b'Most of the soils in the Wheatbelt are red-coloured sand, some gutless white sand that is granite based, with a few pockets of clay-based soils.pared to Australian producers. Because theres so much pressureUniversities have limited research programs looking at to get the crop in the soil and harvested as efficiently as possiblesystems approaches; many are linear reductionist thinking-type in Western Canada, we require the equipment and labour to getresearch programs. There are some great programs there and it done as quickly as possible.very forward-thinking minds, but there seems to be a gap in That pressure is much less in Western Australiaonecommunication between the researchers and the producers.seeder and harvester will do many more acres over many moreCharles Masseys book Call of the Reed Warbler has started weeks. The farms I visited use well-maintained older equip- some grassroots regenerative agriculture movements in ment. We did not see many new equipment dealerships in ourAustralia, especially in the East, and the movement is now is travels Down Under. moving west. There are some groups that are active in regenera-tive ag, like water catchment groups, Regen WA, and Western Research-Producer Gap Australian Livestock Research Council. No matter where you farm in Western Canada, you will find aThey have field days, educational meetings, and demonstra-place in Western Australia that will look similar to home, untiltion plots to raise more awareness of regenerative practices, but you look at the soil. They tend to get more moisture than mostproducers acceptance seems to be slow, with many seeming to of Western Canada, but it is concentrated during their winterbe skeptical that change can occur. months when they are growing crops.It is difficult to find information sources in Australia to sup-Many Australian producers spray herbicides to make sureport regenerative agriculture, even though Australia is home to weeds are not stealing nutrients or moisture. Herbicide resist- some world-leading producers and researchers. ance is an issue. Very few cover crops are being utilized andThere is hope on the horizon, though. The Australian poly-cropping is just starting to gain some momentum.carbon market will be a driver in producers using more regen-Farmers in Western Australia who try to manage their acreserative practices as successful reports of producers getting paid using regenerative practices have limited support to do so.to sequester carbon emerge. Government does not have any programs to help producers orLike in Canada, there are skeptical producers who just need agronomists to adapt techniques.more proof that regenerative agriculture works. NOVEMBER 2023GERMINATION.CA 27'