Lock Rogers - Thalgarrah
Introducing Lock
Lock resides in Thalgarrah, located just 24 minutes north of Armidale. He manages two farms, a 300-hectare property in Thalgarrah and a 1500-hectare property out in the hills. The Thalgarrah farm is primarily focused on cattle production, with peak growth periods occurring during autumn and spring.
In 2021, Lock started a carbon project at his Thalgarrah property. The projects methodology centres around the use of non-synthetic fertilisers to address deficiencies and build soil carbon. Lock applied Carbon Boost using a plane, at a rate of 12 litres per hectare.
Six months following the application, Lock conducted a microbiometer test, which revealed a microbial biomass reading of 834µg C/g soil and a fungi-to-microbe ratio of 1:1, the ideal conditions for generating complex carbons. Increased root growth and changes to the soil structure were also evident in areas that has been sprayed.
Notably, despite the previous owners applying lime the year before, the soil pH remained around an acidic 5 at the time of Carbon Boost application. However, six months post-application, soil pH levels had risen to a neutral 7.
Biomass of 834µg C/g, fungi-to-microbe ratio of 1:1
A change in soil pH from 5 to 7
"Two Utes, two tractors and an Excavator"
The application of Carbon Boost on Lock's property has led to marked improvements in soil structure and drainage, and reduced water logging after periods of high rainfall.
Lock was renewing a boundary with a neighbour. His neighbours hadn’t been grazing their land, and it was always covered in long grass. It had been a high rainfall winter and Locks side of the fence was located downhill from his neighbours. Once the fence had been pulled down, they decided to drive on Lock's sides side where the grass was 3-4 inches high, rather than 3-4 feet. Lock spent the next two weeks driving a number of quad bikes, Utes and tractors up and down the paddock to work on the fence.
On the last day they sent a Ute over to the other side to run out some netting. The Ute got bogged. Then the tractor they sent to pull out the Ute got bogged, then another tractor. End result was two bogged Utes, two bogged tractors and one excavator which they needed to pull them all out.
The only difference between Lock and his neighbour. Carbon Boost.
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