Belinda Bailey, Syngenta sustainable farming manager, demonstrates green cover for soil enhancement.

Created in partnership with specialist seed supplier Kings, the mixtures have been specifically selected to achieve reliable establishment under farm conditions, as well as cost-effective management.

All Syngenta Operation Pollinator seed mixes are backed by years of research and studies of the ecological and biodiversity gains, including for pollinating insects and beneficial pest predators, along with agronomic features of nutrient capture and soil enhancement.

The mixes also fit in with SFI and Countryside Stewardship schemes, including pollen and nectar flower mix (CS AB1 & AB8) and provision of winter bird food (CS AB9), or as a watercourse buffer strip (CS SW4) – attracting payments now worth up to £732 per hectare.

What’s more, the mixtures may attract additional payments for growers through the advent of new and diverse funding opportunities coming in from the private sector.

Belinda Bailey, Syngenta sustainable farming manager, highlighted the mixes and recommended management techniques have been refined by 20 years of Syngenta investment in Operation Pollinator research and on-farm trials to ensure reliability and success for growers.

“Ecological payments for many are an increasingly important part of a farm’s overall income stream,” she said. “Ensuring habitats can be consistently created and managed effectively to meet the requirements of schemes is essential to achieve their objectives.

“The Operation Pollinator mixes that have proved so popular in past seasons continue to deliver on both ecological and economic fronts,” she continued. “New research is continuing to ensure they meet the changing legislative landscape and fit seamlessly with agronomic practices in a shift to regenerative agriculture systems.”

Syngenta Operation Pollinator seed mixes for the 2023 season

The new mixes available to farmers include:

Operation pollinator annual flower mix

A carefully selected mix of flowers designed to be easy to establish and manage, yet offering an incredibly rich diversity with impressive visual appeal when in flower. When sown in the autumn, it is one of the earliest flowering mixes in the season – before many of the perennial flower margins – to attract pollinating insects and provide habitats for beneficial pest predators.

The mix is also ideal to fill the hungry gap for insects after OSR flowering.

Seed supplier Kings describes the product as: “The mix that goes on giving, research has even shown it can be left in situ for two successive seasons with great results.”

Syngenta Green Headland Mix

A fast growing and strong rooting mix originally designed for sowing on uncropped areas surrounding potato and vegetable fields. The cover provided helps to protect soils from erosion and damage due to farm equipment, while also capturing and retaining high levels of valuable nutrients in the field.

According to Kings, growers who have used the Green Headland Mix have seen enhanced performance of the following crop compared to fields that had no cover.

Non-brassica Green Headland Mix

Designed for field vegetable growers or arable farms where brassica crops are a key part of the rotation, the non-brassica version of the Green Headland Mix provides the same benefits of soil protection and nutrient capture as the standard, while maintaining the rotational break clubroot and pests.

Moreover, research is currently looking at the benefits of planting these margins in the tramlines of vegetable fields.

Kings say the non-brassica mix may also provide benefits to farms that suffer from flea beetle infestations, which may compromise brassica establishment.

Bees and Seeds Mix

Finally, a mix that pioneered proactive multi-tier ecological habitat management. It is designed to provide vibrant flowering as a crucial source of pollen and nectar for insects through late summer and autumn, along with seed-bearing heads to give farmland birds an essential source of food through the winter months.

Kings added: “Sunflowers in the mix are a real stand-out for colour and attraction, as well as a long-lasting food source for farmland birds. The mix provides an ideal habitat for game birds and complements game cover.”

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Lincolnshire Showground, Lincolnshire Farming Conference.

Organised by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, this year’s event was centred around the theme ‘Healthy soils, Healthy minds’, sparking discussion on how healthy soils and healthy minds go hand in hand.

The theme has been a key talking point in recent years due to ongoing issues with soil health across the UK, as well as reports that 36% of farmers in the UK are “possibly” or “probably” depressed, according to RABI’s Big Farming Survey.

Kelly Hewson-Fisher, chair of the Lincolnshire Farming Conference, opened the annual event by discussing the importance of soil health, saying that increasing soil organic matter by 1% can improve the water holding capacity by 20,000 gallons per acre.

The event featured Heather Wildman, managing director at Saviour Associates, insights into her farming journey and how the life-changing Nuffield Scholarship helped her begin a career in agriculture.

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust offers funding to those starting their career in the industry, allowing new entrants to go overseas to develop their skills and learn from others, while also helping them share ideas when they return home.

After a series of inspiring talks, NFU vice president David Exwood rounded off the conference by discussing soil health on his own farm and talking about his personal experiences with mental health and why healthy soils and healthy minds go hand in hand.

The event also featured a range of topical workshop sessions on the future of farming and increasing soil productivity, as well as demonstrations, Q&A sessions, and a number of exhibitors for attendees to browse.

Sarah Duxbury, business development and trade sales manager at Lincolnshire Showground, commented: “After being unable to host the Lincolnshire Farming Conference for two years due to Covid-19, it was great to see the event back with so many attendees.

“It was an incredible event which was filled with speeches from key names in the industry who provided their unique insights and perspectives into the theme, Healthy soils, Healthy minds, a particularly important theme for all those who work in the world of farming.”

She also highlighted how the conference facilitated open and much-needed discussions on mental health in farming and shed light on the sheer number of people it affects in the industry.

Finally, she thanked all sponsors, speakers, and delegates for making the 2023 conference a memorable event, saying “it was certainly worth the two-year wait”.

“We’re already excited for next year’s conference and looking at ways to make it even better.”

For more information about Lincolnshire Showground, visit www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk.

To read the Big Farming Survey report, visit the RABI website here.

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David Newton, Timac Agro technical manager.

Mr Newton acknowledged that, while SFI funding aims to encourage activities which improve soil health, it can be hard to know where to begin.

