An Ecklin South dairy farm is being used for a series of soil trials, which will test what types of applications are best for improving soil health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Keeping Carbon on the Farm is testing a suite of activities dairy farmers, and other primary producers, can undertake to reduce their emissions and better prepare for climate change.
The pilot at the Doolan family farm will include revegetation, carbon-sequestering soil amelioration trials and energy reduction strategies.
Sam Doolan said the trials would test which applications best improve soil health and increase carbon content.
"We will run the cows as usual and won't fence off any of the plots so we get a true indication of the success," Mr Doolan said.
"One of the goals is to cut back fertiliser use for cost savings and better environmental results."
The trials are being driven by a project committee led by Heytesbury District Landcare Network and funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, through the Virtual Centre for Climate Change Innovation program.
An energy audit has been completed at the farm and will be repeated in mid-2020 to compare improvements and three soil tests will be conducted to check carbon levels and microbial activity.
A total of 5000 trees will be planted to create new shelter belts and future plans could also include solar panels and an energy monitoring system.
An initial energy audit found 12 different meters being used around the farm.
"We've gone through the report and are about to implement changes to reduce our energy use, we hope to transform our farming practices and save money on energy," Mr Doolan said.
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