Assessments
A clear understanding of your farming and environmental systems is achieved with thorough assessment. Without this essential information, decision-making lacks accuracy and insight, increasing environmental and financial risks to your farm and business.
The intricacy of your farm and connected environment cannot be undervalued or underestimated; from understanding the correct soil microbial ratios to productive pasture mixes and seed densities, land capability classes and how your surrounding landscapes are functioning. Our regenerative consultants possess the holistic understanding and skills required to consider such intricacies and more, we will complete all required assessments and evaluations on your property.
Our assessment services are designed to complement one another, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of your property or land under management. We conduct assessments independently or in collaboration with trusted consultants, depending on your needs and budget. With a strong network and partnerships with leading assessment providers, we equip you with the insights necessary to make informed decisions and achieve your desired outcomes.
Assessments we provide:
GIS Analysis
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information (what things are like there) (Esri, 2024). GIS is a powerful tool for farm and environmental planning, providing spatial insights that support landscape analysis, infrastructure design, biodiversity management and water management. By combining aerial imagery with key data, GIS helps landholders make informed decisions about their property.
Using GIS software, we conduct in-depth analyses to better understand your landscape, including:
Terrain Analysis – Evaluating topographical features such as slope, aspect, and hillshade to inform land capability and zoning.
Water Catchment Analysis – Assessing hydrological characteristics of dams and waterways to guide infrastructure design and water management strategies.
Landscape Characteristic Mapping – Utilizing publicly available spatial data to assess geology, landforms, soil, hydrology, and vegetation, informing land capability.
Flood Simulations – Modeling water movement and potential flood risks.
For higher-resolution and up-to-date imagery, some properties and projects may require drone surveys. Regenerating Farms collaborates with experienced mapping contractors, including drone operators, to provide advanced GIS assessments tailored to your needs.
For more information or to request a quote, contact us today.
Soil Assessments
Healthy soil is the foundation of agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and ecosystem function. Understanding your soil requires indepth assessment, including soil testing and interpretation.
A soil assessment is essential for any farming enterprise to:
Establish soil health benchmarks
Measure progress over time
Develop pasture and cropping plans
Create remineralisation & fertiliser programs
Farm layout, including locating farm infrastructure & access roads
The Benefits of Regenerative Soil Practices
By adopting regenerative soil management, land managers can enhance:
Soil resilience & ecosystem health
Water infiltration & retention
Soil carbon sequestration
Nutrient density in crops
Biodiversity above & below ground
Pollutant degradation & reduced runoff
Soil Assessments We Offer
Regenerating Farms provides tailored soil assessments for all farming enterprises, including:
Soil sampling for lab testing
Soil biology & chemistry analysis
Rapid Soil Assessments (R
Soil structure & compaction tests
pH & biological indicator testing
Geotechnical assessments
Soil coring & carbon tests
Get Expert Support
After a comprehensive soil assessment, we provide tailored recommendations and connect you with trusted suppliers. If you need ongoing support, we offer implementation services to help integrate sustainable soil management practices.
Contact us today to book a soil assessment.
Land Capability Assessment
A Land Capability Assessment (LCA) evaluates the suitability of different areas within a landscape for specific land use activities such as buildings, effluence, grazing, cropping, and agroforestry. Understanding land capability helps optimize productivity, minimize risks, and inform sustainable land use decisions.
Our Approach
We follow the Guidelines for Land Capability Assessment in Victoria (Rowe et al., 1981) to assess the natural characteristics of your property in relation to your proposed farming system. Our assessment examines:
Suitability & productivity potential of land for your intended use
Environmental risks associated with that use
Risk mitigation strategies to enhance resilience and sustainability
Assessment Process
We conduct on-site and desktop assessments to evaluate land capability, focusing on:
1. Soil Characteristics
Topsoil depth
Water holding capacity (Ribbon Test)
Water infiltration rate (Infiltrometer)
Soil dispersibility (Emerson Aggregate Test)
Soil electrical conductivity (EC Meter)
Subsoil characteristics
2. Landscape Characteristics
Geology & topography
Slope analysis
Hydrological features (e.g., drainage, water flow)
Vegetation cover & type
Deliverables & Benefits
Land capability boundaries to guide infrastructure placement and management strategies
GIS-based property map visualizing key assessment findings
Comprehensive report with recommendations for sustainable land use
Who is this for?
A Land Capability Assessment is beneficial for:
New farmers or landholders establishing a farm layout and enterprise.
Experienced farmers seeking deeper insight into land capability classes and landscape functions to guide decision making.
