This week I attended a course - Soil Biology in Grazing Systems, organised by Hunter Local Land Services and held at Tocal Agricultural College.
I’ve listened to Dr Christine Jones speak before at Oxford Real Farming Conference and BioFarm.
Each time my mind is blown.
Mainly that occurrences I’ve noted in the field of farming have been overwhelmingly reinforced by science.
Saturday was no exception.
The five principles of regenerative agriculture…
Diversity - include a diverse mix in pasture and crops. Use a diverse variety of livestock.
Keep the soil covered at all times
Incorporate livestock
Keep living roots in the soil at all times
Minimise soil disturbance
When put in to practice, these principles enable an incredible flow through of positive outcomes.
When we encourage healthy soils we reduce carbon emissions, reduce temperature warming, reduce evaporation, improve not degrade soils and reduce or negate desertification.
Did you also know that the seeds we eat and plant also have their own micro biome. (These are the millions of tiny organisms that live in our guts).
If we employ management practices that enhance microbial abundance and diversity, plants core micro biomes are enriched over successive generations.
So if all seeds have a micro biome, they’re all the same right?
Nope, they are all unique.
If we plant plants with similar micro biomes next to each other (as in monoculture crops), it has a negative effect on plant productivity and stress tolerance.
Are you seeing the similarities here between plants and us? The world would be a boring place if we were all the same.
Plants in diverse communities benefit by being able to recruit microbes from the micro biomes of similar plants.
Sharing is caring.
If your eyes are rolling - “I’m not a farmer, this doesn’t concern me.”
Here’s the thing. It does.
Because everything you eat, started on a farm somewhere.
And how that food was grown affects you.
The Ireland Department of Agriculture were applauded during the presentation for their initiative to encourage farmers to plant a diverse mix of seeds into their pastures.
The mix was ryegrass, Timothy, White Clover, Red Clover, Plantain and Chicory.
The findings of the pasture project showed a reduced need for fertilisers, reduced input costs, improved soil structure, more drought resistance and enhanced biodiversity.
The purpose of pasture and crops is for animals to consume.
Do you know what happens when animals eat plants rich in secondary plant compounds grown in nutrient rich soils?
THEY have increased microbial diversity in the gut.
THEY have an increase in the ability to digest a wide variety of feeds.
THEY have better feed conversion efficiency.
THEY have better immunity.
That includes us.
It doesn’t matter if you’re vegan, vegetarian, carnivore or somewhere in between. Whether you’re eating the plants or the animals that eat the plants.
Every time I listen to Dr Christine Jones, another principle becomes obvious.
Mind blown. Again.
Thanks for reading.
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What we need more in agriculture is more women. They nurture by nature.
Colin Seiss.