a variety of species, are included in the rotation to reduce the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. But the ways in which these aims are achieved are as diverse as the farmers who implement these principles. And that is the key to what it means to be ‘holistic’—to devise a system of agriculture that suits your land and your philosophy of farming. One key aspect of regenerative agriculture is the reduction of tillage. Conventional tillage practices can lead to soil erosion, compaction, and degradation of soil structure. Reduced tillage practices such as direct drilling or no-till farming can help to conserve soil moisture and improve soil structure, leading to increased crop yields and resilience to drought. This approach to tillage is important in a regenerative system. Diverse crop rotations are also an important aspect of regenerative agriculture. It helps to break pest and disease cycles, reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers and pesticides and improve the overall health of the soil. Diverse crop rotations can also help to reduce the risk of crop failure due to weather-related events such as drought or floods. Do these ideas sound idealistic or impractical? Adopters of the philosophy and practices of regenerative agriculture would say an emphatic ‘no!’. And yet, there are many seasonal and soil conditions that need a flexible approach, especially to the need for tillage. Most conservation farmers would agree that strategic tillage remains a vital tool in soil and crop management. Weed control is a compelling reason for introducing tillage into a cropping program or a pasture renovation phase. And in the aftermath of flood waters
IS REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE THE ANSWER TO A FARMER’S PRAYERS?
David Brouwer
Regenerative agriculture uses a combination of techniques such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and diverse crop rotations to improve soil structure and increase the organic matter content of the soil. This helps to improve water holding capacity and nutrient cycling, leading to increased crop yields and resilience to drought. A key focus of the approach is to enhance the abundance and diversity of soil life. Regenerative agriculture also promotes biodiversity by using a variety of landscaping principles, incorporating trees, shrubs and water movement over the farm. Crops, including cover crops and
In 2018 Dr Charles Massy, a farmer from the NSW Monaro, published a seminal book, ‘Call of the Reed Warbler’ that explained the principles of regenerative agriculture and filled its pages with inspiring case studies of farmers across Australia who had adopted those principles. The book has generated immense interest in the idea of a holistic approach to farming. An underlying theme to this approach focuses on improving soil health and biodiversity, with the goal of creating a sustainable and resilient agricultural system.
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