Wheatbelt Integrity Group - More people farming less land

Excerpts

“During October, the Wheatbelt Integrity Group (WIG) held their annual farming field day in Newdegate, where approximately 30 attendees gathered to learn about regenerative agriculture and see it in practice at Hollands Track Farm.”

“Joel has an international reputation for providing lectures, workshops and consultation on soil management, plant nutrition and integrated approaches to sustainable food production.”

“This article is not going to go into detail about these tests and how to interpret them. Rather, I will use the results from tens of thousands of these tests over the breath and depth of North America to show what the vast majority of our agronomic soils are missing. This includes both cropland and pastureland.”

“Improving the health of your soil is essential to improving your output, but how can you tell if you are making Progress?”

“Guest speaker Peter Norwood nutritionist and agronomist”

“The Hetheringtons use a variety of biological stimulants and nutrients in-furrow at sowing and as a foliar during growing, along with various amounts of dissolved urea.”

“The diverse mix of 15 sites on the study tour will bring participants up to date with current challenges and issues, strategies and solutions being explored and stimulate high-level holistic thinking.”

“Keynote speaker, agronomist Ken Bailey, will explore biological agronomy...”

“Tickets are now available for our Talkin’ Soil Health Conference on 11 August in York.”

“Important Announcement: Talkin’ Soil Health is back in 2022”

“We are planning our next trip to Tanzania late in September.”

“COBWA will be holding a zoom session to update members on our activities and to collect feedback on a recent opportunity to develop a Research, Development, Extension and Adoption (RDE&A) plan through the Grower Group Alliance.”

“South West Catchments Council is calling on our community to get behind farmers affected by bushfires that ravaged the region this month.”

“This year’s must-see event for soil, business and farmer health.”

“The inter-cropping project monitored the affect of a crimson clover/oat inter-row cover crop on microbial biomass, soil carbon and insect diversity.”

“Make no mistake about it, the fake meats currently on the market are mostly highly processed food products bearing little or no resemblance to a real, whole food.”

“Thousands of feral goats were eradicated in two years, something the Pollocks had been trying to achieve for more than 20 years.”

“We cannot ‘certify’ regenerative practices because these practices are about continuous improvement and knowledge and therefore prescribing what is ‘in’ and what is ‘out’ goes against the basic principles of inclusiveness and continuous transformative learning and evolving with our landscapes.”

“Southern Cross University has been announced as playing a crucial partnership role in three new Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs.”

“This is a two-day event taking a deep dive into diversity with Dr Christine Jones.”

“A not to be missed experience, GGA’s 18th Annual Forum on 22/23 July 2021 is where today's ag leaders will connect with tomorrow's.”

“Promoting practical solutions for regenerative agriculture”

“The message was clear: beware the influence of corporations with massive profit incentives.”

“A historic wool property owned by Rupert Murdoch has signed a $500,000 deal to sell carbon credits to Microsoft Corporation.”

“A location for our future Regenerative Health Institute—a place where farmers, soil scientists, medical professionals and consumers will come together for a common goal: regaining our health and vitality through food.”

“Answers to your most pressing questions about the organic label.”

“The mass of plant roots stores carbon, improving fertility, aeration and water-holding capacity, and allowing the soil to support multiple plants.”

“Deep in the Amazon rainforest, where communities cook on fires and live under palm-frond ceilings, lessons from semi-arid Albury are helping make life a little easier.”

“There are animals as well as vegetables, fruit and nuts – chickens free range, bees occupy hives by the dam, geese control the orchard and goats provide milk for cheese and yogurt.”

“Olvia Garnett speaks with WA Farmer Mary Nenke about the national Farming Champions network she has set up to put agriculture back on the political agenda.”

“A new ABARES report today confirms agriculture has been one of the Australian economy’s standout performers in recent decades.”

“In developing ‘Pasture Cropping’ Colin Seis found a way to work his pastures, crops and sheep together and healed his land.”

“Di and Ian Haggerty of Prospect Pastoral farm approx. 30,000Ha in the Western Australian wheatbelt. They have developed a system of their own regenerative farming practices which they they call Natural Intelligence Farming.”

““By applying fertilizers, we’ve stopped the activity of the soil biology,” says Nichols. “The plants have stopped signaling their needs, and the biology can’t do their job. Since they can’t work, they don’t eat, and they don’t reproduce. Over time, the populations of soil microorganisms have declined.””

