Australia: Lifting expectations and production with lime

Intensifying production to reach a farm’s potential in light of rising land prices is triggering a rethink on the use of lime to address soil acidity for Riverina beef producer and agronomist Sandy Middleton. Sandy and Felicity Middleton and their two young children farm at Mannus near Tumbarumba, NSW, running a self-replacing spring calving beef herd, and are part of a Meat & Livestock Australia Healthy Soils discussion group run by the Holbrook Landcare Network. “The biggest challenge with soil acidity is that is it a silent issue. It’s out of sight and out of mind,” Sandy said. “People will often look at a newly established phalaris pasture which is struggling but not piece together the puzzle when it comes to pH. “Soil is our biggest asset in farming - we need to invest in lime to manage pH because all the species we are growing in our soils are acid sensitive species: phalaris/sub-clover based perennial pastures with a bit of ryegrass. “The Mannus region’s average rainfall is ...