Regenerative agriculture is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to farming or land management. It is principles and practices that enhance and restore strong, healthy ecosystems (like soils). Together, these have benefits for the farmer in terms of productivity and profitability, but also have long-term ecological benefits and support a healthy agricultural landscape.
Regenerative agriculture techniques include:
Regenerative agriculture benefits include:
We asked our case study farmers some of the most common questions about regenerative agriculture. For more information, follow the link to their case study that gives an in depth explanation about the change on their property.
Yes! Low input agriculture is profitable if the land owner manages for a healthy regenerative farm that functions as an ecosystem. This is achieved with a large diversity of over 50 species of perennial and annual plants so that the pastures function like grassland. When a farm is managed as a grassland soil health improves. Soil structure improves, micro organisms increase in numbers and diversity, organic carbon increases and nutrients begin to cycle. This increases water holding capacity, reduces or eliminates the need for fertiliser, fungicides and insecticides.
The farm can be very productive without expensive inputs. – Colin Seis, Winona
By spraying with cellulose feeding fungi brewed on farm from innoculum of cellulose digesting fungi together with food for them. Grazing with sheep assists.
– Brian Wilson, Briandra
Trees on the high recharge areas were predominantly established by exploiting the conditions associated with the contrasting conditions of El Ñino and La Ñina cycles. During El Ñino periods stock were restricted to high recharge ridge-top areas and hand fed to protect the pastures on the lower more productive flats. With return to La Ñina conditions stock were moved to the quick recovering flats allowing germination of seed from the few remaining ageing eucalypts on the ridges to establish en masse in the absence of competition. With drought-reduced stock numbers these areas were left un-grazed for many months ensuring prolific establishment.
– John Ive, Talaheni
By identifying the high recharge areas (predominantly rocky ridge tops with low production potential) and then encouraging revegetation of these areas. Once water tables showed a persistent downward trend, high-yielding vigorous perennial pastures were established on the reclaimed flats. The combination of trees on the ridge tops and deep rooting perennial pastures on the flats work together to ensure landscape-scale water balance- greatly reducing risk of deep drainage the primary cause of dry land salinity.
– John Ive, Talaheni
Newly introduced stock are first put into a “training paddock” for 24 hours after which they are 90% savvy to electricity. Longer term it is nutrition more than the fence that keeps them in the “right” paddock!
– Shane Joyce, Dukes Plain
The stock come out of their own choice as they associate our presence with fresh grass/feed. Stock become so trusting of us that they will follow us on the quad bikes through many paddocks to reach the new destination (paddock, yard).
– Shane Joyce, Dukes Plain
The average of our Colwell P expressed in mg/kg in the years 2001-2006 when we were applying Single Super and using MAP/DAP on Rye and Oat crops was 31. In 2008 the year we started our current regime the average Colwell P across 8 sites was 34.5. In April 2012 the reading had risen to 40 across 11 sites. P is not our limiting factor.
– Greg Chappell, Shannon Vale Station
Not much. You need to learn as you go and be prepared to change, to adopt new ideas and technology as they become available.
– Tim Wright, Lana
Costing comparisons aren’t all that easy due to the five year time lag, it is five years since we were following the high input regime. Suffice it to say that we are saving in the order of 30% of the high input regime program. This saving has been re-invested into further sub-division and water troughs to help with the rotational grazing.
– Greg Chappell, Shannon Vale Station
Marked improvement in soil structure and texture, leading to improved infiltration rates and plant available water. Also increased availability of nutrients.
– Brian Wilson, Briandra
There has been a lack of readily available knowledge and information on applying holistic management to a property. Practitioners must be prepared to challenge ideas make, to mistakes and to learn from them.
– Tim Wright, Lana
A mix of humates in the form of ignite, magnetic basalt, soft rock phosphate and inoculated with a 4/20 microbe brew. To this is added a prescription mix of minerals determined by soil test results.
– Brian Wilson, Briandra
Timings may vary from region to region, but in our region we broadcast seed in Autumn and early Spring our best results have been from the early Spring applications. We’d suggest however that the single most important factor for success is timeliness of rainfall events, including follow-up. A good layer of mulch (surface cover) appears to be essential, this mulch provides seed/moisture contact and provides protection from temperature variation.
– Greg Chappell, Shannon Vale Station
All of them have their uses. As soil health improves and there are higher levels of organic matter in the grazing pastures, provided there is a well diversified native/naturalised pasture and sufficient rest, then all grasses will improve in productivity. The greater the mixture of grasses the better the landscape and the stock will perform. There will always be times when a grass is unpalatable, but at that time others will be available.
– Craig Carter, Tallawang
It was a matter of terms of trade. We could not remain profitable and environmentally secure in what we were doing. We had no choice but to introduce radical change.
– Tim Wright, Lana
Re-fencing has been undertaken over about 20 year period where the once regular checkerboard fencing layout has been progressively replaced by a layout that takes into account landscape elements (slope, aspect, landform etc) and where possible conforming to sub-catchment boundaries- consequently there are no-longer any traditional rectangular paddocks, rather resource defined irregular paddocks . As a result nine rectangular paddocks have given away to 48 irregular paddocks. In addition paddock size is smallest on the most productive flats and largest on the least productive ridge top areas. Consequently all paddocks have approximately the capacity to carry the same number of stock grazing the same number of days (around 70 days) over the year.
– John Ive, Talaheni
This is a popular, however incorrect assumption. We have actually experienced a level of production which matches the production of the past, while having a reduced cost of production.
– Shane Joyce, Dukes Plain
