Simon Scott
Scott Farms, Barongarook West, Victoria
This is a third generation family farm that has been in the family for 84 years.
It is managed as regenerative-organic. The shift to regenerative farming was driven by a wish to simplify the farming system. In comparison to the previous conventional system this is a more profitable, less complicated system.
Simon has learnt from Christine Jones and from reading / You Tubing Nicole Masters, Dr Allan Williams, Gabe Brown, Ray Archuleta and Green Cover Seeds.
Farming Practices
Multispecies pastures
Organic approaches
Minimal chemical inputs
Adaptive long rotation grazing
Grazing Management
A longer than typical rotational grazing system is used, giving the multi-species pasture between 30 and 90 days (or sometimes even longer) to rest. To maintain pasture productivity, higher post-grazing residuals are targeted compared to when the system was conventional.
A summer cropping system grows a diverse summer mix and is then replaced with a multispecies perennial sward in the autumn.
Summer Mix: Sorghum, millet, sunflowers, buckwheat, turnips, rape, mung beans, soy beans, clover, arrow leaf clover, cow peas, fenugreek, and lab lab.
Perennial pastures consist of a mix of older ryegrass based, and newer multi species.
Permanent multi species mix: Chicory, plantain, lucerne, cocksfoot, ryegrass, prairie grass, phalaris, fescue, and annual/perennial clovers (red, white, strawberry, subterranean, arrow leaf and balansa)
Organic grain and hay Is used as supplementary feed.
Soil Fertility
Minimal inputs are used on the farm. Compost, foliars and biological products were used in the early transition years. Now only using vermicast liquid, applied to all seed prior to sowing and as a foliar spray
Soil tests have shown that there are adequate levels of nutrients and good pH.
There has been an increase in the amount of carbon in the soils from 4 per cent to 7-8 per cent, and now have a more balanced soil nutrient profile.
Changes include improved soil fertility and increased aggregation
Animal Health and Welfare
There has been reduced incidence of mastitis and milk fever. The cows are calmer and easy to handle/milk. Overall, the cows are in better condition.
Apple cider vinegar is added to grain, with higher rates used for mastitis treatment.
Environmental Stewardship
Creeks are fenced off and there are numerous plantations of native trees.
Changes / Benefits
Better animal health: No vaccines, no drenches on yearlings and above, animals generally seem to be in better health.
Improved profitability
Improved biodiversity/soil health
The Future
The plan is to move to 100% multi-species pastures and increase the herd to 300-350 cows.
What have been the biggest challenges:
In the initial change, Simon went cold turkey and the system did crash, it took 12 to 18 months to build biology and the new system.
What’s one thing Perennial based multispecies mixyou’ve learned that surprised you:
Generally, other farmers can see the changes and benefits but are not interested in adopting the changes.
What would you do differently if you started again:
Gone a bit harder re-sowing pastures to multi species in the beginning
Advice to others considering the transition
Get started.
