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 2026 National Soil Judging Competition, representing University of Tasmania.

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 participate in the individual competition. In the South training will be at the University of Tasmania Farm in Hobart and in the North training will be at Hagley Farm School Agricultural Learning Centre.

Date

Event

Location

Thur 1 Oct 2026

9am -1 pm Training session 1

Cambridge, Hobart

Sun 4th Oct 2026

9-12 pm Training session 2

11 am Morning tea provided

1:30-4 pm State Competition

Hagley, Launceston

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

Register by Thursday 1 October.

National Competition to be held in Perth on 28 - 31 Oct, 2026
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 Perth to train and compete with other NZ, Pacific, and Australian Universities. We aim to take 1 team of four students.

For more information on the National competition in Perth WA - https://www.soilscienceaustralia.org.au/news/soil-judging/

Contact the host of Tasmanian Soil Judging Competition 2026