“WIG Field Day 2020 Guest Speaker Dr. Maarten Stapper (BioLogic AgFood) via teleconference.”

“Partner with us in achieving our 2025 goals - wakening people to the possibilities of regeneration.”

“Let's contrast these metaphors with those of Indigenous people. They speak instead of “fire knowledge holders” and “becoming part of country.””

“This event will include what has worked and the challenges Stuart has experienced to get his system to where it is now, where he brings the physical, chemical and biological health of his soils together.”

“Due to health concerns surrounding COVID-19, this year’s field day will be held virtually.”

“All told, by focusing on rangeland and soil health, since 2016 Freeland has been able to cut his expenses by about $120,000 a year.”

“Soil CRC Webinar Series 2020 - Opportunities for activating consumer markets for good soil stewardship”

“Far less attention has been paid to agriculture’s capacity to be a climate solution. How? Through the production and maintenance of healthy living soil.”

“We’re still getting crops four years out of five reliably under these more resilient systems, compared to two years out of five under the conventional systems.”

“The common themes were that soil is a critical asset to farming, delivering key services such as nutrient cycling, soil structure and contaminant degradation that underpin agriculture. Some basic steps to protect the resource are essential, such as maintaining groundcover to limit erosion of topsoil, nutrients and soil carbon.”

“At the Talkin’ Soil Health conference in early March Buntine farmer Stuart McAlpine shared how he has been searching for the ‘Sweet Spot’ where the chemical, physical and biological processes intersect.”

“The podcast format allows growers to absorb this information at their leisure. You can listen in the ute or the tractor, or it may even become a bedtime story (if you can handle that much stimulation before sleep!).”

“Farmers are businesspeople. That’s partly why they are still here. When you can show that regenerative farming really works, not from just a lifestyle angle but also from a financial aspect, then you start to gain more attention.”

“The theme for the 2020 Food for Thought Festival is Courageous Leadership: Enabling systems change through regenerative food and agricultural systems.”

“Nick Kelly is an early adopter of a range of regenerative practices and is a long term collaborator with Wheatbelt NRM. Currently, he is one of our farmers demonstrating how to maximise ground cover to reduce the summer feed gap and improve soil health.”

“Principles and practices of Holistic Management were introduced to the Wright’s properties, including establishing smaller paddocks and rotational grazing of their sheep and cattle.”

“The road has been closed — I think this is the first time the road's being used, and we've got 22 trucks on it.”

“The weirs' ability to stay full and fresh may seem like magic in the middle of a drought, but Mr Royds says it all comes down to natural sequence farming and regenerative agriculture.”

“...putting an end to tilling the soil is often just the beginning of a whole range of practices that include growing cover crops, managed grazing, and diversification, i.e., literally increasing the number of cash crops in their rotations.”

“Conventional farming practices that degrade soil health undermine humanity’s ability to continue feeding everyone over the long run.”

““Our farm now, or large parts of it, are generally green all summer and it has changed the environment - definitely,” Mr Kelly said.”

“An appreciative group of 60 people enjoyed the WIG Field Day at Hollands Track Farm, Newdegate.”

“Inspired by Charles Massy's best-selling book "Call of the Reed Warbler"...”

“What we are discovering is that living in these traditional farming environments means living in a place that is extremely rich in microbes...”

“WIG Field Day, Q & A panel on Regenerative Agriculture”

“Wheatbelt farmers including the Haggerty family in Wyalkatchem, the Kelly family in Newdegate and the McAlpine’s in Dalwallinu are recognised internationally as leaders in this field.”

“Carbon is the currency for most transactions within and between living things. Nowhere is this more evident than in the soil.”

“Regenerative agriculture will be a slow evolution that will eventually become an avalanche.”

“Inspired by American growers like Dwayne Beck and more recently Rick Bieber, Nick is adhering to the principles of zero tillage, soil carbon, growing plants all year round and maximising diversity.”

“Regenerative agriculture case study.”

“More recent research has demonstrated that omega-3s play a crucial role in the prevention of atherosclerosis, heart attack, depression, cancer and arthritis, Daley says.”

“How can we maximise our ability to recover when eventually rains return, when the waters and winds recede, or the fire has passed?”

“Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used weed killer. Some claim it is completely harmless, others say it is a serious health hazard for man and animals.”

“Kangaroos have the ability to get through normal fences, so can turn up in mass after storms and consume new growth, sometimes the lot if pastures are very low.”

