Low Input Farming: Breaking Down Barriers with the Haggertys

Australian farmers Ian and Dianne Haggerty brought more than just stories from home when they visited the Stirlingville Farm near Carstairs this August. With over 60,000 acres (approximately 18,000 hectares) under their management and a track record of farming without synthetic fertilizers, they offered a bold vision for how soil biology can drive both productivity and profitability—even across dramatically different landscapes.

A Unique Resource for Producers

Dianne remarked that nothing like the Regenerative Alberta Living Lab exists in Australia. Access to the kind of data the Living Lab is generating—on soil biology, input alternatives, and regenerative outcomes—would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars back home. For her, the ability to walk onto a farm in Alberta and participate in a free-flowing discussion with peers and researchers was something special.

That comment set the tone for the day, hosted by Central Alberta Livestock and Forage Association (CALFA)—formerly known as Grey Wooded Forage Association—which welcomed 30 producers to explore the practical potential of regenerative agriculture in Alberta. Six of the attendees were part of the Living Lab’s producer network, making for a rich exchange of ideas.

The Haggertys' Journey: Natural Intelligence Farming

The Haggertys farm in Western Australia’s central wheatbelt, about 250 kilometres northeast of Perth. For years, they followed a conventional system—until the cracks began to show. Dry seasons hit harder. Input costs kept rising, yet productivity stayed flat. Soil tests reported sufficient nutrient levels, but tissue tests told a different story: plants weren’t receiving nutrients in the right balance, even with a full mineral fertilizer program.

Rainfall patterns had shifted dramatically since the year 2000—from an annual average of 325 mm down to just 200 mm. And worse, the rain was arriving in tiny bursts—3 to 5 mm at a time—followed by drying winds. Evaporation took more than it gave. The soils began to form hard pans, choking root development. Something had to change.

So, Ian and Dianne began digging deep into biologically-based farming systems. Their goal? To rebuild soil microbial communities, improve nutrient uptake, and increase water retention. What followed was a massive learning curve—one that combined global ecological knowledge with years of trial, error, and on-the-ground innovation in some of the world’s most challenging farming conditions.

Today, they call their approach Natural Intelligence Farming. It’s a system designed to harness the dynamic relationships between soil, plant, animal, and even human microbiomes. Their mission is clear: rebuild soils in semi-arid regions, produce and market premium food and fibre, and contribute to global health by supporting ecosystems from the ground up.

The Haggertys’ System: Compost Over Chemicals

A cornerstone of the Haggertys’ practice is the complete removal of synthetic fertilizer when they take over new land. In its place, they use compost and microbial inputs. This radical shift works in their context—Australia’s much older soils have significantly diminished biological life, so reintroducing biology via seed treatments and compost is essential to support a functioning crop system.

But here in Alberta, things are different. Our soils are younger, with more resilient microbial communities. That means cutting all synthetic inputs and switching straight to compost is unlikely to deliver the same results. As the group discussed during the event, adapting principles—not copying methods—is the key to success.

Inside the Haggertys’ Operation

The Haggertys are hands-on operators of a massive mixed enterprise. Their farming system centers on microbial seed treatments, compost extracts, diverse crop rotations, and livestock integration—all aimed at regenerating soil and optimizing biology. You can get a look at their operation in this short video, which shows how they’re transforming vast tracts of land using soil-first strategies.

The Real Question: Can You Cut Costs and Stay Profitable?

Throughout the day, one central question kept surfacing: can reducing input costs lead to greater profit? The answer, as the Haggertys emphasized, is “yes, but…”—and that “but” is where safeguards and planning come in. No one wants to sacrifice yields or farm viability in pursuit of change.

In Alberta, the answer may lie in a gradual approach: starting with microbial seed treatments or low-risk compost applications, measuring outcomes, and scaling only when it makes sense. It’s about reducing reliance on inputs—not abandoning them overnight—and focusing on building soil resilience in a way that works for each individual operation.

Making It Work Here

What came through loud and clear is that regenerative practices must be tailored. Alberta’s soils offer some unique advantages—but also require different strategies. Rather than looking for silver bullets, the focus is on understanding soil biology, reducing dependence on external inputs where possible, and managing change in a way that protects yields.

What’s Next?

This event, made possible through collaboration between CALFA (formerly Grey Wooded Forage Association) and the Regenerative Alberta Living Lab, showed that cross-continental knowledge exchange can spark real progress—when it’s grounded in practical insight.

If you’re curious about reducing input costs while protecting yield and profitability, reach out to RALL or CALFA. Start where you are. Ask the hard questions. Test small. Learn fast. And remember—every farm’s path to regeneration is different, but it always begins with understanding your soil.