Resilient Farming Learning Groups
Learn from peers and new alternative systems and ways of thinking.
Up to 10 farming businesses (maximum two participants per business) can register for two peer-to-peer working groups beginning February and March 2026. To register please contact Katrina.Sasse@nacc.com.au and specify which learning group you have preference for. The program will include a half-day deep-dive session, an individual farm visit or phone call with the facilitator, and a follow-up catch up with the cohort. All for FREE!
*SOLD OUT* 20 February 2026 | Learning Group 1 | Kevin Elmy of Cover Crops Canada | Half Day Deep Dive Session *SOLD OUT*
Led by Kevin Elmy, a leading expert in regenerative agriculture, farmers will focus on better understanding soil health principles, and the importance of plant group diversity for regenerative agriculture. This working group will mostly focus on learning about unlocking profit through soil biology and plant diversity and those starting out to experiment with regenerative agriculture practices on farm.
About the Facilitator | Kevin Elmy
Kevin Elmy is a Canadian agronomist, regenerative agriculture educator and coach based in Saskatchewan, who has consulted widely across Western Canada and Australia. After purchasing a run-down piece of land in 1999, Kevin spent more than two decades rebuilding soil function through the use of cover crops, diverse rotations and well-managed livestock.
Kevin is a respected speaker who has dedicated his life and work to guiding farmers and landholders towards resilient, low-input systems that work with nature rather than against it. Through his books Cover Cropping in Western Canada and Not Just Dirt, Kevin helps farmers understand how healthy soils and improved soil ecology — supported by better choices of crops, pastures and species blends — can reduce reliance on synthetic inputs while improving resilience, productivity and animal performance.
Kevin will facilitate Learning Group 1 for the regenerative agriculture community in the Northern Agricultural Region, bringing together those already exploring soil health, plant function and livestock integration with those who are keen to advance and learn from regenerative approaches. The group will focus on practical topics such as using multi-species systems to improve soil function, with the aim of creating a supportive learning environment that encourages shared experience, peer learning and on-farm application.
3 March 2026 | Learning Group 2 | Nick Eyres of Greenough Specialty Ag | Half Day Deep Dive Session
Led by Nick Eyres, an Independent Agronomist from the Northern Ag Region (NAR), this group is for farmers with a willingness to support new ideas to remain viable and refine inputs, with a special focus on managing opportunities for N recovery, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and legume species. This group will dive into challenging the status quo within the broadacre agriculture sector and assisting one another to adapt their systems or trial new strategies in challenging, but high potential environments.
About the Facilitator | Nick Eyres
Nick Eyres, of Greenough Specialty Ag, is an independent agronomist specialising in sustainable broadacre agricultural production. His consultancy supports farm businesses through practical, evidence-based agronomic strategies that are tailored to local landscapes, farming systems and on-farm decision making. Based in Greenough, Nick also manages a small block where he lives with his young family.
Nick’s career spans both conventional and alternative farming systems, with a strong focus on optimising inputs, managing risk and improving long-term system performance. His work includes research into the legacy impacts of legume species and their role in improving nitrogen use efficiency and farm profitability. He sees significant opportunity for increased productivity in the Northern Agricultural Region through smarter rotations, effective break crops and better use of existing resources.
Nick works closely with growers who are building resilient, future-focused farming systems and value whole-farm outcomes. He is actively involved in regional grower groups and regularly presents on soil health, system optimisation and sustainable land management. His approach balances current farming practices with traditional knowledge and emerging, soil- and landscape-friendly innovations.
For Learning Group 2, Nick will focus on practical, decision-ready agronomy that participants can apply straight away. Topics will include understanding nitrogen banking and recovery following legumes, optimising cereal crop performance, and making informed input decisions. The group will work through the 2026 season together, sharing real-world challenges and successes in a collaborative, peer-based environment that supports early-career and next-generation growers.
What is involved in a Deep Dive Session?
These sessions are more than just a workshop. They will be a facilitated exploration of individual farm businesses’ challenges supported by peer to peer learning. Farmers will review and share challenges and ‘stuff ups’ as well as wins and gains. The facilitator will help identify practical solutions and set clear goals to overcome challenges. Each farmer will be led to plan to adapt their existing systems through a small practical change, or develop an innovative trials or demonstration they will implement in 2026. If you’ve been wondering about that idea and wanting to identify a clear starting points for change – one of these learning groups are for you!
Following the Deep Dive Session the learning group will have:
- A follow up phone call or farm visit with the facilitator (Mid-late 2026)
- A face to Face catch up with the learning group focusing on reviewing outcomes so far after the Deep Dive (Mid-late 2026)
- An on-going farmer led support group or network channel (e.g. Whatsapp) to continue to bounce ideas, successes and challenges.
What’s In it for you?
- An intensive capacity building and learning experience, FREE of charge.
- There is an option for you to receive a $500 payment if you would like to take part in an NACC NRM Survey before June 2026.
- Catering included.
- Participants will be responsible for any travel and accommodation expenses incurred to participate in learning group events.
Register your interest today!
Katrina Sasse | Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator, NACC NRM
M 0447 361 335 | E katrina.sasse@nacc.com.au | T (08) 9938 0110
Supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program through RegenWA’s Accelerating Regenerative Agriculture Adoption Project.Supported by Future Farm Foundations project under the Natural Heritage Trust’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.