Regen AgTek Land Conversion Services

Land clearance has been a common practice throughout history, often with detrimental consequences. Traditional methods such as chaining with bulldozers, chemical application followed by burning, and indiscriminate felling and burning have scarred our landscapes, leading to extensive erosion and soil degradation. Burning organic material destroys vital soil

biology and disrupts soil structure, creating conditions conducive to the proliferation

of woody weeds. In the natural world, every removal must be counterbalanced to maintain

equilibrium. In agricultural practices like farming, cropping, or horticulture, this equilibrium is often achieved by adding fertilisers, initiating a cycle of dependency. However, during land clearing, there is a singular opportunity to reintroduce organic matter, carbon, and humus into the soil—a critical step given that many soils contain less than 1% organic matter due to years of tillage, overgrazing, and erosion. Therefore, when undertaking clearing projects, we focus on optimising above-ground vegetation and devising strategies to effectively reintegrate these materials back into the soil.

Considering the value chain, it's essential to identify resources that can be utilised effectively. For

instance, trees suitable for milling or fence post-production offer valuable materials. Larger trees

remaining after selective harvesting can be processed or ground into mulch, which is a vital

component in compost production. Additionally, all remaining vegetation is mulched in situ, with the resulting mulch layer left atop the soil. To further enhance soil integration, large soil stabilisers are employed. These machines blend mulch into the ground while grinding stumps and roots to a depth of 200mm or below, ensuring optimal soil enrichment and stability.

Many may baulk at the perceived expense of broad-acre mulching, overlooking the substantial and enduring benefits it offers. Our extensive experience has shown that for every 10% increase in organic matter returned to the soil, there's a corresponding yield increase of 1 ton of dry matter per hectare annually. Our projects typically aim to reintroduce 20% to 40% organic matter, resulting in an additional 2 to 4 tonnes of dry matter per hectare. These gains translate directly into enhanced agricultural outputs, including increased milk solids, butterfat content, beef weight gains, and larger crop yields. Furthermore, mulching improves moisture retention, water holding capacity, enhanced stock holding, drought resilience, and erosion prevention. In the case of our New Zealand forest-to-dairy conversion project, the return on investment was realised within just five years, making the system not only cost-effective but profitable. Given these benefits, it is worth considering why farmers invest in cover crops only to plough them back into the ground, highlighting the long-term value of organic matter management.

Another concern is the potential for poor growth outcomes following land conversion.

Transitioning from a fungal-dominated soil ecosystem to a bacterial-dominated one, particularly

when reverting to pasture, can lead to significant nitrogen drawdown. In our extensive experience, we successfully converted over 30 thousand hectares from old pine plantations to dairy farms. While initial trials with costly microbial supplements revealed nitrogen deficiencies in the first year, we discovered that the soil's natural biology, once activated, generates nitrogen. We now incorporate a mineralisation mix containing 90 essential minerals often lacking in depleted soils to support this process. These minerals serve to nourish soil biology, providing a significant boost to the breakdown of organic matter. Our track record includes the world's largest land conversion projects, underscoring our expertise in sustainable soil management practices.

Experience the difference with Regen AgTek:

• Access skilled contractors proficient in precision equipment operation.

• Receive expert consulting services for producing top-tier pastures with optimal efficiency and affordability.

• Explore customisable equipment options tailored to your specific needs.

Unlock the potential of your agricultural endeavours with Regen AgTek.