“Industrial-Sized Cow Farts”

“Going against the grain has paid off for these beef producers and even encouraged other conventional farmers to change course.”

“A Tamworth teacher has developed the first curriculum in Australia that explores regenerative agricultural principles and practices.”

“Particular farming methods are decreasing the natural soil organic matter, including carbon and nitrogen, according to CSIRO research scientist Therese McBeath.”

“The world’s first verified regenerative sourcing solution for meat, dairy, wool & leather.”

“The UN has warned that soils around the world are heading for exhaustion and depletion, with an estimated 60 harvests left before they are too barren to feed the planet.”

“An eye opening and practical course for improving our soil and grass health and profitability”

“Highlight speakers include Adam Rendell, Nick Kelly, Ed Riggall and Phil Barret Lennard and Curtin University’s Sarita Bennett.”

“What to me is really concerning is this. When this test, done in the United States, looking at the number of chemicals in placental blood, in other words, what is crossing the placenta into the developing fetus, and in the US they found up at 232 chemicals, but most babies are getting hundreds.”

“No-Dig is about leaving soil undisturbed so that all the soil organisms, all that abundant life, can do their work without having their homes broken into.”

“From a desert to a paradise”

“Presentation followed by afternoon paddock walk.”

“Are you passionate about the livestock industry in the Wheatbelt?”

“The five essential pillars that support Axten’s farm are keeping the soil covered at all times, eliminating soil disturbance, having live roots in the soil for as long as possible, high plant-species diversity and incorporating livestock.”

“By area standards, Brown’s Ranch is not that big. But what is astonishing is how much more this dryland farm is able to produce than comparable operations — both for market and deep within the soil.”

“Colin Seis - The benefits of Pasture Cropping are way beyond the short-term crop yields.”

“Colin Seis - Research data from the USA has shown that a mix of annual species sown as a crop is better than monocultures for improving soil carbon, soil biology, and soil structure as well as providing improved forage quality for grazing livestock.”

“Tell politicians to fix the banks for good.”

“Join us for another inspiring and informative national event!”

“How can you shift from this weed control and killing focus to an integrated weed management approach that promotes life in the farming system instead?”

“Science says if there is good wholefood going into your gut – fruit, veg, meats and whole grains, your gut will have a much better system of microbiomes and digestion.”

“Why healthy people need healthy food from healthy people.”

“While some farmers are struggling with the drought, others are seeing their profits increase.”

“He was motivated in this research by his understanding of prairies and the soils beneath them as living systems.”

““As your soils heal and go back to a more natural state,” he says, most successful farmers are able to “wean themselves off” chemicals.”

“Every percentage of soil organic matter in the top 6 inches of soil holds an extra 27,000 gallons of water per acre. As I build quality soil organic matter, everything returns to a homeostasis state and is more resilient to stress.”

“Beef that came from cattle properly managed across grassland is a completely different product from conventionally produced beef.”

“Regenerative agriculture is not only about developing agricultural methods that will encourage more farmers to adopt practices that will restore their tired, worn-out farms, but will restore the planets ecosystems and repair its depleted soil.”

“Results are increased profit margins, plummeting frost damage, increased soil aggregation, and earthworms returning to the system.”

“WIG committee members have been busy talking with farmers who have left or are in the process of leaving the industry.”

“Natural Intelligence farming uses natural processes combined with modern agricultural technology to produce food and fibre of optimum nutrition and quality while enhancing positive ecosystem development.”

“A Tasmanian former farming couple who say they were belted to bits and left destitute from their dealings with ANZ receive an apology from a bank executive, five years on.”

“If you spent 50 years of your life building up something that you love, just to see it all broken apart, how do you get over it?”

“Nick Kelly from Newdegate Western Australia successfully grows millet as a summer crop which has improved soil quality and water retention”

“Nick Kelly, WIG chairman speaking at this event.”

“There’s a mental health crisis in rural Australia”

“Introducing Dr Terry McCosker, RCS Workshops coming soon!”

“The focus of these efforts was to recognise the importance of soil science in the current global challenges of human health, food and water security, the role of soil carbon to improve ecosystem functions and biodiversity under a changing climate.”

“People have confused the weathering of rock, which is a very, very slow process, with the building of topsoil, which is altogether different. Most of the ingredients for new topsoil come from the atmosphere — carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.”

