At Wheatbelt NRM Inc. we have searched for data that can help us monitor the status of soil organic carbon (SOC). At the top level we can directly monitor the carbon stocks in surface soil layers. Behind that, we can monitor the adoption of farm management practices that encourage increases in SOC.

The table shows the area as a proportion (%) of total holdings by region of farm businesses where different management practices were undertaken. The businesses include all agriculture i.e. broad acre and intensive animal and horticultural enterprises. Management practices presented are those that are considered important in determining the amount of organic carbon present in agricultural soils (GRDC, 2014).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Land Management Practices Survey (LaMPS) 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Disclaimers: The Australian Agricultural Environment (AAE) regions called “Mediterranean west” (AAE15) and “Wheatbelt west” (AAE16) cover the entire cleared portion of the Wheatbelt NRM region but also encompass a much broader area outside the region. *Data recorded from 2013-2015 are reported as an average of the two regions while the latest data are based on NRM regional boundaries.