Event to teach regenerative farming
Regenerative agriculture will be in the spotlight during a community event. Attendees will hear from farmers who are on a regenerative farming journey and tracking a profitable and more enjoyable path.
As part of this, they are putting soil health at the centre of their decisionmaking, and it’s working well for them.
Improved animal health is a consistent early indicator. They’ll be joined by a Regenerative Farming coach and Soil Food web educator.
One of the featured speakers is Otago dairy farmer Mark Anderson.
Mark grew up on a diverse sixthgeneration family sheep and beef farm and then spent 20 years conventional dairy farming while expanding to 580ha and 900 cows. The transition then began to use regenerative techniques six years ago while cutting cow numbers to 600 today.
“We are entering our fourth season of once-a-day milking and continue to learn how we can close nutrient and energy loops with composting and grazing techniques while scaling up plantings of perennial tree and fodder crops. Herd breeds are also a focus towards dual purpose as we look further out to 50-100 years.”
This will be Mark’s first visit to Taranaki to talk about regenerative agriculture.
Another featured speaker is Jules Matthews. Originally from Taranaki, Jules now manages a diversified farm regeneratively near Wellington.
This 900-hectare living laboratory focuses on transitioning dairy and
pine into regenerative agriculture, including sheep and beef, dairy and native forests; and developing a food hub to provide local produce, provide education and build connections in the community and beyond.
As well as her work in NZ Jules coaches on the Integrity Soils Create programme developing consultants’ skills to guide landowners through regenerating their land towards a triple bottom line: human, environmental and financial health.
Trained in holistic management, dispute resolution and human nutrition she has worked in the agricultural sector for over 40 years.
Cherryle Prew is the Soil Food web teacher and technician joining the day. She has been working with soil biological processes for 31 years.
The past 18 years have been spent adapting the Soil Foodweb science to NZ farming, horticulture and viticulture. Although now winding down after selling the Soil Foodweb NZ laboratory she continues to maintain her enthusiasm to share about soil and how it functions.
Inspiring Taranaki farmers will also speak including Rachel and Kenneth Short and Brooke and Matt
Laurence who are now 2-3 years into their trials and transitions. The improvements are impressive.
Event organiser and local regenerative farming advocate, regional catalyst and co-ordinator Fiona Young, will also share about local initiatives to connect and grow support and opportunities for farmers.
Fiona says the day aims to inspire and grow understanding and clarity around actions farmers can take. “It’s been a while since we’ve put on a community event, it’s a great chance for people to learn more about regenerative farming from people who are on and supporting the journey.
“We have an awesome lineup. I’m really looking forward to welcoming folks for what’s sure to be a really inspiring day. Over the past year and a half, our local focus has been on
a smaller action group. So it’s great to now open that up and have some of them as featured speakers.”
Fiona says she knows there are a lot more people in our wider network and beyond here in Taranaki who are interested to learn more as well.
“So we hope to meet more of them at this event. Our action group got going with about 30 dairy, sheep and beef farmers who were ready to dive in at the end of 2020. They’ve been
on a collaborative learning journey focused on regen and soil health, with the support of workshops, webinars, farm discussion groups and coordination.
“We aim to have more community events and programmes for farmers later in the spring, as well as a website.”