Participating in the program
- What is the program about?
Financial contributions are available in 2021-2023, to provide low-cost soil sampling and testing to farmers and land managers in exchange for sharing their soil information in the Australian National Soil Information System (ANSIS).
Sharing information about your soil will help to build a better understanding of the condition and health of Australia’s soil over time.
Only your aggregated soil information will be publicly available on ANSIS. No information about you or your property will be publicly available.
- What benefit can I get?
You can receive up to $10,000 towards the cost of soil sampling, testing, and sharing information on your soil in the ANSIS.
You will also benefit by receiving a report detailing your soil test results and expert advice from a soil extension officer to assist you to interpret your results and inform your land management.
- Who is eligible to participate?
The program is open to farmers and land managers who own or manage land.
To be eligible you must:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be registered for the purposes of GST
- be a permanent resident of Australia if applying as an individual
- have an account with an Australian financial institution, and
- be one of the following entity types:
- a company incorporated in Australia
- an individual or an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
- an incorporated association
- a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
- an individual
- be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
- non-government partnerships
- persons, or
- sole traders.
In addition, you must comply with the following participation requirements:
- agree to have soil sampling and analysis done by the service provider
- agree to sign the data sharing agreement required by the Commonwealth to share your soil information on the ANSIS
- agree to soil sampling and analysis for a minimum of four sites per business.
- How do I apply?
You can apply by contacting Southern Cross University via Pilot Soils Program - Southern Cross University (scu.edu.au).
Southern Cross University will work with you to discuss what you need to do to participate and arrange soil sampling and testing.
- How much will it cost?
The program provides a contribution towards your total sampling and testing costs. You will incur some out-of-pocket costs.
Out-of-pocket costs will vary for each business. For example, you may have larger out-of-pocket costs in situations where your property is very remote, or you are sampling at greater depth for an Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) project.
The service provider will supply you with detailed information about what your out-of-pocket costs will be.
Soil sampling and testing
- What testing can I have done?
The program will pay up to $10,000 towards the cost of testing of physical, chemical, and biological properties in your soil.
This includes bulk density, texture, EC, pH, total organic carbon, available nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium nitrogen), available phosphorus, and soil microbial biomass.
You may also choose to do additional soil sampling and testing that meet your specific needs. You will need to pay for additional testing that is not covered by the program.
- How do I choose which sites I want to sample?
It is important to take soil samples in locations where the information will be valuable for supporting your land management plan.
The soil sampling service provider will work with you to develop a sampling plan that includes the sites to be sampled.
- Is there a closing date?
The program closes on 30 June 2023.
- I have multiple properties. Can I get sampling and testing done for more than one property?
Yes. Your application is based on each business (ABN). Businesses can have more than one property.
- I have a large property. Can I get a larger contribution towards my sampling and testing costs?
The maximum contribution is $10,000 regardless of the size of your property.
- I want to get testing done to meet my ERF participation requirements. How does that work?
You can still receive up to $10,000 towards the soil sampling and testing needed for ERF participation.
You should let the service provider know you are interested in participating in the ERF when you contact them.
Additional information on how this works is available in the program ERF Factsheet.
- How was the sampling and testing design decided on?
The department engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to inform the sampling and testing design. This included farmers, land managers, agri-businesses, soil technicians, agronomists, research institutes, labs, soil science experts, rural research corporations, and state government representatives.
Data use and privacy
- What will my soil information be used for?
Your soil information will help to build a better understanding of the condition and health of Australia’s soil over time to assist in better targeted soil research, policy and programs.
The program data sharing agreement outlines how your soil information can and cannot be used.
Your soil information cannot be used to undertake any compliance or prosecution activities.
- Who will have access to my information?
The department will have access to information about you and your property. This information is managed in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles, and the data sharing agreement.
Only your aggregated soil information will be publicly available. Your actual georeferenced soil information will be stored on ANSIS ‘out of sight’ of the public. Certain organisations, like government or non-government organisations, are able to apply to access this georeferenced data for specific purposes, like research. Access to this level of data will be closely managed in line with data use agreements with those parties.
- Will my personal information be made public?
No. Personal information (such as your name and contact details) will not be uploaded to or linked to your soil information on ANSIS.
Your personal information is collected for the purpose of the department verifying your eligibility to participate in the program and administration.
- What are my rights to the soil information created from my soil sample?
You will retain ownership of your soil information.
The data sharing deed gives the Australian Government perpetual permission to access, store and use your soil information in accordance with the terms outlined in the data sharing deed.
Service Provider
- Can I use a different service provider?
Not at this stage. Any additional service providers will be listed here.
- How was the current service provider selected?
The department undertook a tender process in 2021 and engaged Southern Cross University to deliver the program. The department intends to issue another tender in mid-2022 to engage additional service providers to deliver the program in tranche two. Providers are encouraged to register with AusTender to be notified when the tender is released. This will provide farmers with a greater choice of service providers and testing laboratories.
More information
Email PilotSoilMonitoring@awe.gov.au
Web www.awe.gov.au/soils/soil-monitoring-and-incentives