BioFarm 2019 - anyone going?

Upstream

Hi folks,

Any boardsies heading to the Biological farming conference in Portlaoise next week? I got my tickets at the weekend and really looking forward to it

It's on next week on the 5th and 6th of November.
More details on the NOTS.ie website
https://nots.ie/courses/biofarm2019/

The headline speaker is Christine Jones, a world renouned expert on soil health, and there's a range on other speakers on mob grazing, agroforestry, min-tillage and much more. Basically all the info you need on how to farm in a way that's good for the environment, and it should give plenty of good arguments to put to people who say all farming is bad for the environment

I went last year and it was really good, a mix of organic and conventional farmers, and lots of positive solutions discussed.

I'd say if you're thinking of going and haven't got you tickets yet, book them now as it's selling out fast. Any other boardsies going we should meet up and say hello, I'll buy a round at the bar on Tuesday night

toleratethis

They had only 6 places open after I booked my place during the week.

Say my name

I booked yesterday. I won't be there at night though.

It'll be a bit different anyway.

Castlekeeper

A lot of left field thinking in that line up. With the way our commodity markets and environmental factors are lining up, I could do worse than go one day.

toleratethis

Castlekeeper wrote: »

A lot of left field thinking in that line up. With the way our commodity markets and environmental factors are lining up, I could do worse than go one day.

I'd be of the view line up promote "traditional agriculture", before chemicals fcuked things up.





That should get the ball rolling ðŸ˜

Castlekeeper

toleratethis wrote: »

I'd be of the view line up promote "traditional agriculture", before chemicals fcuked things up.





That should get the ball rolling ðŸ˜

I take it your saying that the speakers are promoting pre chemical ag?

Having looked it up a little I would think they ate going a few steps beyond that, are using ( micro-) biology to take ag to a whole other level of sustainable production (even rebuilding/regenerating soil)

Traditional agriculture was in poor enough condition around this part of the world anyway, probably due to socio-political circumstances.

Just gave a listen to the key speaker on YouTube, Christine Jones. Bio stimulant treatedepastures on NZ outperforming full N fertilised ryegrass clover with half the N. Diverse pastures outperforming those again with massively improved soil function and animal health.
Sounds fascinating even before the links to human health.

Say my name

Castlekeeper wrote: »

I take it your saying that the speakers are promoting pre chemical ag?

Having looked it up a little I would think they ate going a few steps beyond that, are using ( micro-) biology to take ag to a whole other level of sustainable production (even rebuilding/regenerating soil)

Traditional agriculture was in poor enough condition around this part of the world anyway, probably due to socio-political circumstances.

Just gave a listen to the key speaker on YouTube, Christine Jones. Bio stimulant treatedepastures on NZ outperforming full N fertilised ryegrass clover with half the N. Diverse pastures outperforming those again with massively improved soil function and animal health.
Sounds fascinating even before the links to human health.

It's the growing forage with bacteria. If they do speak of it that I want to find out about.
I've toyed around with it so I know there's something there. I know how easily it can go wrong too and you get no result and then one could easily say there's no benefit.


We really need a demonstration farm in this country where the best experts in this field can share ideas and put these into practice. At the moment you've individual farmers doing their own thing and keeping stum on the results. Not that I blame them either, we all look for an economical advantage on the other fella before the factories and supermarkets find out about it and reduce the product price to give themselves an economical advantage.

toleratethis

Castlekeeper wrote: »

I take it your saying that the speakers are promoting pre chemical ag?

Having looked it up a little I would think they ate going a few steps beyond that, are using ( micro-) biology to take ag to a whole other level of sustainable production (even rebuilding/regenerating soil)

Traditional agriculture was in poor enough condition around this part of the world anyway, probably due to socio-political circumstances.

Just gave a listen to the key speaker on YouTube, Christine Jones. Bio stimulant treatedepastures on NZ outperforming full N fertilised ryegrass clover with half the N. Diverse pastures outperforming those again with massively improved soil function and animal health.
Sounds fascinating even before the links to human health.