“Under the current guidelines, farmers and growers can receive £22/ha at an introductory level, or £40/ha at an intermediate level for the ‘arable and horticultural soils’ standard, so it’s well worth investing in your soil health,” he said.

To help farmers get started, Mr Newton shared his top tips for meeting the new arable soils standard:

1. Take soil testing to the next level

Mr Newton recommends conducting a thorough soil test on the farm instead of only testing for basic nutrients and seeking advice from someone who can interpret the soil analysis results.

“Don’t just test for soil pH and macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) – the scheme requires a test for organic matter levels, so why not test trace elements and assess your soil structure at the same time?” he suggested.

1. Understand your soil type

“Understanding your soil type means understanding its advantages and challenges; how best to work with it and improve its health and biology,” Mr Newton explained.

Soil type influences structure and determines the soil’s capacity to retain nutrients and water, as well as its workability.

According to Mr Newton, lighter, sandier soils tend to be more acidic and prone to leaching due to their porous nature. They can also have lower organic matter levels, which has a direct effect on soil biology.

Meanwhile, heavier clay soils are more prone to compaction and poorer drainage due to smaller particle size and are also heavier to work. On the other hand, they are often more fertile and retain organic matter more efficiently, Mr Newton pointed out.

Therefore, understanding the type of soil on which we farm is key to improving soil structure and subsequently enhancing production.

3. Understand your trace elements

Mr Newton reminded farmers that crops require a range of essential nutrients for growth, which highlights the need for a more detailed soil analysis. Determining sulphur, calcium, manganese, copper, iron and boron levels in the soil can be useful in predicting deficiencies and limitations to plant growth in the future.

4. Maximise your soil biology

Encouraging soil biology to thrive is paramount to soil processes, such as the mineralisation of organic matter to provide nutrient availability for plants, Mr Newton explained.

“Using a soil conditioner, such as Humistart+, can help provide a better environment for fungi and bacteria to thrive, in turn encouraging rapid break down of organic matter and the release of nutrients.”

5. Maximise nutrient efficiency

Gaining a better understanding of soils and adopting practices that improve soil biology and fertility will lead to maximised nutrient use efficiency, Mr Newton said.

“Under the current circumstances where the cost of fertiliser is still high, improving your nutrient use efficiency is paramount, as well as reducing risks such as soil run-off and leaching – an ultimate goal the SFI standards are wishing to achieve,” he added.

For more information, visit: Humistart+ – TIMAC AGRO UK

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The meeting, featuring inspiring presentations from speakers involved in farmer-led research, aimed to find solutions to the ongoing fertiliser crisis that continues to impose considerable strain on the agricultural sector.

Jerry Alford, senior farming advisor at the Soil Association, opened the session by introducing the Innovative Farmers network and its role in creating more on-farm fertility production to reduce the scale of fertiliser inputs.

Putting the soil before the product can go a long way

Offering a unique perspective on the issue at hand, market gardener Amelia Lake provided delegates with detailed insight into the operations of her small but mighty Real Food Garden business in Cornwall.

From humble beginnings starting out with less than two acres of land, Ms Lake’s market garden grew into a thriving business selling produce via an on-site farm shop and veg box scheme. Between June and January each year, an impressive 55-60 veg boxes are produced per week, which is made possible by the smarter utilisation of available space.

Ms Lake explained that, by taking a restorative and holistic approach to soil health, she and her partner Chloe have been able to build resilience in the soil over time and increase what the ground is able to give.

Almost from the beginning, the team of two have been involved with The Soil Carbon project, now known as Farm Net Zero, which works in collaboration with the Farm Carbon Toolkit. As a result, they have been better able to assess and monitor the soil, which has helped to demonstrate the viability of their approach.

“Through our carbon calculator, we know we’re locking in 31 tons of carbon every year, and the soil is sequestering 19 tonnes of that,” Ms Lake said. She added that there has also been a 1.1% increase in soil organic matter per annum, which is about ten times the average rate.

Nutrient density of the fresh produce is also being measured using a spectrometer and compared to organic products on retailer shelves. Ms Lake found the nutrient density of her produce to be consistently higher, which she attributes to the healthy soil foodweb at the garden.

“Instead of thinking about the product, we’re thinking about the soil,” she pointed out, saying the approach has been highly productive for the business so far.

With regards to increasing soil fertility, Ms Lake and her partner are conducting a two-year fertility building programme on designated areas, which involves rotating brassicas with non-brassica crops. The aim is to ultimately build organic matter and resilience in the soil through plant root growth as opposed to using compost.

Ms Lake also addressed tackling food waste at the Real Food Garden, saying she managed to close the loop on food waste by cultivating crop residue back into the soil and using chickens, sheep and pigs to turn it into manure.

Moreover, the garden has been using green waste compost (GWC) since its launch, which is high in carbon and a valuable food source for the food web. Not only does it enhance soil structure and fertility, but also improves soil pH which has been really valuable, Ms Lake explained.

However, GWC also has its downsides, in that it comes from off-farm and the labour to spread it is really significant for the business. Therefore, to make sure every kg of material is paying its weight, Ms Lake enrolled in a field lab led by Innovative Farmers and Farm Net Zero to find out if there is a way to increase biological activity in the compost.

The trial involves comparing GWC inoculated with hedge soil, home-made compost and wood chip material with an uninoculated control and looking at differences in crop yield and quality. Ms Lake said the aim is to develop a better compost in the same volume, or in other words, to use less of the same material with better results.

