b'COVER CROP CORNERSOIL HEALTH OBSERVATIONS:WESTERN CANADA VS. WESTERN AUSTRALIAI HAD A GREATopportunity to spend eight months in Western Australia in early 2023 learning about agriculture production systems that local produc-ers were using. The experience was an enlighten-ing one that shed light on regenerative agriculture practices there and the similarities and differences between Canada and Australia.The Wheatbelt in Western Australia covers Kevin Elmy an area from around Geraldton to Esperance Elmy is founder of Coverto Albany. Geraldton to Esperance is a 1,100 Crops Canada. His book Cover Cropping in Westernkm drive, an area slightly smaller than Western Canada is availableCanada, but with more diversity when it comes to through Friesen Press,climate ranging from very dry to almost rainfor-Amazon, and digitallyest conditions. Driving from Perth to Sydney is through Apple Books,similar to driving from Calgary to Quebec City.Kindle, and Google Play. For more info on CoverMost of the soils in the Wheatbelt are red-Crops Canada visitcoloured sand, some gutless white sand that is covercrops.ca granite based, with a few pockets of clay-based soils. The biggest difference is the weather pat-terns. In most of Western Australia, there are about four months where it rains from April to July, two months of infrequent rains in August and September, very little rain from October toThe Australian Wheatbelt is the principal crop-growing February, then some showers in March.region of Western Australia, occupying about 160,000 Average yearly rain totals will range from 300square km in the southwestern section of the state.mm to over 900 mm, which mostly falls in under half a year. The biggest stress is that when it rains,of acres. Some producers are playing with peas, it is cool, and when it is dry it can get very warm,chickpeas, lentils, flax (linseed) and triticale. 35 C to over 45 C for weeks on end. In Canada,Harvest dates are also similar between the at least we have the potential to get some mois- two countries. In Western Australia, harvest can ture to get the crop started in the spring. start in August and the majority of the acres can be completed by October. The major difference is Canada vs. Australia the lack of snow allows farmers to keep harvesting Seeding dates are similar in Western Canada anduntil harvest is completed. Delays in harvesting Western Australia. In Australia, seeding startsdue to breakdowns, weather issues, and the rest in the early parts of late March with most of theof harvest delays are less of an issue. For the 2022 seeding occurring in late April and May. Thecrop, harvest finished up in many areas in January difference is that in Western Australia, seeding2023. This allows Australian farmers to get by can stretch out into July if rains come later. Theywith less harvesting equipment.do not have to worry about snow burying theCanadian farmers sometimes think western crop, and that takes the pressure off. The concernAustralian producers need to scale up to be more would be running out of moisture for the crop asefficient. Its not a good comparison to make. it matures as temperatures start to rise.Capital cost per acre in Canada is considerably Main crops are wheat, barley, lupin andhigher due to needing more equipment to get the canola. Wheat and barley are by far the majorityacres covered in a fixed window of time as com-26GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2023'