Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary
Soil Health Masterclass
We’re excited to share the incredible energy and insights from the recent Integrity Soils 3-Day Soil Health Masterclass, co-hosted by BMRG and delivered by globally renowned agroecologists Nicole Masters and Meagan Lannan. This immersive workshop was held at the beautiful “Tressavale” property in Upper Glastonbury, Gympie region. The event, part of our Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary program, brought together landholders, educators, youth ambassadors, and industry experts to explore regenerative agriculture practices. Learnings focussed on building resilient landscapes, reducing synthetic inputs, achieving optimum soil health, effective landscape hydrology and improving grazing land management.
A Collaborative Journey Toward Regenerative Farming
The event kicked off each day with a dynamic mindset session, challenging attendees to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, a critical step for embracing regenerative practices. Nicole’s teachings emphasised preparing farms for extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and wildfires, aligning perfectly with our program’s goals.
Afternoon sessions took participants into Tressavale’s paddocks, with hands-on activities like water infiltration tests. Soils were explored with shovels in hand, examining soil structure, moisture, and microbial life. These practical experiences, paired with BMRG’s “boots on ground” support on the program, such as mapping services and farm management plans, are empowering graziers to apply learnings directly to their properties.
Attendees highlighted “peak moments” that sparked inspiration, including the “5 M’s” framework for soil management, using birds as indicators of boron levels and system health, and the call to “observe, test, observe.” Phrases like “just try something,” “collect, keep, and value your data,” and “surround yourself with smarter people” resonated deeply, fostering a spirit of community-style collaboration that will drive lasting change.
A Diverse Community Driving Change
The masterclass showcased the power of bringing together diverse voices. Our BMRG Youth Ambassadors - Adam and Remy - brought fresh perspectives, reflecting the program’s commitment to engaging younger generations. Educators including Jason from Gympie State High and Margaret from St Patrick’s College Gympie attended to weave regenerative principles into school curricula, inspiring the next generation of land stewards.
Local farmer Courtney Young from Woodstock Flour Mill and Soils for Life shared practical applications for improving pasture diversity, while international facilitator Megan from Barney Creek Ranch in Montana highlighted the global relevance of these practices. RCS representatives David McLean and our own BMRG Director Andrew Zerner connected Nicole’s teachings to the RCS 7-Day Grazing for Profit School held earlier in Murgon, where graziers described their experience as “positively overwhelmed” and “empowered.” Andrew noted, “Nicole’s focus on soil health indicators like fungi and bird populations builds on our program’s work to create sustainable grazing systems.”
Special thanks to Tressavale owner Jim Viner for hosting and demonstrating regenerative techniques, inspiring attendees to envision similar transformations on their own farms.
Why Soil Health Matters: Local Action, Global Impact
Nicole Masters addressed critical global challenges, noting that 96% of the world’s mammal biomass is humans or livestock we raise, with only 4% being wild mammals, and 70% of bird biomass is human-created for consumption. These statistics underscore the urgent need to regenerate depleting soils to secure our food chain. By fostering fungi, avoiding monocultures, and enhancing biodiversity, regenerative agriculture offers a path forward, a message that resonates with our program’s mission to build resilient landscapes.
Funded through the Queensland Government’s $6 million Grazing Practice Change Program under the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program, Empowering Adaptive Graziers provides landholders with exclusive workshops, field days, and resources. Our upcoming Natural Sequence Farming course with Stuart Andrews from Tarwyn Park Training in the Bundaberg region will further this journey, diving into landscape hydrology and ecosystem restoration.
Join the Regenerative Movement
The masterclass’s energy echoed the “next level” feedback from our RCS Grazing for Profit graduates, with attendees feeling “inspired,” “grateful,” and “optimistic.” We’re already seeing impact, with graziers like Scott Hodgson and Mikael Pedlow in the South Burnett applying these principles through land condition assessments with our team.
If you’re a landholder, educator, or community member in the Burnett Mary region eager to join this movement, we invite you to get involved. Contact Virginia Kelleher at 0428 765 676 or virginia.kelleher@bmrg.org.au to learn about upcoming events and how you can contribute to a sustainable future.
Thank you to Nicole Masters, Integrity Soils, and our vibrant community for making this masterclass a resounding success. Together, we’re building healthier soils, stronger landscapes, and thriving communities!