Ben Ryan is a sheep and cattle farmer operating on 760 hectares in Deep Creek, approximately 100km south of Adelaide, on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

We visited Ben and his family in autumn and winter last year to chat about the journey into farming regeneratively and capture life on their farm.

In the last 20 years, the Ryan family has transitioned their approach to farm management from conventional farming methods to regenerative agriculture.

For them, the core concept is to maximise energy from the naturally occurring resources. Ben says, “The farm aims to operate and prosper without the need for any external energy, except that provided from nature; sun, wind, rain, air, animal, plants and human ability.”

By practising regenerative methods, their overall awareness of the land, on which they both live and farm, has been increased. This has led to making strategic decisions that strike a far greater balance with the natural environment, while continuing to produce a high-quality product.

For the Ryans, farming regeneratively has meant adopting holistic grazing practices, such as rotating large herds through smaller paddocks with optimal rest periods.

Ben believes that “maintaining a diverse ground-cover is really essential; it protects our soil which is good for the environment and our production”.

He says, “Good pasture is about maximising the growth and diversity we have now. Grazing management optimises the opportunity for new species, including deep-rooted perennials to prosper.”

For more information about regenerative agriculture, please phone the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board’s Willunga office on 8550 3400.

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