This assessment is included in our Farm Management Plan service.
Contact us today to request a quote.
Pasture Assessments
Managing a pasture involves much more than simply grazing livestock. The health and productivity of a pasture depend on multiple factors, including:
Water flow & rainfall
Soil type & health
Pasture species mix
Herd type, age & size
Seasonal conditions & local climate
Production needs & management skills
Rest & recovery times
When these factors are optimized, pasture species thrive, providing high-quality feed for livestock.
Our Pasture Assessment Process
A thorough on-site assessment helps establish a knowledge foundation for informed pasture management decisions. Our pasture assessments collect data on:
Pasture species composition, density, height and weight
Leaf sap concentration (an indicator of plant health)
Using Pasture Data to Improve Productivity
The insights from our assessments help determine:
Pasture quality & productivity (measured in dry matter per hectare and megajoules (MJ) per hectare)
Carrying capacity – How many livestock your pasture can sustain
Pasture improvement strategies – Ways to enhance productivity
Feed budgeting & herd size estimates
For higher-resolution nutritional analysis, we offer Feedtest sampling, which is sent to a laboratory (additional costs apply).
This data can also inform a holistic grazing plan to improve long-term pasture health and resilience.
Supporting Your Pasture Management
Regenerating Farms has strong industry connections with seed suppliers, equipment contractors, and specialists to support your pasture management goals. Our pasture assessments can be conducted independently or as part of a Whole Farm Plan.
Contact us today to request a quote.
Natural Capital Accounting
Regenerating Farms supports land managers in assessing and enhancing their natural capital, focusing on biodiversity and carbon. Through trusted frameworks like Accounting for Nature® (AfN) and carbon assessments, we help farmers measure and improve environmental outcomes while accessing financial incentives.
Carbon Accounting & Carbon Farming
Carbon is fundamental to climate regulation, soil health, and farm productivity. Land management practices either increase or deplete carbon levels in soil and vegetation, resulting in regenerative or degrading outcomes.
Carbon & Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative farming focuses on carbon cycling to build soil fertility and resilience. Practices that increase carbon sequestration include:
Revegetation and tree planting
Year-round ground cover
Multi-species crops and diverse pastures
Rotational grazing and pasture recovery
Increasing soil carbon can generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), which can be:
Sold in carbon markets
Used for carbon-neutral accreditation
Australia’s ACCU Scheme
Under the ACCU Scheme, land managers earn one ACCU per tonne of CO₂ equivalent emissions stored or avoided(Australian Government, 2025). This provides a financial incentive for adopting regenerative practices while enhancing environmental outcomes.
Carbon Assessments & Projects
To measure carbon levels or participate in a carbon project, land managers require:
Soil Carbon Baseline Assessments
Vegetation Carbon Baseline Assessments
Accounting for Nature® Assessments
Starting a Carbon Project
Navigating carbon markets and legislation can be complex. Regenerating Farms partners with leading vegetation and soil carbon facilitators to help land managers assess, generate, and manage carbon credits.
Options include:
Self-managed projects with guidance from The Carbon Farming Foundation
Service provider-managed projects, such as Regenerative Australian Farmers
Contact us to start a carbon project or conduct carbon assessments on your farm.
Accounting for Nature® (AfN)
Accounting for Nature® (AfN) is a transparent, verifiable, and certifiable framework that informs investment, policy, and management decisions in natural capital. It supports:
Carbon co-benefits
Green bonds
Environmental offsets
Impact investments
Developed by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, AfN provides a trusted, science-based Certification Standard for Natural Capital Accounting.
Expert Accreditation & Our Role
AfN accredits experts in two categories:
Asset Experts – Specialists in native vegetation, fauna, soil, and water
General Experts – Environmental accounting specialists who develop Environmental Accounts
At Regenerating Farms, our General Expert can help land mangers evaluate their natural capital.
Contact us to learn more.
Farm Enterprise Feasibility Assessment
The experienced team at Regenerating Farms collaborates with landholders and managers to assess the feasibility of new farming enterprises. We conduct budget forecasts, market analysis, and land capability assessments to ensure your venture is set up for success—whether in horticulture, livestock, or mixed farming.
A Farm Enterprise Feasibility Assessment (FEFA) evaluates:
Vision & Goals – Defining the purpose and long-term objectives of your farm.
Enterprise Type – Determining the most suitable farming enterprise.
Farm Layout – Developing a site plan, including water supply, access roads, and infrastructure.
