Earlier this month, Level 2 Agricultural Science students went on a field trip to Glenelg, a dairy farm near Balfour, run by the Breen family. While on farm they looked at ways in which the farm was mitigating any potential environmental impacts from dairy farming, such as correctly setting up their winter grazing, using an effective effluent treatment system, and setting wide grass riparians around all waterways. They also collected and analysed water samples from the pond (to get a zero point reference), and then again from a nearby stream to compare. They looked at nitrates, phosphates (these two nutrients being the leading cause of eutrophication) and clarity (how clean the water is).
Then they moved on to a sample paddock to carry out a VSA (visual soil analysis) test and calculate soil health on farm. It was a great opportunity for the students, and they collected some fantastic data to use in their written reports. Special thanks go to the Breen family for hosting us.
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