“He has found regenerative farming, improving soils with low external input, the most sustainable for producers, consumers and landscapes.”

“Nicole is sought after by many growing industries for her insight into what is required within soil biology to provide the best conditions for the production of high yielding and healthy plants.”

“A too often under-utilised resource, soil biology can do some heavy lifting around the farm, such as preparing soil for crops and controlling pests.”

“Researchers say the widely used herbicide is lingering longer than previously thought and could negatively impact soil and plant health.”

“British researchers have put automation to test in the farm field”

“Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains are packaged sunlight derived from photosynthesis.”

“The application of high rates of inorganic nitrogen in agricultural systems has had many unintended negative consequences for soil function and environmental health.”

“She notes that we have the lowest level of nutrient density in our food ever, which means we don't have those trace elements that help us battle those flu bugs and other environmental threats to our immune systems.”

“We want to get to the bottom of the problems that the rural sector faces with banking and financing.”

“Now, due to recent scientific findings, I'm confident that the next wave of high production agriculture will be led by those who understand the biology of our soils.”

“She told me, Gabe, your soils will never be sustainable as long as you use synthetics, so for the next four years, I did split trials, and I highly recommend, people, to do this on their own land.”

“The quest for ever-greater productivity — using fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and whatever other chemicals are at hand — is killing our soil and threatening our farms.”

“Similar to the probiotics that offer health benefits for humans, certain natural bacteria can make crops healthier, hardier and more productive, by increasing their resilience to pests, pathogens and environmental stresses and improving access to soil nutrients.”

“Business as usual is not an option — we need to change the way we grow, process and consume food.”

“We're quite concerned with the trend of corporate buying of land as an asset.”

“Financial stress in the 1980s caused Rick Bieber to look for ways to cut input costs, leading him to no-till. Today he continues that low-input-cost approach to no-till, and has become one of South Dakota's most passionate advocates for no-till practices.”

“because all we're doing is taking sunlight through photosynthesis and a plant, translocating it to the root, pumping it out into the soil as liquid carbon or root exudates, whatever you want to call it, and having it consumed by microbes.”

“Farmers often see themselves as feeding the world, but farmers attending the Organic Connections conference here recently were told the first step towards that goal is feeding the 'starving and homeless' micro-organisms in their soil.”

“When farmers let livestock mob graze their pastures, they are mimicking that aspect of nature. Farmers will see huge spikes in bacteria, better nutrient cycling, and increased organic matter.”

“Going back to the 1990s, her research has found that genetically modified corn — intended to kill bugs that eat the plant — could harm beneficial insects as well. Back then, Syngenta had not yet been formed, but she said one of its predecessor companies, Ciba-Geigy, tried to stifle her research by citing a confidentiality agreement signed by her employer then, a Swiss government research center called Agroscope.”

“We were out of money so instead of buying big new tractors and heavy new tillage implements, we made a few tweaks to our planter, took a deep breath and started no-tilling our crops.”

“The recommendations have been handed to the Federal Government, but their release have been delayed until the new year.”

“In Part 1 of this interview, Professor Huber shared some fascinating nutrition tips and, amongst many gems, he clarified the kind of reduced sugars that attract insects and those that boost plant resilience. In this second installment, there is a stronger focus upon glyphosate and the many problems associated with the most popular farm chemical on the planet.”

“Now scientists, and even National Geographic magazine, are banging on his door to study how soils are improving on his 2000-hectare property. Their studies find increasing NPK and organic carbon despite no inputs used. To anybody looking in, it's not just his use of cover crops which is eliminating fertiliser use.”

“The more they drank that night, however, the more the idea intrigued them. Why couldn't a cereal plant be cropped in a perennial pasture? As farmers, couldn't they figure out a way to make them all get along symbiotically?”

“We used something most every farmer has on hand — briefs — and developed a very simple demonstration that shows the results crop production management has on microbiology and in turn soil health.”

“In order for a soil to function properly, we have to have all the soil processes — physical, chemical, and biological — function in a way that they can maintain the soil in a good condition.”

“There is, however, a solution. Scientists and farmers around the world are pointing out that we can regenerate degraded soils by switching from intensive industrial farming to more ecological methods — not just organic fertiliser, but also no-tillage, composting, and crop rotation. Here's the brilliant part: as the soils recover, they not only regain their capacity to hold CO₂, they begin to actively pull additional CO₂ out of the atmosphere.”