FAQs

While there's no universally accepted formal definition, Regenerative Agriculture Alliance (Australia) says: 

“Regenerative agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystem services.”

Here are the main ideas in plain terms:

✅ Core Principles

• Build soil health
  Practices that increase soil organic matter, structure and life (e.g. microbes, earthworms).

• Protect the ground
  Keeping soil covered with pasture, crops, stubble or mulch to reduce erosion and retain moisture. Restrict livestock from steep slopes vulnerable to landslips and erosion.

• Reduce disturbance
  Minimising cultivation/ploughing and cutting back on and potentially eventually eliminating synthetic fertilisers and chemicals.

• Diverse plant species
  Crop rotations, multispecies pastures and cover crops to improve soil biology and break pest cycles.

• Integrate animals (where appropriate)
  Managed grazing that mimics natural herd movement to cycle nutrients and stimulate plant growth.

• Increase water retention
  Improving infiltration and reducing runoff or evaporation through better ground cover and soil structure.

• Grow biodiversity
  Protect and enhance bushland areas, waterways, dams and wetlands from grazing animals and harmful agricultural practice. Integrate native trees and vegetation into production areas through things like shelterbelts, paddock trees and agroforestry. Control weeds and encourage beneficial insects, animals and practice too as part of integrated pest and weed management.

✅ What it aims to achieve

• Healthier, carbon-rich soils

• Better yields and pasture productivity over time

• Reduced reliance on synthetic inputs

• Greater resilience to droughts, floods and pests

• More profitable and sustainable farm businesses

• Enhanced ecosystem services (water quality, pollination, climate benefits)

 ❌ What it's not

It’s not a single fixed method, a certification, or only “organic farming with a new name.” It’s outcome-based and adaptable to the landscape, enterprise and climate. 

🤝 Community guidelines 

TRAIN is a safe space, so please be considerate of the house rules:

1. Be respectful and constructive 
No questions are silly. Debate is fine, but rudeness or personal attacks are not. 

2. Keep it local and relevant 
Stick to regenerative agriculture and relevant local events or opportunities. 

3. Share to support, not to sell
No ads or promos without Admin's permission.

4. Protect privacy
Don’t share personal information or private conversations without permission. 

5. Use plain, positive language
Use plain, positive language so everyone feels welcome. 

6. Keep an open mind but bring a grain of salt
Be open to new ideas but do your own homework. Try things out with a 'safe-to-fail' mindset, start small and closely monitor. 

7. Report issues, don’t escalate
Flag problems with Admin – don’t escalate. Rule-breakers may be shown the door. 

The page is open to local farmers in the Tweed Shire and Northern Rivers as well as aspiring landholders, industry bodies and experts and others with a genuine interest in contributing to regenerative agriculture in our area.

The content and conversations are driven by farmers, land managers and local knowledge holders however Council's Sustainable Agriculture Program administers the page and will contribute to discussions and share relevant program updates, field days, news and opportunities.

Just make a post or comment in the TRAIN Talks forum. Farmers, land managers and local knowledge holders and Council staff can respond, and others can add their experiences.

You can:
• Ask questions
• Share tips or solutions
• Promote local field days or workshops
• Connect with other farmers
• Post relevant opportunities or resources

It’s not the place for:

• Political debates unless it's strictly on-topic
• Advertising/business promotion without approval
• Topics unrelated to farming or land management
• Promoting unsustainable or harmful agricultural practices

Absolutely! This is a moving train, we want to add improvements as we go, post on the page or contact the admins directly if you’d like to see something added or improvements made.