The results of the field lab will be released following the 2023 growing season. For more information and to follow the progress of the trial, visit: https://www.innovativefarmers.org/field-lab?id=cc682427-a840-ed11-81a8-005056ad0bd4

Untangling controversies around sheep and red clover

Gillian Preece, livestock farmer and senior agri consultant for ADAS, shared details of an Innovative Farmers project conducted to debunk a long-standing myth in the industry relating to mating breeding ewes on fields containing red clover (RC).

According to Ms Preece, the current recommendation is not to mate sheep on RC due to the legume’s phytoestrogen content. However, anecdotal evidence has so far indicated the practice shouldn’t cause issues, which goes directly against industry guidelines.

In the hope of uncovering the true facts and potentially remove barriers to sheep farmers rearing on RC, Ms Preece applied and got accepted to do an Innovative Farmers project investigating fertility issues in ewes relating to RC.

The trial involved four farms across the West Midlands and into Wales that have existing herbal leys containing RC and sheep of the same age, breed and history. Three weeks prior to tupping time, the flocks were each split into two groups, with one mating on sward containing RC and the other on non-RC.

Sward assessments revealed quite a large variation in RC content between the four farms. Ms Preece explained that the farmers have all planted herbal leys to comply with Countryside Stewardship guidelines, which require a minimum of 10% RC content. However, because they are in different years of establishment, the RC content of swards was uneven.

The results of the trial revealed no negative effects on ewe fertility when grazing swards containing an average of 18% RC (by fresh weight). Scanning results showed a 170% average scanning percentage in ewes on a grass-only diet versus 181% in ewes on RC. There was also no significant difference in barren rate between the two groups, Ms Preece added.

While the results indicate farmers can have confidence mating sheep on RC, Ms Preece pointed out the evidence is still insufficient to cause a change of attitude in the industry as the trial was conducted on only four farms and wasn’t fully controlled.

Therefore, she highlighted the need for further investigation so farmers and in particular vets, feed advisors and seed reps can have more confidence in the results.

Putting the trial into perspective, Ms Preece said: “There’s an increasing focus on the use of legumes within grassland systems to reduce nitrogen use and also to capitalise on environmental stewardship opportunities.

“We need to see more legumes be grown so we can ultimately reduce that reliance on artificial nitrogen within red meat production.”

Working towards improved nutrient cycling through better soil health

Next up, Matthew Izod, who farms a 500-acre conventional arable farm with his father just outside Chipping Norton, talked delegates through a couple of Innovative Farmers trials he has been involved in and the lessons learned so far.

The first trial, sponsored by Thames Water, is looking at the effects of a no-till & cover crop system on soil nutrient availability over a five-year period. While improvement has been negligible so far, Mr Izod noted the system takes a bit of time to work and is eager to see the results at the end of the trial.

The second project backed by AHDB tested the effects of a living mulch clover understory on the 2021 cropping season. According to Mr Izod, the clover established really well and acted as an effective weed deterrent for the cash crop as well as improving soil structure and providing ground cover after harvest.

Unfortunately, the mulch caused a major yield penalty, and so improved methods are needed to control it in the next trial, Mr Izod concluded.

Like many farmers, Mr Izod has been working to reduce the amount of fertiliser applied due to the major cost it incurs. Instead of the usual 200-250kg product/ha a year, the farm now uses 160 kg of product/ha with a reduced rate of liquid nitrogen. To increase the efficiency of fertiliser, Mr Izod also adds some Boost to the mix, which is a carbon and molasses-based fertiliser improver.

Tissue sampling is also carried out throughout the season to assess the nutritional needs of the crop. In addition, Mr Izod tested the soil for nutrient availability, which led to some profound realisations.

The results returned from the lab revealed that the amount of total nutrients present in the top layers of the soil (specifically potash, phosphorus and sulphur) is 20 to 200 times higher than the amount available to crops.

Therefore, instead of buying I artificial products, farmers need to focus on building fertility in the soil and making those nutrients available to the crop, Mr Izod pointed out. He added that nutrient cycling in the soil can be improved via the use of cover crops, especially legumes, as well as different drilling and cultivation strategies.

Improving rotation and integrating livestock on cover crops will be part of the solution, Mr Izod continued, saying they now cover 100% of the farm during winter. Sheep has been brought on farm in recent years to graze the cover crops and build soil fertility, and Mr Izod is looking to expand the size of his exiting flock.

Looking into the future, he said the ultimate goal is to have “a system where the livestock is working for me and the crops are working side-by-side.” Lastly, he reminded farmers while there is no quick fix to the fertiliser crisis, small changes can make a big difference.

The benefits of diverse forage crops for livestock and soil health

Last but not least, Sarah Whaley from the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) shared some fascinating findings from an ongoing Innovative Farmers field lab. In the role of project coordinator, she has been working closely with the four participating farmers in Devon and Somerset, as well as soil scientists and ecologists involved in the project.

Outlining the background to the trial, Ms Whaley said many farmers are dissatisfied with the current system of mono-culture forage crops for outwintering livestock as they provide minimal benefit to the soil and can actually deplete its health and cause structural issues like compaction.

Moreover, mono crops can be more susceptible to pests and diseases, requiring higher levels of chemical and fertiliser input. In addition, forage crops like kale provide insufficient fibre for sustaining livestock throughout winter, and farmers will need to supplementary feed hay which can be destructive to fields and adds to farmer workload.

A closer look to the 16-species mix on a trial field.

Ms Whaley pointed out that, although mono-culture winter brassicas produce reasonably reliable and low-cost forage, they under-deliver for soil health, water and the wider environment, animal welfare, public perception and farmer wellbeing. Therefore, the aim of the field lab has been to find and validate a diverse species mix solution as an alternative to winter grazing kale.

The trial was set up in May 2022 on two organic and two conventional farms in the South West. Each farm was required to drill 4 ha of a 16-species seed mix next to 4 ha of their usual winter forage crop.

