Farming For Our Future
Cover Cropping Essentials with Grant Sims
Dr. Christine Jones - Activating Soil Health in Mixed Species Crops and Pastures
Dr. Christine Jones - Activating Soil Health in Mixed Species Crops and Pastures
Geelong Landcare Network invites you to attend a full day workshop with Cover cropping specialist Grant Sims from “Down Under Covers.”
We will explore all aspects of cover cropping in detail and pay particular attention to transitioning to regenerative practices and the practical side of sowing and managing cover crops, so that attendees can take this information home and implement.
There will also be an in paddock demonstration of sowing a cover crop using a soilkee renovator and a Down Under Cover mix.
This project is supported by Corangamite CMA through funding from the National Landcare Program.
About Grant Sims:
Grant Sims is a sixth generation farmer running the family farm in North central Victoria Australia. The farm is 8500 acres of dryland and some irrigation.
The Sims farm has been utilizing no-till since the early 80's thanks to Grant’s father and uncle. When Grant came back full time on the farm he started looking at ways to improve the life and function of the soil through biology. In 2008 he stopped using granular synthetic fertilizers and started using a biologically made liquid fertilizer. Also at that time stop using seed dressing, insecticides and fungicides, unless absolutely necessary.
The Sims have a strong focus on diversity and grow many different crops. They use companion crops, cover crops and have expanded their cow calf numbers to integrate through the system. They have seen many positive changes in the health or their soils and plants. They perform on-farm trials to learn and share methods about how solve problems, be more profitable and improve the soil for the next generation.
Grant and Naomi have recently started up a multi-species seed business Down Under Covers where they use their own experience and consult with world leading experts to design and put together multi species blends to help improve the soils and provide live weight gains to livestock to help farmers become more profitable.
In 2015 Grant was awarded the Coles Weekly Times Farmer of the Year. Grant is the former president of the Victorian No Till Farmers Association.
Dr. Christine Jones - Activating Soil Health in Mixed Species Crops and Pastures
Dr. Christine Jones - Activating Soil Health in Mixed Species Crops and Pastures
Dr. Christine Jones - Activating Soil Health in Mixed Species Crops and Pastures
Join Dr Christine Jones – renowned soil biologist – for a deep dive into activating biological pathways to improve soil structure, nutrient status, and moisture retention.
Learn how the influence of plant root exudates on soil structure and function can be enhanced by the adoption of management practices that maximise the power of photosynthesis.
These practices include the establishment of species-rich communities, appropriate grazing management and the use of bio stimulants.
Explore the extraordinary symbiotic relationships that exist between plants and microbes and the role of soil microbial diversity in enhancing levels of stable soil carbon.
Improvements in soil carbon can reduce reliance on high-analysis fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides; improve soil structure, aeration and water-holding capacity and optimise soil, plant, animal, and human health, water quality and farm profit.
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Grasslands and Land Management Workshop with Colin Seis
Grasslands and Land Management Workshop with Colin Seis
Grasslands and Land Management Workshop with Colin Seis
A full day workshop with renowned regenerative farming trailblazer Colin Seis.
Morning: indoor presentation. (3 hours)
- History of Agriculture (what went wrong)
- Grasslands (how they function)
- The farm as an ecosystem
- Restoring grasslands (why and how)
- Grazing management (Using animals to restore grasslands)
- Pasture Cropping (Using regenerative methods to restore grasslands)
- Sowing native seed (Why, how, and is it necessary)
- Soil (Soil ecosystem, soil health, nutrients, structure, and carbon)
- Gross Margins. (profit)
Lunch
Afternoon (3 hours)
A paddock walk identifying native grassland species, problem weeds, soil and discussing the practical side
of implementing improved grazing management and alternate methods of sowing native species and crops.
Future Proofing Your Land with Dr. Wendy Seabrook
Grasslands and Land Management Workshop with Colin Seis
Grasslands and Land Management Workshop with Colin Seis
Commodity prices and seasonal conditions have been as good as they will ever get, but we know this won’t last. Now is the time to make changes that will take us into a brighter future.
By improving the ecological functions of our farms, we can:
• Sustainably manage our land in an increasingly variable climate, and
• Reduce our input costs without losing production.
In this forum keynote speaker Dr Wendy Seabrook (author of the 'Ecological Farming Handbook') guides us through a review of our farming operations to include our ecological bottom line. Essential information for your future, whether you manage your land for primary production or lifestyle.
Watch this event by following the lin below.
Dr Wendy Seabrook farms outside Cooktown and has worked with farmers for over 20 years, supporting the adoption of ecological approaches to regenerative agriculture. Seeing the value of this approach in helping farmers achieve the dual outcome of reducing their costs and caring for country, Wendy featured on ABC Country Hour and Radio National Nights in New Zealand. She was also a finalist in the 2016 Australian Future Agro Challenge.
A free event proudly brought to you by the Geelong Landcare Network