Why should I take part?

Soil judging, description and land capability assessment is the perfect way to demonstrate your practical agriculture skills to employers, connect with farmers in the field, and boost your mental health by getting outside. Land capability assessment is integral for determining what we can grow when new markets arise and with a changing climate.

This Tasmanian State Competition will serve two purposes:

1. Select a student team to compete at the 2025 National Soil Judging Competition, representing UTAS.

2. Build capacity in soil description and land capability assessment in Tasmania.

Who is it for?

This is open to -

UTAS undergraduate, Masters’ and HDRs who have a soils component in their studies.
Soil professionals or those wishing to brush up on soil description skills.

What does it involve?

Firstly, there will be a Tasmanian State Competition. To compete, you will need to attend one of two training sessions based at the University of Tasmania Farm in Hobart and participate in the individual competition.

Date

Event

Location

Wed 1st Oct 2025

12-4 pm Training session 1

Cambridge, Hobart

Sun 5th Oct 2025

8-11 am Training session 2

11 am Morning tea provided

12:30-4 pm State Competition

Cambridge, Hobart

What will it cost me?
State competition and training - free for students and SSA members,
$115 for soil professionals.

Register by Thursday 2 October.

National Competition to be held in Armidale on 25 - 29 November, 2025
The top performing students from the State Competition in October will be offered a place on the UTAS Lutruwita Loam Rangers Team. The state student team will be flown to Sydney and bus to Armidale to train and compete with other NZ, Pacific, and Australian Universities. We aim to take 1 team of four students.

If selected to compete in the National competition and training the cost will be $115 per student. Selected team members will receive competition bursary (approx. $1000 pp) to cover food accommodation and flights.
Working Professional registration is $145.