The farmers selected for various traits in the seed mix, such as for soil benefit, winter hardiness, ecological benefit and birdseed. The full list of crops included in the diverse mix can be found on the Innovative Farmers website.

Cattle were weighed and body condition scored before the trial and have been monitored closely since the start of winter grazing in early November 2022. Soil sampling and testing was also performed before the trial and VESS scoring, earthworm counts, and rhizosheath development monitoring have also been carried out at regular intervals.

According to Ms Whaley, observations so far have shown significant improvements in soil health and biodiversity on diverse mix fields compared to kale.

The greater root biomass of the diverse mix has produced a much-improved soil structure on trial fields, with soil pit tests revealing an ideal chocolate cake-like texture. In contrast, the ground was much more compacted on the kale side and also had poor drainage, causing issues with water runoff and erosion.

In terms of biodiversity, the diverse mix attracted a greater number of invertebrates including pollinator species, while diversity in the kale crop was largely limited to cabbage butterflies.

Livestock has been doing well on both sides so far, but have appeared more content on the diverse mix fields, Ms Whaley said. She added the ground appears to be holding up better under the mixed plot, which helps keep the animals out of the mud and working less hard.

Even though the multispecies mix has largely been grazed down on triallist Richard Stanbury’s farm, the first signs of regrowth are already evident.

While all farms have moved through their mixed species plots faster than kale and had to provide supplementary hay, regrowth is already happening on mixed fields and farmers are hoping for a spring bite. Time will tell if the seed mix also offers economic benefits alongside soil health and biodiversity improvement, and Ms Whaley said there is still a lot to learn.

With regards to the fertiliser crisis, Ms Whaley suggested farmers should think of it as an opportunity rather than a hindrance.

“If I said, ‘what is the fertiliser crisis,’ many people would say ‘well, it’s the cost of fertiliser,’ but actually, the crisis is we’re using far too much of it. So, it’s our addiction to fertiliser that is the crisis,” she said.

Ms Whaley believes the solution starts with the soil and farmers working together with nature rather than against it: “We need to look at our farms in a much more holistic way and stop micro-managing every little aspect of a biological living system,” she concluded.

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Mesmerising singing and a captivating Taiko drum performance greeted delegates at day two of the 14^th ORFC, which, in Francesca Price’s words, in now the largest agroecological gathering on the planet.

Ms Price, a journalist, campaigner, and founder of the We Feed the World project, opened the event by welcoming delegates back to the venue for the first time in three years, and also acknowledged the 2,500 attendants joining online from 130 countries around the world.

Held annually in early January since 2010, ORFC is a three-day event running across seven venues in Oxford as well as an online platform. Each year, the conference offers a diverse programme that has at its core a shared interest of agroecology and nature friendly farming.

After Ms Price extended her thanks to partner organisations for enabling the event to run at such an affordable price, Ruth West, co-founder of the ORFC, said a few words.

Upon welcoming delegates to the conference, Ms West clarified the term ‘real farming’, which refers to the practise of farming that is kind to nature, restores biodiversity, and mitigates climate change.

Ms West likened the term to agroecology, the central theme of the conference, which is the science as well as the practice that conceives farms as an ecosystem rather than factories producing food at scale.

“Most importantly, it’s a social movement, a grassroots call to bring about transformative food system change, and I’m convinced we need that change in real farming,” Ms West said.

She added that in order for farming to succeed on the long term, producers need the support of non-farmers in the form of paying a proper price for their produce and, putting pressure on supermarket to change their supply chain practices in favour of farmers.

The issues underpinning the farming crisis

Ms West’s speech was followed by Oli Rodker from the Landworker’s Alliance (LWA), who began by reflecting on the conference being back in person and the upheaval Britain went through during the time in between.

He then shared a quote from Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci about the difficulties of changing the political and economic systems: “The crisis consists in the fact that the old is dying, and the new cannot be born, and in this interval, a great variety of morbid systems appear.”

Mr Rodker pointed out that although the quote was written in 1930, it’s still very pertinent in today’s society. He said events like the ORFC are a great opportunity to take stock and look around ourselves and appreciated how far the conference has come since its inception 14 years ago.

However, while we should take the time to appreciate growth and success, Mr Rodker reminded the audience that the wider issues of the world are far from resolved.

“The forces that are destroying nature and causing so much harm are still with us. The new world is not yet born. And despite all the farms and projects that we are part of, the dominant narrative is still industrial, still profiteering, still inequitable, still colonial, still racist. Greenhouse gases and other pollution are still being poured out, and I think we have to ask why that is.”

Sharing his take on the question, Mr Rodker suggested the key reason why the change the industry desperately needs hasn’t happened yet lies in the lack of political coordination among the various farming organisations. The industry, he believes, is devoid of sufficient political power at present to initiate lasting change.

“It’s hard to build alliances, it’s hard to make compromises, it’s hard to find common ground. It’s hard to see what links us rather than what separates us, it seems to be a human trait, but it is essential and I think it’s what we need to concentrate on,” he stressed.

Steering towards the solution, Mr Rodker suggested farmers and other industry players mustn’t let smaller differences deter them from working together and encouraged delegates to connect with others throughout the conference.

Concluding his speech, Mr Rodker said change can be achieved by working together effectively and the farming community is capable of building up a force that is unstoppable.

“Change, while difficult, is possible”

Stepping on the podium next, Rebecca Mayhew, Pasture for Life regional facilitator in East Anglia, spoke about her family farm’s transition to a regenerative enterprise and the challenges and rewards that came with it.

Ms Mayhew and her family were new entrants to the dairy industry in 2017. Since the humble beginnings of selling milk from a shed at the end of the drive, the business now supports a full farm shop and butchery and a team of 20 employees.

