Hooves to horizons - Soil genesis, hydrology and the carbon sponge

From Hooves to Horizons explores how soil biology, water cycles, and hands‑on testing can empower land managers to build healthier, more resilient, climate‑ready landscapes.

Event details:

Join Central Tablelands Local Land Services for an immersive and interactive day with internationally recognised soil microbiologist Walter Jehne and systems thinker Ben Fox. Together, they’ll unpack the underground systems that sustain plant growth, influence water cycles and support long-term farm productivity.

Hear from the experts:

• Walter Jehne brings decades of research from CSIRO, the UN, and Australia's National Soil Advocate to reveal how mycorrhizal fungi, glomalin, and soil microbes drive plant health, nutrient cycling, and even rainfall. His work connects the microscopic to the planetary - from root ecology to cloud formation.

• Ben Fox is an ecosystems engineer who combines technical know-how with creative thinking to design projects that connect people and regenerate natural resources - bringing together design engineering, ecological management, and scalable engagement to grow ideas into real-world outcomes on the ground.

What you’ll learn and do

• Discover how soil microbes and fungi support plant growth.

• Understand the link between healthy soils, water cycles and climate resilience.

• Learn simple, practical ways to assess and improve soil function.

• Explore how soil health underpins long-term farm productivity.

• Get hands-on with DIY soil testing at your table, including:

  • slaking tests

  • ribbon tests

  • pH testing

  • other practical tools you can use at home.

Whether you're a farmer, grazier, or land manager, this is a rare opportunity to learn from the best and leave with tools you can apply straight away.

Healthy, biologically active soils underpin productive landscapes and resilient farming systems. In a climate of increasing variability, maintaining and restoring soil function is one of the most practical long-term investments you can make in your property and community.

Additional details:

• A soil sample (0–10 cm depth) in a sandwich bag

• Please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather
  
  

Contact: Liz Davis, Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator on 0427 452 662 or via email at:liz.davis@lls.nsw.gov.au

This event is supported by the Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator who is supported by the Australian government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered alongside Central Tablelands Local Land Services

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