Goulburn Biological Farming RoundTable
Event description
Biological Farming Roundtable events travel around Australia helping farmers explore innovative, low input, regenerative, profitable and productive farming systems.
The events are usually hosted by a leading farmer in the area and are supported by educational speakers, empowering those who attend to use the tools of nature available to regenerate land and grow nutrient-dense food profitably.
NB $40 includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
Host Farmers:
Craig Hunt's family have been farming in the Parkesbourne region for 150 years. Coming from a very conventional background of sheep grazing, monoculture cropping and high rates of industrial inputs, Craig has always had an interest and passion for Landcare and working with nature. The most recent drought was a catalyst for Craig to take the plunge to start trialling ways to improve soil health and resilience to extremes in variable climatic conditions.
Lockdowns during COVID provided Craig with the opportunity to expand his knowledge on multispecies crops, cover crops and the role of biology in regenerating the landscape for a healthier farming system. This year Craig, who is a committee member of the Landcare Mulwaree Grazing and Farming Group, established trials with multispecies crops and variable fertiliser rates (including NutriSoil). The group is supporting and extending soil improvement projects, and Craig has been instrumental in recruiting group members. Landcare Mulwaree Grazing and Farming Group is a member of Community Voice 4 Hume.
KEY SPEAKER: Agroecologist David Hardwick from Soil Land Food
David is an agroecologist with over 20 years of experience in rural landscapes, farming and food systems. David is passionate about supporting farmers to develop a better understanding of soil health and regenerative farming practices, as such he runs extension programs through Soil Land Food.
David aims to empower farmers with knowledge and skills through the extension services he provides so farmers feel confident to make their own agronomic and farm planning decisions. He makes soil health and function fun and easy to understand.
KEY SPEAKER: Founding Director of Regenerate Earth and Internationally recognised soil microbiologist
Walter Jehne is an internationally recognised soil microbiologist innovation strategist and founding Director of Regenerate Earth. His experience spans; soils, mycology, food and water security and hydrological climate cooling. Walter excels at influencing global leaders, linking locally tailored ecological scientific concepts into global strategies and back to regional tactics, effectively shifting paradigms.
Walter Jehne has an exceptional capacity to devise solutions and link them to local leaders on the ground – turning challenges into solutions – he has a remarkable talent for charting complex science and economic paths forward in accessible ways.
Through decades of professional experience, Walter has become an expert in ecology, mycorrhizal fungi, glomalin, and soil carbon management. He also has deep knowledge of biology's critical influence on hydrological cycles, weather patterns, regional and global cooling, cloud formation and complex precipitation.
OUTLINE OF THE DAY:
Agenda
9.30am - Registration (morning tea on arrival)
9.50am - Welcome and introduction (Host Craig Hunt)
10am – Best Soil in Show
10.20am – David Hardwick: A day in the life of soil
11.45am – Best Farming Systems: Who are we?
12.15pm – Lunch
12.45pm – Walter Jehne: Brilliant world of biology impact on hydrological cycles
1.45pm – NurtiSoil: Vermiwash and next generation ag
2.15pm – Landcare Goulburn Mulwaree Grazing and Farming Group / Craig Hunt: Multispecies and variable fertiliser rate trial and paddock walk
3.45pm – Afternoon tea
4pm – Luke Re-Gen Farming: What’s your plan and Panel Discussion / Q&A
FURTHER DETAILS: Please phone NutriSoil on (02) 6020 9676 or email sales@nutrisoil.com.au / Best Farming Systems (02) 48225536 or email jfalconer@bestfarming.com.au