Ms Mayhew is proud to sell raw milk from Jersey cows that keep their calves at foot and are 100% pasture-fed. She currently farms 45 dairy cows as well as beef cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals.

However, switching to a more regenerative farming model has been a lengthy transition, she related. The family farm used to produce conventionally grown arable crops and intensive pigs with the purpose of feeding the world as efficiently as possible – or in other words, at any cost.

Several years later, Ms Mayhew is now thankful that the business has stepped onto a regenerative and agroecology journey and pledged to spend the rest of her life improving the soil, the waters, and the life of their animals.

Speaking from personal experience, she acknowledged that change, while difficult, is possible, and added the conference offers a great deal of potential “to learn and grow, to challenge preconceived ideas and to help us have a positive influence on those around us.”

Finishing her talk with a quote from West Jackson, Ms Mayhew read: “Since our break with nature came with agriculture, it seems only fitting that the healing of culture begin with agriculture, fitting that agriculture take the lead.”

Following the applause that ensued, Nikki Yoxall, Pasture for Life research manager and Scotland regional facilitator, said a few words about agroecology and what this conference is all about.

Reflecting on the work of individuals at the forefront of the agroecological movement, Ms Yoxall shared a quote form researcher and author Julia Wright’s book Subtle Agroecology:

“This idea of subtle agroecology is the systematic study of the nature of the invisible world as it relates to the practice of agriculture, which is done through adapting and innovating research methods, and in particular, those with a more embodied nature, with the overall purpose of bringing and maintaining balance and harmony.”

Ms Yoxall, who also farms 100% pasture-fed beef cattle in the northeast of Scotland, said the conference to her is all about friendships, networks, and caring for each other.

Ending on a quote from one of her heroes, distinguished teaching professor of Environmental and Forest Biology Robin Wall Kimmerer, Ms Yoxall recited her words about choosing joy over despair and being grateful for the precious gifts the Earth provides us with day after day.

Next up, Naomi Terry from Land in Our Names (LION) and Shared Assets, gave delegates a brief overview about the Justice Hub at ORFC and what to expect from its programmes during the course of the event.

Appreciating the various themes of justice permeating throughout the conference, Ms Terry invited all delegates present to visit a hub, which is a dedicated space for sharing knowledge about justice issues and their relation to food and farming, as well as supporting marginalised groups in the industry.

She also acknowledged the conference is a lot to take in and encouraged the audience to be present and listen wherever they may find themselves over the next couple of days. Wrapping up her talk, she recited a poem she scribbled in her notebook about the power of the imagination:

“Before the first seed is even sown,

before the cracked dirt is tenderly moistened,

before all of this,

next year’s harvest is already imagined.

There will be fields of plenty,

there will be a hard one revolution.

The future’s losses are already buried,

you have already quit your job,

your children are already grown,

your breath has already been taken,

your vision is already seen.

The rains have already come,

the work, my friends, is already done.”

“We need to tackle illiteracy in power”

The plenary’s next speaker, Kath Dalmeny, chief executive of Sustain, echoed Mr Rodker’s words earlier about the need to get political. She highlighted the issue of people sitting in the chairs of power who are oblivious to the things that matter and don’t know how to keep good farming going.

“Food has fallen off the agenda of politicians again, partly because we are not making our voices heard well enough,” Ms Dalmeny pointed out.

At the same time, she acknowledged the farming movement has been steadily growing thanks to initiatives like ORFC and organisations sharing the vision of nature friendly farming.

Moreover, she stressed people’s money must go to the right places and help the right people, and called for transparency in supply chains and farmers to be paid a fair price for their produce.

“We need to multiply our power. We need to tackle illiteracy in power and demand more for what is being done in our names,“ she added.

Finally, she encouraged all participants to connect over the conference and said in a spirit of optimism that when farmers raise their voices, change can happen.

“Those who eat should help grow the food”

Last but not least, the audience welcomed Satish Kumar from Schumacher College and Resurgence Trust, who congratulated the organisers and all those who played a part in putting the conference together.

Addressing the issues faced by the farming industry, Mr Kumar said the educational system is part of the problem. He pointed out that at most institutions, students and teachers don’t have a relationship with the land, which fundamentally underlies the disconnectedness of most farmers from nature.

In contrast, Schumacher College promotes the concept that those who eat should help grow the food and also the idea of active hope and being an optimist.

Mr Kumar emphasized that while the college is a small grassroots organisation, its power shouldn’t be underestimated. To illustrate, he gave the example of putting yeast in bread – as without yeast, there is no bread.

Pointing at the audience, Mr Kumar said: “You, the real farmers, are the yeast in the real movement to transform the world of today, of agriculture.”

He continued by saying that real change doesn’t come from the government, but from grassroots level organisations and individuals, supporting his claim with historic examples. He urged the audience to step up and initiate change as the power lies in the hands of real farmers.

Mr Kumar finished on the note that all living beings depend on the land and by restoring its health, we restore ourselves.

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A five-year trial carried out in the Czech Republic shows positive results from using a biostimulant soil activator. It led to less compaction, better humus quantity and quality, reduced fuel consumption, improved yields, and a better return on investment.

The Agricultural Research Institute, Troubsko, Czech Republic, invited Olmix to take part in a field trial in Litobratrice, South Moravia, from 2017 to 2021. The trial, supported by the Czech Republic Ministry of Agriculture, looked at technologies for soil protection and erosion control.

The area where the trials were hosted is hot and dry – rainfall in 2017 was 380mm and in 2018, 411mm. Straw is returned to the soil after harvest and the cultivation system is min till. Soil is moderately heavy to heavy clay.

The trial was based on a five-year rotation of spring wheat, winter wheat, oilseed rape, winter wheat and sugar beet, with each treatment area being 36m wide and 850m long to reflect farm conditions.

