Integrated soil, plant and livestock systems workshop
Description
Join us for a full‑day practical workshop exploring the latest in soil health, plant nutrition and regenerative farming practices. Whether you’re a grower, advisor or land manager, this session will equip you with insights and tools to support healthier soils, more resilient crops, and improved productivity.
Topics include:
Biofertilisers, microbial inoculants and seed treatments
Plant nutrition and foliar feeding
Plant health and pest management
Livestock, covers and companions
This is a great opportunity to deepen your knowledge, hear from experts, ask questions and connect with others working towards sustainable and profitable farming systems.
This event is free to attend and includes morning tea and lunch. *Please note that gluten-free and vegetarian are the only additional dietary options available.
Speakers
Grant Sims
Grant is a sixth-generation farmer based in Victoria. In 2015 he was awarded the Coles Weekly Times Farmer of the Year. Grant and his father started ‘Down Under Covers’ in 2019, a multi-species seed business and have become a leading provider of cover crop seed Australia wide. Grant has extensive experience with using cover crops for soil health improvement in temperate and tropical environments as well as multi-species blends for livestock weight gains, helping farmers become more profitable.
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is also a sixth-generation farmer in South Australia. On 3700 acres, they predominantly grow small grains (wheat, lentils, barley, peas and canola) in their mild winters with an annual rainfall of 13-17 inches in a Mediterranean climate. The farm has been zero till for over 20 years and min till 12 years prior and uses controlled traffic, stripper front harvesting and disc seeding and full stubble retention with a focus on soil, plant and livestock health. After a 28 year hiatus, they returned livestock to the land in 2018 running a cow/calf and trade steer herd on ground that needs a biological boost using mixed species crops and a rotational grazing system. Tom and his father have embraced the use of regular sap analysis and use targeted applications of foliar nutrition to improve plant health, lower costs and maximise profitability. In 2018, Tom was awarded the National Grain Innovation Award for demonstrating innovative practices on the farm.
Joel Williams
Joel Williams is an independent plant and soil health educator and consultant who has worked extensively in Australia, Europe and Canada where he is currently based. He has a keen interest in agroecology, plant nutrition and plant and soil microbiomes and how these may support the development of sustainable production systems. Joel has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Australia specialising in plant and soil dynamics; and an MSc in Food Policy from the UK where he explored motivations and barriers to the adoption of intercropping. Joel has a passion for teaching and sharing a combination of scientific and practical information and has lectured to farming audiences internationally.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
