The Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has opened Expressions of Interest for the second year of its Soils – New Horizons project, offering beef, dairy and sheep producers in high-rainfall zones access to subsidised soil testing, training, and fertiliser decision-support tools. Expressions of interest close at 11:59pm on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.
Eligibility & Geographic Coverage
The program targets pasture-based producers who receive more than 550 millimetres of annual rainfall. The eligible zone spans a broad footprint across three regions:
- South Coast
- South West
- Swan Coastal Plain
The geographic boundary runs north to Jurien Bay, inland to Darkan and Boyup Brook, and east of Esperance. Eligible enterprise types are beef, dairy, and sheep production.
What the Program Delivers
Participants receive a structured package of practical resources designed to reduce input costs and improve nutrient management outcomes:
- Subsidised soil testing
- Training in soil nutrient assessment and interpretation
- Tools to integrate soil testing into routine on-farm decision-making
- Access to evidence-based fertiliser recommendations
DPIRD senior research scientist Simon Clarendon stated that applying only the nutrients required can improve production, profitability, and reduce the risk of nutrient loss to the environment. For operators carrying significant fertiliser expenditure, the program offers a direct pathway to auditing and reducing that cost line with scientific backing rather than estimation.
Year-One Results & Research Activity
In the 2025 season, 63 producers participated across a corridor from Ellenbrook to Condingup. Participant feedback indicated practical value in receiving fertiliser recommendations that removed guesswork from nutrient management decisions.
Research activity in the current project year includes:
- Demonstration trials established at Gingin and Kentdale (near Denmark) investigating potassium and sulphur constraints to pasture, building on 2024–25 trials at DPIRD’s Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute
- Deep soil sampling to 30 centimetres across the Gingin-to-Esperance corridor to map the extent and severity of subsoil constraints, including subsoil acidity and aluminium toxicity
This deep-sampling work is directed at understanding how subsoil constraints limit root growth and reduce nutrient uptake in pasture systems — findings that will feed back into practical recommendations for participants.
Funding Structure
The Soils – New Horizons project is co-funded by the Western Australian Government and the Australian Government as part of a bilateral partnership, with additional funding contributed by the Healthy Estuaries WA program. The three-year project complements Healthy Estuaries WA’s waterway protection objectives, meaning the environmental compliance dimension of nutrient management is embedded in the program’s design.
How to Register
Producers within the eligible zone can register an Expression of Interest via two channels:
- Online: Visit the DPIRD webpage titled ‘Whole farm nutrient mapping for high rainfall pastures’
- Email: nutrientmapping@dpird.wa.gov.au
Media enquiries should be directed to Megan Broad at DPIRD on +61 8 9368 3937 or Megan.broad@dpird.wa.gov.au.
Expressions of interest close at 11:59pm on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.
The WAAA News Team