Treatments included soil activator Neosol, a mineral complex rich in trace elements and derived from seaweed. It was applied at 150kg/ha in spring 2017 then 120kg/ha in Autumn that year and in subsequent years – the last application was made in Autumn 2020. The control was Amofos 16/20 – ammonium phosphate applied at 150kg/ha. During the growing season the plots received 200kg of YaraBela N (nitrogen) 27% + 4% MgO (magnesium), and liquid DAM (diammonium phosphate) 29% – at 2 x 100 litres/ha.

Soil characteristics were measured each year over five years, comparing Neosol with the control. “In year five, average soil density, which expresses soil compaction, fell by 21.2% to 1.13g/cm3 compared with the control at an average of 1.37g/cm3,” says Olmix Plant Care development manager, Benoit Le Rumeur.

Water infiltration to soil was also much better in the area treated with the soil activator with 22.6mm absorbed in 15 minutes – 64% more than the 13.8mm absorbed by the control.

Humus quantity and quality is also an important parameter of a soil’s fertility, he adds. “Humus influences structural stability, water retention, micro-organism activity and plant feeding. A high quantity of humus also allows nitrogen fertilisation to be reduced.”

“In the trial, there was faster humus synthesis from organic matter residues in the treated soil. After five years, humus comprises 2.68% of the soil with Neosol compared to 2.09% of the soil in the control plot. This means 28% more humus in the same volume of soil. Also, a greater humic/fulvic acid ratio shows a higher quality of humus for this treatment. In the trial, humic/fulvic acid ratio for the treated plot was 1.73 compared with a humic/fulvic acid ratio of 1.09 for the control.”

“When microbial activity is healthy, microbes are much more able to transform organic matter into humus,” says Grant James, Olmix territory manager UK and Ireland. “Humus is a key factor in allowing microbes to feed themselves, and it is also involved in soil stability and its capacity to maintain a balanced pH.”

The trial also looked at fuel cost. It showed that by year five, fuel consumption related to growing the sugar beet crop was 16.6% lower in the treated area, at 131 litres/ha compared with 157 litres/ha for the control area. “Regular use of the soil activator led to a better soil structure, making it easier to work land, leading to 16.6% lower fuel consumption than the control after five years,” says Mr Le Rumeur.

Using the soil activator also improved yields (see table). “Whatever the climatic conditions, Neosol led to better soil structure and higher yields, allowing crops to meet their genetic potential,” says Mr Le Rumeur.

“These soil structural improvements provide better conditions for plant growth, allowing improved rooting and nutrient take up, as well as water availability.”

The trial showed it was possible to increase the ROI by an average of €162/ha/year (£140.94/ha/year) in five years. ROI was calculated using the price of the goods in the production year.

“This trial shows how in normal farming conditions over large areas it is possible to improve soil quality and productivity in a more sustainable way,” says Mr Le Rumeur. “It is about doing more with less – less fertiliser and less water. We can increase soil productivity through better soil functioning with a new generation of inputs like Neosol, to provide essential nutrients to soil life and by working with less synthetic
fertiliser.”

The post Biostimulant soil activator shows healthy ROI in five-year trial appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Problems with weeds?

Now is a good time to assess the weed situation in growing crops. If you have problematic weeds, and need another weapon in your armoury besides herbicides, hoes can be a very effective mechanical method of reducing the weed burden.

Spring weeding with the TerraBlade from Claydon Drills

The Claydon TerraBlade inter-row hoe slices underneath the crown of weeds growing between the seeded rows. Removing weeds reduces competition for nutrients, mineralises nitrogen and allows light and air into the rows – all of which promote a burst of crop growth.

The best time for TerraBlading is in the autumn and spring when conditions are dry enough for blades to comfortably penetrate the soil beneath the weeds and slice them off without moisture to encourage regrowth. TerraBlade in autumn if the crop is sufficiently developed and continue in spring up to the stage where the crop might be compromised by further passes.

The TerraBlade is available in widths of 3m to 8m with a choice of 125, 150, 175 and 200mm blades to suit different strip till drill row spacings.

How accurate is the TerraBlade? View it in action here.

. . . and the results. Weeds are removed, reducing competition for nutrients and encouraging crop growth.

Warming soils and preparing seedbeds

Warming soil and preparing for seeding near Oslo.

The Claydon Straw Harrow can be used in spring to warm soil, spread straw and prepare ground for seeding.

Generating tilth to germinate weeds and volunteers is another job for the Straw Harrow, reducing competition for nutrients.  It also helps create a uniform crop establishment by spreading chaff and straw evenly across the field and dealing with any thick layers of poorly chopped and spread straw from the combine.  Solid build and design allows it to withstand high operating speeds and turning on the headlands, thereby covering a huge amount of ground in a working day.

The Claydon Straw harrow helps prevent poor establishment caused by poorly chopped and unevenly spread straw.

How well is your land draining?

Drains run clear on the Claydon farm this November, in which 135mm rainfall has been received.

Drainage has a huge effect on yield and attention should be paid to  maintenance and care of old schemes with consideration to new installation if this cannot be avoided. Ditch outlets should be checked and unblocked if they are covered by sediment to prevent systems backing up.

Different crop establishment systems also have different effects on soil structure and its ability to drain. By only moving soil in the rooting and seeding zone, Claydon drilling leaves the natural structure of the soil in good shape.  Whilst the majority of the soil is left undisturbed, any shallow compaction is broken up by the Claydon leading tine which reinstates the water and air balance into the soil providing good drainage so water can get away from the rooting zone. This eliminates ponding through the later autumn and winter period.  As worm numbers increase then aeration and drainage improve allowing the soil naturally to cope with high precipitation.

To learn more about our machinery range please contact your local Claydon dealer.