Land Capability – Assessing soil health, landscape function, and suitability for farming.
Resource Requirements – Identifying short-, medium-, and long-term inputs.
Infrastructure & Equipment – Outlining necessary tools for efficient farm management.
Financial Planning – Budget estimations and revenue forecasts.
Market & Distribution – Exploring options such as farmers' markets, wholesale, and retail.
Risk Management – Identifying and mitigating potential shocks and stresses to your business.
Environmental Considerations – Assessing landscape characteristics, hydrology, soil health, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem function.
Conservation Management – Planning weed and pest control, ecosystem restoration, and soil remediation.
Implementation Strategy – Outlining a roadmap for farm development.
A FEFA is often required for planning permit applications and forms part of a comprehensive Farm Plan submitted to your local council. A well-structured farm plan ensures a clear pathway for developing and implementing your enterprise.
Find out more about our farm planning services and contact us today to request a quote.
Native Vegetation Assessments
Regenerating Farms provides expert ecological assessments of native vegetation communities. Our team offers:
General advice on native vegetation condition and management
Formal assessments using the Habitat Hectare method
What is the Habitat Hectare Method?
The Habitat Hectare method (Vegetation Quality Assessments) is a site-based vegetation assessment that evaluates the condition of native vegetation by comparing it to a benchmark for the same Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC). This benchmark reflects the average mature condition of the EVC before European settlement.
How Assessments Support Decision-Making
The data gathered in the assessments help to:
Plan for biodiversity protection and management
Identify priority areas for biodiversity investment
Minimise impacts from native vegetation removal
Assess impacts in line with the Guidelines for the Removal, Destruction, or Lopping of Native Vegetation
Determine biodiversity improvements from native vegetation offsets
Get in Touch
For more information or to book an assessment, contact us today.
Biodiversty Assessments
Biodiversity is the variety of all living organisms, their genetic information, and the ecosystems they form (Yarra Ranges Council, 2022). It is a fundamental characteristic of natural systems, shaped over millions of years through adaptation and co-evolution. Research shows that biodiversity is essential for ecosystem resilience and plays a critical role in sustainable agriculture (Erisman et al., 2016).
Biodiversity & Farm Resilience
Greater biodiversity in an agroecosystem leads to increased environmental and production resilience. Every land use should be assessed for its biodiversity value and managed to enhance ecological health over time. As a landholder, improving biodiversity on your property can provide benefits such as:
Increased bird and insect populations that control pest species
Vegetation that stabilises soil and filters sediments, reducing water pollution and erosion
Healthier soil fungi and microorganisms, supporting higher crop and pasture yields
Our Biodiversity Assessments
Regenerating Farms offers biodiversity assessments for new or established farms and conservation areas, including:
Ecological Benefit Assessment
Threatened Species Assessment
Entomology (Insect) Assessment
Microbiological Assessment (including Aquatic Ecosystems)
Bird Surveys
Mammalian Surveys
Expert Support for Biodiversity Management
We collaborate with specialist ecologists, entomologists, and academics to ensure scientific accuracy in assessing your farm’s biodiversity. Depending on your needs, we conduct assessments independently or with expert partners to provide practical recommendations for building a stable and healthy biological community on your property.
Contact us to discuss how we can support biodiversity on your farm.
Hydrological Assessments
Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface, yet only 2.5% is freshwater, with just a fraction available in our rivers, streams, wetlands, and estuaries (USGS, 2023]). These waterways are the lifeblood of ecosystems, supporting:
Biodiversity and habitat
Carbon storage and nutrient cycling
Water supply for domestic and commercial use
Sustainable Water Management for Farms
A well-managed farm water system enhances productivity while protecting waterway health. Key considerations include:I
On-farm water use
Supply and quality of water sources
Farm dam construction
Implementing regenerative water management strengthens the social, environmental, cultural, and economic values of waterways.
Waterway & Water Supply Assessments
Regenerating Farms offers expert assessments to support sustainable water use:
Water Supply Testing
Water Catchment Analysis
Water Infrastructure Assessments & Recommendations
Soil Hydrology Assessments
Sediment movement and soil health
Recreation and mental wellbeing
Reticulation and distribution options
Water efficiency improvements
Water capture and storage solutions
Irrigation Planning & Installation
Ephemeral Stream Condition Assessments
Wetland System Assessments
Hydrogeological assessment
Expert Support for Water Management
Whether conducting assessments independently or with trusted partners, we deliver practical solutions for resilient, productive, and ecologically sound water systems.
Contact us today to discuss your water management needs.