Regenerative / biological farming in Canterbury
Quorum Sense is a network led by farmers. We support regional groups and locally organised field days and events for sharing knowledge and ideas about regenerative farming systems/practices, as well as successes, failures and learnings.
If you can’t find a suitable group listed below and are interested in joining – or creating – one, click on the button below to fill out a short questionnaire and we’ll keep you updated about new groups that are forming.
What’s happening in the Canterbury region
Upcoming events
Recent past events
Regional regenerative / biodynamic farming groups in Canterbury
To receive communications about upcoming Canterbury field days and events, email contact@quourmsense.org.nz and we will forward your message.
Canterbury regenerative / biodynamic farmers and growers in the media
Latest Quorum Sense content from Canterbury
Hear from Mark Koopmans (North Canterbury), Rachel Short,(Taranaki) and Ross Johnson (Wairarapa) as they discuss regenerative grazing systems, techniques, plus farmer-led research and insights.
The tables have turned for arable farmer Peter Legg, from initially learning off others’ knowledge and experience to now being someone others are learning from!
Canterbury farmer and Quorum Sense team member Sam Lang talks about the relationship between science and farmer experience, risk, and the importance of support networks.
Winner at the 2022 New Zealand Sausage Awards, Canterbury sheep and beef farmer Adam Rivett talks about getting creative with farm enterprises to suit his context.
Award-winning biological arable farmer David Birkett shares a whole pot of gold as he explains how he built the confidence to try something new.
Two very different vineyards, one in Marlborough another in Canterbury’s Waipara hills, offer different perspectives on what it means to operate regeneratively.
Improving the relationship between soil and plant health is fundamental to helping cycle nutrients and increasing nutrient availability to the vines.
In viticulture systems, cover crops can help reduce compaction, cut fertiliser use, improve water infiltration and lower pest and disease pressure.
Improving the relationship between soil and plant health is fundamental to helping cycle nutrients and increasing nutrient availability to the vines.
Innovative approaches being taken to explore alternative under-vine management that helps increase soil health and support healthy vines, yield and quality.
There are alternative ways to manage vineyard disease and insect pests that are less costly and don’t negatively impact beneficial microbial and insect life.
Improving livestock integration into cropping systems can bring a wide range of benefits and displace the need for increasingly expensive inputs.
Following up our ‘Regenerative arable transitions’ case study, we deep-dive into regenerative arable production systems with David Birkett and the UK’s Clive Bailye.
Dairy farmer and filmmaker Deane Parker shares his passion for the outdoors and water, and the learning mindset that's central to his transition to regenerative farming.
Introducing two Canterbury arable farmers who are increasing the health, resilience and profitability of their farm systems, with a focus on building soil health.
Farm data comparison of the crop management inputs and associated gross margins of biological or regenerative farming systems for three common arable crops.
Retaining crop residues and integrating cover crops are key practices that both protect the soil surface and keep living roots in the ground year-round.
Exploring different practices for building soil health and broader ecosystem health, which underpin the success of biological and regenerative arable systems.
Exploring different practices for building soil health and broader ecosystem health, which underpin the success of biological and regenerative arable systems.
Exploring different practices for building soil health and broader ecosystem health, which underpin the success of biological and regenerative arable systems.
Exploring different practices for building soil health and broader ecosystem health, which underpin the success of biological and regenerative arable systems.
Bale Grazing is a wintering system where hay bales are spaced across the paddock, with stock grazing breaks of hay and pasture throughout the winter.
South Canterbury’s Duncan Humm shares his fascination with deer, and the importance of observation and diversity when applying regenerative farming practices.
Three arable farmers deep-dive into the specifics of regenerative tools, inputs and techniques for crop production.
Greystone Wine's Nick Gill and Mike Saunders share the challenges of innovation and the benefits of introducing regenerative systems into their wine growing business.
“Key learnings for me are the importance of humility, perseverance, research, conceptual and creative thought.”
David Birkett incorporates cover crops into his high value seed crops and has done an immense amount of trial work in decreasing synthetic inputs of crops and soil tillage.
In this fourth session of the 2020 Post-Harvest Debrief, we are joined by mixed arable farmers Mike Porter and Roger Small to discuss successes and learnings from this season.
A discussion following a conversation about slug control, featuring Abie Horrock from FAR and Simon Osborne who has been managing slugs in his no-till system for decades.