The post Top tips for top crops in the coming months appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Nutrient density and food security

She explained that soil management is everything you do to your ground, pointing out that this means all the inputs, not just the biological and chemical-based ones – it also includes the iron being added to the soil in the form of tillage and general soil disturbance, as well as the effects of livestock grazing above.

The goal is to keep nutrients within the soil, and not have it leach out. “If you don’t have soil, you’ve allowed it to erode, you’ve lost all the life in your soil and all you’re left with is dirt,” Dr Clapperton commented.

She explained how vital it is to stop erosion, with the most effective way to do this by keeping your ground covered, either with stubble or mulch, or using cover crops. She was keen to point out that this doesn’t have to come at the expense of land for commercial crops, explaining: “You can over-sow your pastures, and drill seed crops into green – using your iron for good, rather than for soil destruction.”

What is healthy soil?

The first characteristic of healthy soil is good soil structure. But you cannot have good soil structure without organic matter, bacteria and fungi, predator/ prey interaction and, most importantly, roots.

According to Dr Clapperton: “When plants have access to good soil structure, when they have access through the aggregates, they can build the resources to be able to expend more energy exploring the soil, and form more lateral roots – reducing soil leakage and building the soil.”

She went on to say that when we mix roots in soil with all the soil biota – all the bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microathropods, earthworms, insects and algae – we get:

• Better water infiltration, which leads to  cleaner water, and rebuilds the water cycle
• Better root penetration  and growth
• Better predator/prey interactions, leading to the recycling of nutrients. Protozoa release 45% of the nitrogen in the soil – leading to financial benefits when you factor in the cost of nitrogen and fertilisers
• More diversity of soil microorganisms and  fauna, leading to better soil function
• More decomposition both above and below ground, due to increased roots
• Better plant communication due to greater root networks.

Moreover, the whole system is feeding itself, like a functional community. Soil biota is made up of all the organisms that live within it, including:

• Primary producers – Bacteria, fungi and algae
• Microfauna – Protozoa and nematodes, mites, collembola and enchytraeids
• Macrofauna – Earthworms and insect larvae.

Protozoa and nematodes require good soil structure and larger pores to move and hunt in the soil. Protozoa alone increase N mineralisation by 45% just by grazing, while both nematodes and protozoa concentrate N in the rhizosphere.

For those making a transition into regenerative agriculture, Dr Clapperton stated: “When you first stop undertaking a lot of soil disturbance, the bacteria begin growing like crazy, using up all the micronutrients and locking them away from the crops, with few predatorial organisms to curb them.” So, she explained, when you start your move towards no tillage, you may need extra N, P, K and so on to help you through the transition, until the larger predators like earthworms can multiply in number.

In summary, soil biota drive decomposition, nutrient recycling, concentrate and retain nutrients, and create soil structural stability. But, Dr Clapperton said, we can’t build organic matter quickly enough if we don’t get roots in the ground.

Getting to the root of nutrition

The rhizosphere is the most biologically active part of the soil. It is the roots, the soil attached to the root, and the soil influenced by the roots. The roots and root exudates feed the microbial community, and filling the soil profile with roots is the best and fastest way to increase SOM and the water-holding capacity of the soil, Dr Clapperton explained.

This is where using cover crops and companion crops comes in, and Dr Clapperton stressed the importance of using a diversity of crops, so that roots don’t create too dense an underground canopy – different depths of roots create the balance needed to allow commodity crops to grow through them. Once these roots are established, the rhizosphere should remain as undisturbed as possible.

How much SOM?

Measuring SOM is key, and Dr Clapperton was keen to point out that you should always take measurements of SOM in the same place in order to accurately monitor the improvements, using geolocation services where possible to ensure the location is accurate.

To watch the complete session from Groundswell 2022, visit: www.groundswellag.com

Panel

What is the value of SOM/what is the value of water?

• 100lb of soil with 4–5% OM can hold 1,379–1,630 gallons of water
• 100lb of soil with 1.5–2% OM can only hold 293–376 gallons of water
• 100lb of dry soil is 0.005% of the weight of a one-acre furrow slice (2,000,000lb).

(Source: Walters and Fanzai, 1979)

Dr Clapperton said that while this is old data, it really hits home how SOM affects the capacity of soil to hold water.

The post Soil health: Transitioning to no-till appeared first on Farmers Guide.

“TerraMap Gold is a premium service of TerraMap for growers who want an even better understanding of why the soil behaves like it does and its influence on crop performance, allowing for the most informed soil management decisions to maximise farm profitability,” explains Ian Robertson, Hutchinsons head of soils.

The difference with TerraMap Gold is that once the mapping is done, the system collects much more detailed soil samples, analysed through the Hutchinsons Healthy Soils Gold soils analysis, rather than the standard soil sample analysis.

The Gold Level soil test is a proven service that offers an in-depth soil analysis of all the key macro and micro soil properties and forms the basis of the Hutchinsons Healthy Soils Service.

“31 different elements are analysed by the Gold soil test, which makes it an ideal partner for the high-resolution data of TerraMap. The benefit of this increased level of data collection is the ability to make much more highly informed decisions about how to manage the soils more effectively,” he says.

Tailored application

Cambs Farms Growers in Ely, Cambridgeshire have used TerraMap Gold at the recommendation of agronomist Toby Clack.

“The information from TerraMap Gold has given us a greater understanding of what is happening in the soil nutritionally, allowing us to tailor applications of inputs specific to that crop,” said Stirling Fenton, organic crop manager at the farm.

“TerraMap has changed the way we do things. Over time we will see more uniformed looking crops and reduced inputs while maintaining yield.”

TerraMap underlines the overall farm strategy. Using the information from TerraMap in conjunction with agronomic advice and soil health expertise provides a greater overall understanding of the farm.

