SOIL health and keeping both productivity and profitability high were key points of focus at the Regen in Practice event held near Denmark last Friday.
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The agricultural event saw 180 like-minded and passionate individuals gather to learn more about regenerative farming practices.
Held at The Dam restaurant, it attracted a mix of patrons from large-scale to lifestyle farmers and a diverse cross-section of speakers, including an opening address by Agriculture, Food and Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan, plus presentations from Stonemeal Farm's Stephen Frost, Raintree Farm's Stephen Birkbeck, Haslen Technology agronomist Ken Bailey, Earthwhile Australia managing partner Ellen Walker and Hort with Heart horticulturalist Sabrina Hahn.
"It's so good to have such a crowd turn up to talk about these really critical issues," Ms MacTiernan said.
"I am constantly copping it from the other side of parliament because they reckon you shouldn't be talking about these things, that this is all about growing biodynamic quinoa, when actually no, this is mainstream stuff," Ms MacTiernan said.
"At the heart of this is a desire to understand what is happening in the world.
"To understand that we will have a massive impact from climate change and that's going to impact us in different ways."
Event host and Grow Safe general manager Paul O'Brien was delighted with the turnout, originally anticipating 150 guests.
"I hope people can understand that regenerative farming practices are real," Mr O'Brien said.
"What we have tried to achieve today hopefully converts farmers that have historically used conventional means, to look and understand that using regenerative practices in their farming enterprises will ultimately improve the environment, but more importantly still sustain productivity and yield."
Mr Frost, who has been farming since 1979 and regenerative farming since 1996, shared the importance of a balanced approach and to not look at farming as an isolated practice.
"Regen encompasses many farming methodologies," Mr Frost said.
"It's not just about being organic and it's not just about ruling out chemicals.
"The big thing about regen is that it is outcome based, not input, it's the results you get out, which is what determines regen."
The outcomes he refers to include soil health, but also must provide sustainable profits, reiterating how important it is that the balance produces a profitable result that can afford farm reinvestment.
"Taking a holistic approach also means looking at how your farm may affect the environment it's a part of," he said.
"We need to consider that it's not just about your own farm, we really don't have the right to put so much nitrogen or phosphorus into the system, which could damage, for example, the Wilson Inlet.
"The real issue with regen is that we, as farmers, must manage that environment, we need to be helping, not negatively contributing to it, and it's a balanced approach."
Mr Frost's focus has been on the rhizosphere, the area surrounding a plant's root which is affected by the chemistry of the root, observing that when the rhizosphere flourishes the whole farm flourishes.
Two main areas that have been critical in getting the rhizosphere functioning optimally are biology - including soil microbes, insects, worms and diversity in plants - and remineralisation.
"They have now identified more than 60 minerals which are critical for soil health, plant health, microbial health and our health," Mr Frost said.
"The obvious benefit as a farmer, if I'm putting minerals on the soil - and we are talking about the little ones like copper, cobalt and many others, if I'm putting that on the soil, that gets into the food and it gets into the animals.
"I haven't used a lick block on our farm for 20-odd years, I don't have to inject magnesium into cows."
Mr Frost's message was clear and in alignment with many of the other speakers: mineralisation and microbes are key.
Mineralisation improves microbial diversity, having a direct impact on soil health and production yields of pastures and crops.
"Biological farming does not preclude the use of chemicals, it's just understanding there is an effect," Mr Frost said.
"I'm not going to bag chemicals because they have a place, we have all this knowledge about chemical farming, but very little knowledge about biological farming, and for me it is the key driver."
The proof is in the soils, with the Stonemeal Farm ewes still productive at eight or nine years of age and its hay yielding 18 tonnes per hectare with only the use of five to seven units of nitrogen.
Farm tours were also included where guests were taken through the hemp, pasture and truffle production at Raintree Farm where The Dam is situated, providing an opportunity to ask questions, demonstrating how regenerative farming can work in a practical and hands-on way.
The event concluded with the signing of a newly formed memorandum of co-operation, the Western Australian Sustainable Livestock Alliance, that will provide solutions through regenerative farming to sequester atmospheric carbon, reduce livestock emissions and improve soil health.
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