Business Case for Regenerative Agriculture

[Chris F]

I saw this, what do we think? Win/win?

 

[Bury the Trash]

It's not possible to reverse soil erosion, once it's gone it's gone.its down the estuary ...its out in the Ocean.
It can be slowed, yes.

A detail, I digress....
... Yes it is good and far better for us than ' Rewilding'

 

[Will Blackburn]

Who could possibly turn this into a desk based appraisal signalling the highest virtues to our customers?

 

[Chalky]

I get the second 'box' to the third.

But what are the £££ inducements from the first to the second??

Obviously a number of baronial type estates have been to a swish talk by Knight Frank et al and have bought into this as is evidenced by 'manager required for regenerative agriculture estate' ads in the FW.

Gotta pay the bills- you can be as pious as you want, but not much use if going to the wall. Discuss....

 

[yellow belly]

Been no till for a few years now
I get most of the boxes the longer in no till the easier it is the more boxes come into play

the one big spanner could be that it may pay more to use some stewardship options and stop producing
elms is also a known unknown this may disrupt the long term benefits of the regenerative notill system

the longer a field is notill the easier it is and the better the returns become

 

[Bury the Trash]

By its nature arable farming can never ' regenerate. '

 

[Chalky]

I this not the assumption of setting up for carbon sequestration as a tax avoidance tool-the polluter pays(whatever you think of humans causing global climate changes). No till arable cropping & reintroduction of grass & livestock-mixed farming-with the carbon capture of the fibrous turf over time? Big assumption? Or are the Government in a half arsed way actually paving a route to make us stop cultivating because we cannot afford to, choose a rotation that suits, they create a standardised UK Kite Mark carbon Audit body which then shows participants that they have credits to sell into a carbon trading market that does exist I am led to believe, in its infancy (early adopters being righteous PLC types) and coin it in???

 

[martian]

By its nature arable farming can never ' regenerate. '

Please explain. I think you are wrong, but maybe I misunderstand

 

[Bury the Trash]

Please explain. I think you are wrong, but maybe I misunderstand

Permanent pasture is the ultimate for regeneration in agricultural terms surely .

Otherwise it's the potential for improving long term solely arable ground.

Depends what 're generative' refers to could range from using a 'better ' rotation / cover crops etc to virtual or actual rewilding as far as I can see .

Is it a brand / tagline / trendy fashion to stimulate interest / sell stuff .....or just good sense ?

 

[martian]

I first came across the idea of regenerative farming when talking to Gabe Brown in Kansas a few years ago. He was saying sustainablilty is pointless if you are starting with a degraded resource, ie why try to stay where you are when you could be making your soil, your business and your life better. It struck a chord with me and I've been working at regenerating our soils ever since.

The main thing, from my point of view, is that it is a process; I don't think anyone who's embarked on this journey will ever get to the point where they can say 'I've arrived, I'm now regenerated'. It is always ongoing, like nature herself. You can measure your progress, by studying your soil and seeing how it physically improves, how it absorbs more water, contains more carbon/humus, how it grows better crops with fewer inputs etc etc. If it is getting better, then you are a regenerative farmer. If it isn't then you are not. It is really that simple.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Yes thats all good.

The op refers to the business opportunity, the worry is that it would be hijacked by many, many others .
Clever speaking consultants,inspectors policy makers , managers..... etc, all with lovely fancy homes, kitchens gazebos cars gadgets nights out holidays away....frequently, needing to be fuelled.as a whole seperate ' industry' as ever.

Their concern for the countryside is not genuine ...as the average farmer I know at least, in fact a lot I know, are very worried about how the future and lack of care for the nurtured environments..(.that cost an awful lot time and money to keep up) .. on a ' local knowledge' level..... they live in.

Maybe it's different further afield ......

 

[ajd132]

Yes thats all good.

The op refers to the business opportunity, the worry is that it would be hijacked by many, many others .
Clever speaking consultants,inspectors policy makers , managers..... etc, all with lovely fancy homes, kitchens gazebos cars gadgets nights out holidays away....frequently, needing to be fuelled.as a whole seperate ' industry' as ever.

Their concern for the countryside is not genuine ...as the average farmer I know at least, in fact a lot I know, are very worried about how the future and lack of care for the nurtured environments..(.that cost an awful lot time and money to keep up) .. on a ' local knowledge' level..... they live in.

Maybe it's different further afield ......

I think many of those who are making in roads with this type of farming are too quick to give information away for free

 

[two-cylinder]

Not a one size fits all solution, so mustn't be forced on everyone with a big stick.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I think many of those who are making in roads with this type of farming are too quick to give information away for free

you Could be right yes but helping other conscienstious and commited farmers is a bit different I guess.

 

[ajd132]

you Could be right yes but helping other conscienstious and commited farmers is a bit different I guess.

Yeh that’s what a group like base is for

 

[yellow belly]

Permanent pasture is the ultimate for regeneration in agricultural terms surely .

Otherwise it's the potential for improving long term solely arable ground.

Depends what 're generative' refers to could range from using a 'better ' rotation / cover crops etc to virtual or actual rewilding as far as I can see .

Is it a brand / tagline / trendy fashion to stimulate interest / sell stuff .....or just good sense ?

i have ploughed up pp and ususally the soil was deficient in phosphate and lime
usually this is 25 years of a few beast or sheep with no inputs taking out a few kg of phospate every year as meat

 

[Bury the Trash]

i have ploughed up pp and ususally the soil was deficient in phosphate and lime
usually this is 25 years of a few beast or sheep with no inputs taking out a few kg of phospate every year as meat

So have i but thats not what i refer to.
I refer to Som , you will never , never, get arable ground up to the level of PP in 25yrs so you can relax and not worry about it .

Remember what you saw in that soil under the PP roots ,yes roots lots of long roots ,. thick they were wernt they

the arable you farm will never get like that because you regularly kill them with glyphosate

Now leave me alone i'm having me tea.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Oh yeah I forgot carbon as well , so did you.