Can A Small Farm Be Regenerative?

Two years into regenerative farming — what’s actually working… and what isn’t?
This is the honest reality of reducing chemicals while improving soil and plant health.

In this video, I walk through my own farm in Victoria and break down the wins, mistakes, and ongoing challenges of transitioning to regenerative agriculture. With agronomist Ben from GreenMate Agriculture, we assess real paddock results, vineyard issues, and what practical steps come next.

This matters if you’re trying to:

Reduce chemical inputs without losing productivity
Improve soil biology and long-term resilience
Transition from conventional to regenerative systems

We cover:

Multi-species pasture and vineyard systems
Pest pressure, weeds, and biodiversity trade-offs
Soil testing beyond NPK — including biology
Managing copper and chemical reduction in vineyards
Practical regen strategies that actually hold up in the real world

This isn’t theory — it’s a working farm, with real outcomes.

Keywords
regenerative agriculture Australia, soil biology farming, reduce chemical inputs farming, vineyard regenerative practices, multi species pasture system, soil microbiology PCR test farming, sustainable farming transition, grazing systems regenerative farming, farm soil health improvement, practical regenerative agriculture

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#regenerativeagriculture #soilhealth #farming #sustainablefarming #australianagriculture

Location: Victoria, Australia
Featuring: Ben (GreenMate Agriculture, Cranbourne VIC) https://greenmate.com.au/

Systems Covered: Vineyard regen transition, multi-species pasture, soil biology testing, foliar nutrition

00:00 Why I Started Regenerative Farming
00:40 Honest Update: Wins, Losses & Concerns
01:00 Agronomist Walkthrough Begins
02:20 Multi-Species Vineyard System Explained
03:20 Pest Pressure & Biodiversity Trade-Offs
04:00 Weed Explosion: Problem or Process?
05:50 When Should You Intervene?
06:25 Uneven Growth: What’s Going Wrong?
07:00 Soil Testing Beyond NPK (Biology Matters)
08:20 PCR Soil Testing Explained
09:30 Pasture Wins: What’s Actually Working
10:00 Vetch, Microbes & Nutrient Cycling
11:20 Herbicide Reality in Regenerative Systems
13:10 Livestock Self-Selection & Plant Health
15:10 Reducing Chemicals in Vineyards
16:40 Biological Sprays vs Copper
18:00 Transition Strategy: What to Expect
19:00 Why Horticulture Is Harder Than Grazing
20:05 Soil Health Triangle Explained
21:00 Feeding Soil Biology (Not Just Plants)
23:00 Applying Microbial Fertiliser
24:10 Boosting Photosynthesis Naturally
25:20 How Leaf Function Drives Soil Health
26:40 The Regenerative Mindset Shift
27:30 Final Thoughts: From Killing to Growing