FutureAg 2025: Trevor Caithness Champions Topsoil Innovation in Gippsland
Trevor Caithness, Nuffield Scholar and seasoned Gippsland farmer with over 40 years of experience, delivered a compelling presentation at FutureAg 2025, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Representing the Gippsland Agricultural Group (GAgG), Trevor highlighted the transformative potential of the Growing More Topsoils project, a farmer-led initiative aimed at regenerating soil health across Central and East Gippsland.
With over 400 members, GAgG is committed to empowering producers with practical knowledge to improve soil capacity, moisture retention, and nutrient availability. Trevor emphasised that topsoil - often overlooked, is a valuable resource that is critical to sustaining agricultural productivity and human life.
The Gippsland region faces a significant challenge: shallow topsoils, typically around 100mm deep, limit water absorption and nutrient retention, reducing crop resilience and profitability. Heavy rainfall often fails to penetrate the clay layers beneath, resulting in wasted water and stressed plants.
The Growing More Topsoils project, funded through the South East Drought Node (Food & Fibre Gippsland and the Future Drought Fund), aims to deepen topsoil to 150–180mm. Using deep ripping and strategic amendments—gypsum, poultry manure, lime, and trace elements, the project at the Bengworden Research farm has invested $1,200 to $1,800 per hectare to create a more effective “soil sponge.”
Collaborating with Federation University, local consultants, and farmer groups, the initiative has shown promising results: improved root penetration, enhanced moisture retention, and increased productivity. Field days have drawn strong community interest, with 60–100 participants engaging in hands-on learning.
Trevor concluded with a strategic vision for scalable soil regeneration, climate adaptation, and intergenerational land stewardship—ensuring Gippsland’s farming future is resilient, productive, and sustainable.
