Farmer-led group celebrates 20 years
How regenerative farming methods are helping growers build and store more carbon on their farms will be the focus of one of Australia’s leading farmer conferences in Moama.
The Vicnotill conference, ‘Carbon Power’, will present the latest innovations in broadacre cropping and grazing across three days from August 16 at Rich River Golf Club Resort at Moama.
More than 250 cropping and livestock farmers from across Australia will attend the conference, which includes a farm visit, dinner and two days of speakers and panel discussions. It coincides with the farmer-led group’s 20th anniversary. The group started in the Wimmera.
Vicnotill president Dan Fox said farmers were excited for the conference’s return after a two-year hiatus.
“Vicnotill has a reputation for challenging the way we have all grown to understand ‘good farming’ and our conference always opens people’s minds and creates collective enthusiasm for rethinking our farming systems,” he said.
The conference starts with a visit to the property of Grant Sims, a sixth generation farmer, for a rainfall simulator and soil pit demonstration and a tour of his on-farm biofertiliser set up.
A dinner that night will include a discussion on how regenerative farming techniques are helping broadacre cropping and grazing farmers manage seasonal challenges.
Conference speakers and panel discussions start on August 17 for two days.
Keynote speaker is Graeme Sait, an internationally sought-after presenter on the links between soil, plant, animal and human health.
The author of ‘Nutrition Rules’ is also recognised for his TED Talk, ‘Humus saves the world’.
Other keynote speakers include Dr Terry Mccosker, who will release the latest carbon data from his Australia-wide sampling of sequestration rates; and Michael Eyres and Edward Scott of Field Systems Australia, who will focus on soil performance in managed agricultural landscapes.
Other speakers include producer Harry Youngman, who combines soil science, plant biology and animal breeding to store and sell carbon; Riverina mixed farming couple David and Jenny Thompson, who are changing the way they farm to produce healthy plants and animals; and Vicnotill board member Brendan Pattison, who is building carbon in his strip and disc cropping system.
Mr Fox said the biggest challenge of the past couple of years had been the lack of face-to-face contact with like-minded people.
“Vicnotill has always been about learning together and sharing what we learn. Although we’ve tried to do this online as much as possible over the past couple of years, it’s still not the same as getting together in person,” he said.
Mr Fox said people wanting more information, or conference tickets, could visit www.vic notill.com.au/events/event/carbon-powerconference-august-16-18.