Many sheep farmers think that impossible but its achievement testifies how new thinking challenging what is known to be true is inspiring farmers to be curious about what’s practical.
So, if joining the Single Strand Shepherd Society sounds new and refreshing to you then the world of regenerative farming might also be of interest.
Farmers credit such crazy ideas as rejuvenating their enthusiasm for farming.
Of course, bubbly enthusiasm expressed for regenerative farming whips industry professionals into reminding farmers if a single wire worked it would already be commonplace and until there is definitive proof such ideas are a sign of insanity.
Thank goodness there is so much debate about regenerative farming.
Ever notice how we love to celebrate successful farmers who’ve done something different? Often that is long after industry cynicism glorifies their isolation from neighbours at a time when they’re at their most vulnerable and trying something new.
No wonder regenerative farmers around the global have set up their own farmer-to-farmer support networks. Can anyone recall what policies the Rural Support Trust and Farmstrong have to reign in industry bullying?
Of course, despite all the best intentions and advice about regenerative methods, farmers do experience failures – summer crops get frosted, others germinate and burn off because of a lack of moisture or seeds scour from their beds in a downpour.
One of the most refreshing perspectives the regenerative crowd brings is an aversion to recipes. Farmers learn principles and work it out for themselves using trial and error. The last thing farmers want is a recipe yet every industry advertisement promises its technologies will let farmers sleep at night.
Conventional advice loves recipes, that way nobody has to think and farmers can sit back and reap rewards. What failure looks like is never discussed. Unlearning this culture is the hardest thing farmers experience changing practice.
Therefore, much of the chatter on regenerative social media is no different to chatter elsewhere. The majority is tractor porn – very short term tasks around cultivation, spraying, sowing, harvesting, grazing, animal health and so on.
Regenerative farmers are like farmers everywhere clambering for silver bullets because so much of their prior training and experience involves an industry telling them what to do and think.
The problem with a profession as complex as farming is relationships between cause and effect are often realised in hindsight. Packaged solutions increase risk, particularly over time because they assume situations stay static.
This legacy is what those joining the regen movement bring with them. Therefore, as in all industry platforms, what is struggling to emerge is a maturity linking observation to deliberate decision-making.
For example, while farmers scramble for crop and pasture mixes few are asking what role each plant plays to improve soil health and even fewer are asking how such solutions address root causes of their problems in first place. Craving for simple solutions without deeper understanding is how farmers open themselves up to exploitation by professionals.
Production economics has received little attention in New Zealand over the last 40 years because of how science is managed. But because of the precarious nature of their agriculture Australians have continued investing here.
Australian research points to factors strengthening the case for regenerative techniques. Farmers at the top of their regenerative game have a deep understanding of how their business practices create consistent profits.
These regenerative farmers are seldom interested in maximising profits or production – the continual message driven by industry professionals to create dependency.
The reason is clear every time a climatic or market event occurs – both significantly lift debt and risk. In other words, these regenerative farmers know how much profit is enough and that stretching their business crushes quality of life.
Instead, creating intentional profit is one skill these regenerative farmers master.
It starts by dropping the fatal, traditional accounting equation of income minus expenses equals profit to a new practice of income minus profit equals expenses. Mastering this skill forces farmers to look beyond chasing quick fixes and settle on what they actually need. But it requires a discipline many farmers are allergic to: self-reflection. Changing the equation reduces boom-bust bubbles common with input-reliant farm businesses.
Profits don’t soar as high in good times compared to normal neighbours yet recovery from difficult times is faster because losses are less and businesses stay in profit for more years.
So while the promise of regenerative solutions is tempting, true success comes from learning self-control.
All farmers can learn from such techniques but barriers to overcoming personal bias are significant.
While simple ideas such as the Single Strand Shepherd Society inspire and bring fun to change, regenerative farming will require more from its farmers for it to advance.
Who am I?
John King specialises in regenerative and holistic farming and facilitates Red Meat Profit Partnership groups throughout New Zealand. Contact him on 027 6737 885 or john@succession.co.nz.
