Southern WA Biological Farming RoundTable

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: 

Rob and Judi Hetherington, along with son Daniel and daughter-in-law Kate from Lake King in southern WA are our hosts for this event. Rob is a second-generation cropping farmer, who has made some significant changes to the farm operation since he took over managing the 2500 ha property. The Hetherington's use a variety of biological stimulants and nutrients in-furrow at sowing and as a foliar during growing, along with various amounts of dissolved urea. The family still uses industry-based recommendations for fertilisers at low rates combined with Guano and carbon-based sources of nutrients along with the liquid inject system.

Along with addressing the Calcium levels, this approach has been an integral part of improving fertility levels to get their biology functioning well so that the biology can efficiently clean up any chemical residue where they need to use herbicides. The frequent sighting of earthworms is a heartening sign to see. Rob and Dan use multispecies crops as part of their program to increase diversity and improve soil health, which they believe will speed up the process of improving soil carbon levels.

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.

OUTLINE OF THE DAY:

9.30 am  - Morning Tea on arrival

10:00am  - Introductions and welcome

• Rob Judi, Dan and Kate Hetherington

• Farmer Circles

11am - Key speaker - David Hardwick - Soil Land Food

• Soil Health Competition - Bring a cube (shovel full) of Soil  - Prizes to be won!

• Soil health and function presentation

12.30pm - Lunch

1pm - Nakala Maddock 

• The science of vermiculture for next-generation farming.

1.45pm -  Farm walk and soil assessment

In-field Soil Assessment (David Hardwick)

• Stretch the legs and learn how to assess your soil health
  

3pm -  Afternoon Tea

3.20pm - Panel Questions

• Q&A session, have your burning questions ready!

FURTHER DETAILS: Please phone NutriSoil on (02) 6020 9676 or email sales@nutrisoil.com.au