacteria, nematodes, protozoa).  ~  Plant diseases – how they infect  ~  How beneficial microbes inhibit diseases.  ~  Phytophthora, what is it?  ~ Trichoderma & enriched composts.
12.00 to 1.00 PM  Lunch
1.00 PM to 1.30 PM    Overview of ‘Pest READI’ with  Dr Hazel Parry, CSIRO and Dr Tracey Steinrucken, CSIRO
1.30 to 1.50 PM  Biocontrol of insect pests with Jake Byrne,  BioResources
1.50 to 2.00 PM  Incorporating Indigenous cultural values in pest suppressive landscapes.
Tommy Dick  Jagun Alliance 
2.00 to 2.30 PM.   Potential flowering plants for Conservation Biological Control (CBC) in subtropical Rubus.
Dr Saleh Adnan, Research Horticulturist Entomology, NSW DPI
2.30 to 3.00 PM ~ Afternoon tea
3.00 PM to 3.30 PM ~ Why biocontrol?  Painting the picture of retaining the status quo.
Dr Kirsten Ellis,  Southern Cross University
3.30 to 4.45 PM  Sustainable pest control for macadamia industry
Dr Bishwo Mailali, Macquarie University 
​Dr Tania Yonow and Prof Darren Kriticos,  Cervantes Agritech
A 5-year project to establish a decision-support system to facilitate timely & effective pest management decisions for growers.
5.00 to 6.00PM ~  Optional Gin Tasting  (additional $7.00+GST to cover the cost of nibbles)
Experience the craftsmanship of the Metcalf Distillery at our gin tasting session. Dean has embarked on an exciting journey, opening a distillery in Tasmania since his last visit to the Northern Rivers. His passion for distilling shines through in every product, and he will share the story behind his craft, the challenges he's faced, and the artistry involved in creating exceptional gin, liqueurs and even whiskey.  Metcalf Distillery.   Participants must be over 18 years of age to taste gin.
Thank you to the sponsors and supporters of this seminar:
Past SoilCare Events

 Dr Judi Earl ~ November 19, 2024, Southern Cross University, Lismore 
​Manage Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function and Climate Resilience
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After advising and training hundreds of graziers and land managers, Judi decided it was time to put the principles into practice. The purchase of ‘Glen Orton’ - 'the GO' – (pictured above) near Coolatai, NSW in 2011 provided the perfect opportunity to showcase the capacity.
Workshops with pasture ecologist, grazier, and SoilCare member, Dr Judi Earl.  Judi will share insights into managing for soil health and ecosystem function on grazing lands. Through her extensive experience in land planning and holistic management, Judi can guide you towards unleashing the full potential of your land and enterprise. The key to climate resilience lies in healthy soils and thriving ecosystems within a thoughtfully designed-for-purpose property.
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Workshop flyer
Thank you to the host sponsors for the
​Dr Judi Earl workshops:
Thank you to the support organisations for the Dr Judi Earl workshops:

Videos from our 2023 workshop,  'Measuring & monitoring soil microbiology & soil health'.

Soil biological processes can deliver a myriad of benefits to agroecosystems including suppression of plant diseases, provision of critical plant nutrients and optimal soil structure. The complexity of soil microbial ecosystems makes the management of soil biology challenging.  To be able to understand something and effectively manage it we must be able to measure it.
'To Understand It, You Need To Measure It:
Approaches for Measuring Soil Biology'.
Dr Neil Wilson,  Metagen Australia
 'Key Measures for Biological Crop Nutrition'
Dave Forrest,  Organic Forrest Farms
'Soil Chemical Analysis for Biological Farming Systems'
Graham Lancaster ​, Environmental Analysis Lab, SCU
'Using Data to Manage Soil Health'
Alan Coates, Coates Agriculture​
Thank you to our workshop partners.

Our Recent Conference


​Australian Biological Farming Conference and Expo 2022 
Post Conference virtual delegate registration now available.
Watch the entire conference from the comfort of your home.
'THE ANSWER IS SOIL.  WHAT'S THE QUESTION?'
~  From opening to closing  ~​
2022 Australian Biological Farming Conference 
speaker presentation videos now available.

Details on the Conference Website
post conference virtual delegate registration for conference videos
27 Conference Videos AUD 300.00 + GST
5 Pre-conference workshop videos AUD 120.00 + GST
5 Pre-conference Videos and
27 Conference Videos AUD 420.00 + GST
​
Go to the conference website for video and speaker details.

Integrated Pest Management & Cover Crops 
The second IPM/Cover Crop Field Day in the series of three was attended by farmers interested in planting cover crops and providing beneficial insect habitat.
Ross Arnett shared his insightful observations on numerous trials running on his farm.  Thanks also to Richard Llewellyn, BioResources, and Dave Forrest, Organic Forrest, for contributing their knowledge and expertise. 
​BioResources provides insectary reared biological controls  specialising in Trichogramma and Anastatus wasps.
Farm Walk with Geoff Bugden
Thank you to Geoff and Debbie Bugden for hosting this farm walk on their pecan farm. Geoff shares his many years of observations and on-farm trials.  With help from Dave Forrest, Geoff explains to visitors how he developed his farm management practices. 
In this video watch Geoff explain how he manages ground covers, integrated pest management, soil health, and his brews of bio- fertilisers and bio-teas. 
Farm Walk videos produced by Mia Forrest.

Quick links

Northern Rivers Soil Health Cards

Soil Health Card Videos

Australian Biological Farming Conference 2018 Videos