“The detail from TerraMap Gold has allowed us to pinpoint nutritional applications and reduce waste. Creating even crops eases crop and harvest management – making efficiency as high as it can be,” adds Mr Clack.

The Omnia system formulates variable rate plans easily using multiple layers of information. These maps can be seamlessly exported to a wide range of compatible machinery.

“The platform connects nicely with other systems in the sector. We can easily send maps created in Omnia directly to the machine and apply the specific rates we’ve asked for,” concludes Mr Fenton.

Agronomist Toby Clack recommended TerraMap Gold for Cambs Farms Growers in Ely.

TerraMap Gold offers much more in-depth information such as:

Buffer pH layer

“This is a different measure to the normal water pH and indicates how much reserve acidity there is in the soil, or what the resting pH of the soil is likely to be,” explains Mr Robertson.

“This is very important in understanding how nutrients cycle in the soil; phosphorous is key and has a peak cyclability between pH 6.2 and 6.8. If the buffer pH is outside these values, then the phosphate management policy needs to be carefully considered. So for example, if the field displays a large variation in buffer pH, this would mean that two phosphate management plans are required to optimise phosphorous utilisation.

“TerraMap Gold service also offers Cation exchange capacity and soil texture data, mapping out the soil’s ability to hold, store and exchange nutrients, as well as understanding the soil’s bulk density.

“This highlights potential structural issues, allowing for informed management decisions around cultivations and cover crops,” he notes.

Ian Robertson, Hutchinsons head of soils.

Nutrient reserves and availability

Mapped layers produced from TerraMap, show the total nutrient reserves and plant available levels of all the macro elements. These are expressed in kg/ha, which makes for much easier understanding and building of nutrient requirements for different cropping situations.

“There may be significant differences between the total reserves and the actual plant available nutrients, which are generally caused by one of the numerous nutrient interactions within the soil,” says Mr Robertson.

“However, as TerraMap Gold measures 31 parameters it allows for better understanding of these interactions and how to manage them for peak soils contribution.” 

Structure and cultivations

“We know that relationships between the chemical elements in soil reserves can have a distinct effect on soil structure and workability,” he says.

“Couple this with soil texturing and organic matter content, and it can really help in making decisions about suitability of soils to different cultivation methods.”

“Regardless of cultivation methods applied, low calcium, high magnesium soils are always likely to retain moisture and be difficult to work and the clay and silt elements in the soil’s texture further help to predict the soil’s behaviour. Within TerraMap Gold, these are all measured and this allows for the planning of cultivation strategies in conjunction with bulk amendments to optimise the soil’s structure.

Methodology

The launch of TerraMap by Hutchinsons in 2019 revolutionised the way soil nutrient mapping was carried out. TerraMap uses gamma-radiation detection technology to deliver resolutions of over 800 points/ha, providing high definition mapping of all common nutrient properties, P, K, Mg, pH, soil texture (e.g. % clay, % sand, % silt), organic matter and CEC as well as elevation and plant available water. TerraMap is powered by SoilOptix Technology.

For more information visit the Omnia website.

The post A winning insight into soil dynamics and the nutrient cycling appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The ‘plant your pants’ optional activity is one of a number of ideas put forward to LEAF Open Farm Sunday (LOFS) host farmers. The focus of this year’s event is on the health of soil, crops, livestock and biodiversity through to food, people and community.

Farmers wanting to get involved need to plant any 100% cotton items before Easter Sunday (17^th April), and then dig them up on or just before LOFS on Sunday 12^th June 2022. Over the next 60 days or more, at 8” deep, the lifeforms in the soil will begin eating the cellulose sugar, from which cotton is made, and start decomposing the organic material.

Sterile, lifeless soil will have little impact on the cotton, whereas organically thriving soil will result in very little to dig up, demonstrating a really healthy soil.

Annabel Shackleton, LOFS manager explained: “All farmers, growers and crofters who take part in LEAF Open Farm Sunday have access to a wide range of free resources and activity ideas, aimed at sparking conversations and demonstrating to visitors the range of skills and work that farmers do.

“‘Plant Your Pants’, is a fun way for farmers to talk about soil management, and the role it plays in climate health – from sequestering carbon, flood prevention and supporting biodiversity.”

The idea is not a new one, with farmers and school children in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and more recently Switzerland, monitoring soil microbial activity by burying cotton pants.

LEAF demonstration farmer and AHDB strategic monitor farmer Brian Barker, brought the concept to the UK after visiting Canada as part of his Nuffield Scholarship, and has shared the results of his own ‘plant your plants’ experiments on his social media channel @the_barker_boys.

Annabel added: “Soil is always a popular discussion topic with visitors on LEAF Open Farm Sunday, whether it’s digging for worms or looking at root structures in a soil pit. This plant your pants activity I’m sure will put a smile on everyone’s faces on the day!

“We are encouraging farmers to take photographs before and after they plant items to demonstrate the difference to visitors. We would love to see everyone who gets involved to write #LOFS22 on the cotton, and then upload a photo and post it on social media!”

For farmers wanting to take part in LOFS, it is free to register and farmers do not need to be a member of LEAF. Every farmer decides the type of event they want to host and a simple farm walk for an hour or so can be a great way to start. A free online ticketing service is available to manage visitor numbers, and a series of Zoom meetings are scheduled to share top tips and answer farmers’ questions.

The next Zoom meeting, on Thursday 7^th April at 7pm will touch on ‘plant your pants’ and other activities and resources available to help farmers share their story. To find out more and to register to take part in LEAF Open Farm Sunday, visit www.farmsunday.org.

The post OFS: Farmers encouraged to ‘plant your pants’ to spark interest in soil health appeared first on Farmers Guide.