About Russell Young
What does it take to become a regenerative seed grower?
Do farmers understand the benefits of growing your seed in a biological manner?
Click on the photo to watch the first ms video on Russell’s farm.
Having a closer look at the brassica growth and roots.
Meeting Russell was one of those ‘wow’ moments. We hadn’t even planned to visit his farm but we were in the local area for a conference that Martin was speaking at. In fact Martin had been asked by Dr Christine Jones to present his 4 way seed grading presentation at the upcoming conference so we decided to gate crash the farm visit too. If it was good enough for Dr CJ to visit Russell’s farm then we were definitely not going to miss out on that adventure.
Russell welcomed us all onto his farm to see what he had been up to. The multi species (ms) that he had planted was growing beautifully. Yes, he had had a good season but still, this ms mix was off the charts.
Click on photo to view Russell’s ms crimping video.
Russell Young and David Lang with the roller crimper over a 12 way mix.
This conversation we had in the cab was completely unplanned. I just took the opportunity to put the mic on Russell and ask him as many questions as I could. I am so grateful that he took the time to explain his plans and let me film.
Checking to see the seed placement between the MS rows.
Since then I have been on-farm many times and yes always with a camera and mic. Russell has been so patient with me, in fact he calls me ‘the interrogator’ because I ask hundreds of questions and sometimes I find myself pushing him to step a little further into a different way of thinking.
His success is due to his methodical experimental approach and his knowledge for growing top quality and high % germination rates. He has a foot in the commodity market and a foot in seed production niche.
Personally I wish he would expand his ms trials and condition more of his land whilst growing a ms cash crop. As you can appreciate Russell won’t go all in for fear of losing, failing and collapsing his enterprise. No matter which side of the fence you are sitting (possibly smack bang on the fence) always keep an open mind. A cog may clunk into operation and a new perspective may be seen. One thing is for sure, I’ll keep asking my questions .
Checking the grain quality in the MS mix.
Russell takes the time to show me things and talk me through what he believes is going on. I once sat in his buggy looking at something that wasn’t meant to be happening. The roots of the tress were robbing the moisture from the monoculture crop, there was a distinct semi circle of failing wheat. I remember saying to him, “This isn’t meant to be happening” he looked at me and shrugged, “Yeah I’m not sure what’s going on there either.”
Going back to that moment in my mind my question should have been, “If this crop was ms would this still be happening? Is it because it is a monoculture crop?”
Russell asking an audience what type of MS seeds they need on their farms.
Lee Fieldhouse organised an event at Chris Eggert’s dairy farm and it was the perfect opportunity for Russell to address his audience. The question he posed was, “As I am a seed producer, what crops do you need me to grow? What ms seeds would you like to sow?” Most of the audience were graziers on the coastal areas of NSW up to the Queensland border. This area is subtropical and has a high rainfall. It was really interesting to watch the response.
People didn’t know what they wanted. This was when I realised that what Russell, Lee, Chris and I know is because of years or experimenting and walking the talk. Observing regenerative farms, going on many field days, sitting in conference after conference. Talking to Dr Christine Jones, Walter Jehne, Stuart Andrews and the likes. I slapped both Russell and I in the face. Collectively we know a lot. We have seen so much on so many different farms, that we need to lead the way.
Russell was to find himself being interrogated on the way home as to what he can realistically grow as a ms cash crop to produce seeds for graziers. This was when the logistics for grading kicked in and as he said to me, “I’ve successfully told myself all the reasons why I can’t achieve this.” At least Russell had acknowledged his negativity, the only way was up from here!
Russell ‘In the back of the Ute’ (ITBOTU).