YORKTON – Australia and Canada are a long way apart, but when it comes to farming there are similarities.
That is particularly true when it comes to ‘regenerative agricultures’ as a group of some 30 producers from Down Under are learning as they toured farms in Western Canada over a three-week period.
Graham Rees from Bathurst, NSW in Australia is the man behind the tour. He told Yorkton This Week on a recent night stopover in the city that they have actually undertaken a number off tours to get a first-hand look at farming techniques in other countries, taking two groups to the U.S., one to New Zealand and now Canada, with an eye to Britain and other locales in the future.
Rees said while there are obviously differences between countries in terms of farming, just as there are even with a large country such as Australia they find commonalities too.
“The principles are the same,” he said, adding that is important to see in-person. “. . . I think that reinforces what we’re doing if other people from around the world are using similar principles.”
The trips are also a chance to get real experience.
“We get out. We get dirty . . . We’re getting down and dirty with the ranchers,” said Rees.
Rees said having ideas reinforced by others is important, especially for a way of farming employed by the minority at this point.
“People in regenerative agriculture think a little differently,” he said, adding seeing producers in other countries taking the same path reaffirms what they are doing.
The principles the group was most focused on were those used in regenerative agriculture efforts.
“Regenerative Agriculture is any practice, process or management approach that enhances the functioning of the systems on which it relies. This includes core ecosystem cycles such as energy, water and minerals by enhancing biological function. It also includes improving economic and social systems. In other words, any practice that makes the land, community and bottom-line healthier year after year is regenerative. It is based on outcomes, distinguishing it from most sustainable/conservation agriculture efforts,” details regenerativeagriculturefoundation.org
In Rees' case he has been using the principles himself for years.
“I was doing this before there was even a name for regenerative agriculture,” he said, adding he undertook the change to help ensure the viability of the land “for the next generation.”
Charles Le Feurre of Charters Towers, Queenland said regenerative agriculture practices vary from operation-to-operation, noting on their cattle operation “it’s probably not as intense as we’ve seen over here.”
That also means Le Feurre gained some insights to consider in the future.
“It gives us some idea of what’s out there,” he said.
Grace Tudehope of Millaroo, Queenland said the Canadian farm stops certainly offered new ideas that they can consider once back in Australia.
The trip was also one allowing time to see something a bit different too.
Gavin and Liesel Walton of Jandowae, Queensland are on the trip. Liesel said visiting a bison farm in Manitoba was interesting in the sense they don’t have bison in Australia.
The Waltons run cattle on their farm, but they try to do it in a regenerative way, which Gavin said is really about “changing the way you look maintaining your livestock.”
That said Gavin Walton said it ultimately is about employing a system that positions the producer in the best way to realize a profit. That means keeping costs in line and still getting the best out of the soil, while keeping it healthy for tomorrow.
Cam and Kris Benjamin of Glenmorgan, Queensland raise cattle too. They signed up for the trip because it offered a chance to learn. Cam said if there was a chance somebody would offer a way to do something better “we’re all ears.”
