Ever wanted to know what it is that makes plants grow strong and in drought?
• Want to know how to convert consolidated soil into friable top soil that doesn’t saturate?
• Like to know how to create the most beneficial environment for crops/stock on your farm?
On this course, lead by Niels Corfield, you will:
• Learn the whys and wherefores of regenerative agriculture and soil health on cropping and mixed farming operations
• Learn how to monitor soil/pasture on your farm.
• Be introduced to new ways of thinking about the “farming problem”.
Take-Home
All power point slides
Course handout and principles sheets
Objectives
• Improving soil health / pasture health
• Improving drainage and water holding on your land
• Growing more and better forage/crops
• Reducing reliance on external inputs or contractor services
• Identifying opportunities for out-wintering & season extension
• Getting feedback on-farm: monitoring & data, on-farm trials
• Skills training on using Soilmentor and carrying-out basic tests
Topics
Regenerative Agriculture – The Broader Context
• The imperative
• 4 Ecosystem Processes
Empirical case for good soil management
• How different strategies affect soil structure
• Reducing grade-outs and crop failures
• Minimising moisture stress
Defining soil health
• How it’s articulated and how to measure it
Soil Health Principles
• What they are & the processes that underpin them
• Empirical evidence of their application on farm
Evidencing soil health
• Aggregation, spade tests, visual soil inspection
Aggregation and crumb structure
• What creates it, and how to maximise
Nutrient Cycling
• Fostering nitrogen fixation for all crops
One Key Insight
• Microbes Matter
Who is this Training Suitable for?
• Farmers, arable growers & agronomists
• Graziers, herdsmen & shepherds
• Vets and veterinary trainees/students
• Landowners
• Farm & estate managers
• New entrants
• Ecologists & advisors