I used the wrong phrase when I said traditional agriculture, I find reliance on chemicals in farming is often referred to as traditional or conventional agriculture which I believe is misleading. I should have said something along the lines of mimicking nature

More that some of the speakers, and the wider field of people practising these methods are indeed trying and succeeding in growing topsoil, grass, and therefore grass fed protein products in the form of livestock by using what nature wants us to use. Methods like high density grazing with long rest periods. Using trees as part of an animals diet and wellbeing due to shelter or shade, even self medicating to a degree with willow.

A lot of that knowledge of old practices was lost, trampled, and forgotten once the sales people arrived at gates with miracle cures.

Upstream

toleratethis wrote: »

A lot of that knowledge of old practices was lost, trampled, and forgotten once the sales people arrived at gates with miracle cures.

That's a good way of looking at it.
We're starting to see that the miracle cures of the green revolution aren't all they're cracked up to be. Artificial NPK and industrial agriculture have far more hidden and external costs than people realized, and the people selling these cures aren't carrying the costs.

Who pays for the costs of flooding and water pollution?
Who pays for increased environmental pollution and loss of biodiversity?
Who pays for the decline in health of people eating over processed food?

Farmers get the blame for a lot of these problems. That's not fair, in a lot of cases we're only don't what we're advised. But events like this show how we can be part of the solution. I'm looking forward to seeing what's on offer.

Say my name

I was just reading my JADAM book and how they make JMS and the uses for it.
It's basically the slurry bugs products that are offered commercially. It even goes into how to store it using wheat or rice bran and then to put into paper bags.

The liquid fresh product can be sprayed on bedding and manure and completely removes smell and benefits the health of the animals.
If I'm not mistaken there was a UK company at the ploughing offering such a product.

And to think all you need is
- leaf mold soil.
- boiled potatoes.
And sea salt or sea water.

If I get to a part on how to make lactic acid that'll be my silage inoculant and teat spray sorted. :pac:

endainoz

There is some amazing stuff going on at boi farm, unfortunately I won't be able to attend but would love to see some of Christine Jones' speech alright. NOTS had organized a two day course with her which booked up very quickly.

I think the main thing she would promote would be plant diversification and obviously moving away from chemical fert.

Mooooo

Not as well up on ye at this side of things but would also be interesting if any of the speakers cover financial stability in the context of the systems being mentioned

ganmo

any feed back from those that went?

Upstream

ganmo wrote: »

any feed back from those that went?

It was a great event, lots to learn.
Thought Christine Jones in particular was excellent, other speakers great too, but also really good to see lots of Irish farmers with lots of positive stories, trying lots of different things.
Only frustration is in not doing enough on my home farm, but hope to make a few changes this year and see how they go.

alps

Mooooo wrote: »

Not as well up on ye at this side of things but would also be interesting if any of the speakers cover financial stability in the context of the systems being mentioned

Very impressed last year Moooo at how stable and profitable some of the models we saw at last year's conference were. Much less exposure to the fluctuations of input prices, and more realible and consistent output at the stocking rates etc employed.

Seriously capable, scientifically minded operators though...very taken by them and their methods, however the big snag for the likes of ourselves is that the income demand is just too high, partly driven by current debt, living costs and input competitiveness and demands in a hugely popular dairying area, makes it impossible to take a step back and change direction..

toleratethis

ganmo wrote: »

any feed back from those that went?

Fantastic event, inspiring credible speakers, best investment I've made in myself to date. If a person is interested in this type of farming at all, attending an event like biofarm19 will remove any doubt and drive you on.

Often left a "conventional" event thinking why did I bother, same sh1t as previous. Biofarm19 opened up an entire new way of doing things that gives back a lot of control to the farmer.

Tired of being the goddamn donkey.

Water John

It was very interesting. Very strong and wide range of speakers. One of the good aspects was the mix of, conventional and organic.
The multiple species research of UCD was presented and with no reflection on the
researchers and speaker, in the overall scheme of presentations, it was well behind the curve.
We then have to put that in the perspective that in Irish official research, UCD is the radical end.
There was no preaching as to what is the single one model.
Thanks to NOTS for putting it on.