Soil extension needs: lessons learnt from Grain and Graze II in Northern NSW

Abstract

Working in a mixed farming development and extension programme we offered a space that allowed for nonlinear discussion of research findings and the potential for farmer experimentation/expressionism of acquired soil knowledge and its application. The ability to transform scientific knowledge to specific contexts is often highly dependent on willingness of farmers to co-operate, to take an idea on and place it into action. Our role was to mediate between accepted soil knowledge and local knowledge systems to improve the level of practice change for a more resilient farming system. We were also evaluating whether we met farmers' soil knowledge needs and preferences for knowledge interaction especially in terms of maintaining soil fertility. We analysed 12 field days (about on-farm research) and 2 forums with a total of 339 participants (57% farmers, 10% agribusiness, 10% researchers, 10% NRM, 9% other, 4% government) to examine what we had learnt about farmers' soil knowledge needs and ways of knowing.