Farmers will learn more about using organic materials on farm and the effect of organic amendments on soil health, as well as having the opportunity to discuss soil management strategies with leading soil scientists. 

The event is aimed at both farmers and agronomists, and will provide the opportunity to hear about the soil health scorecard approach being developed through the AHDB-BBRO Soil Biology and Soil Health Partnership.  Information will be available on how soil health has been assessed at the long-term experimental sites (testing drivers of soil biology), and how the approach is being trialled by farmers who are participating in the programme, monitoring soil health on their own farms.

The event will also provide an update on the activities of the AHDB Rotations Partnership, where soil management options such as cover crops or organic amendments are being evaluated in a number of trials.

Programme

Morning talks to be held inside, followed by a field visit and demonstration after lunch.

10:00 Registration and coffee

10:20 Introduction to the AHDB-BBRO Soil Biology and Soil Health Partnership/ AHDB GREATsoils programme (Amanda Bennett, AHDB)

10:30 Assessing soil health using a scorecard approach – effect of organic amendments on soil health (Anne Bhogal, ADAS)

11:00 AHDB Rotations Partnership update (Andy Whitmore, Rothamsted Research)

11:30 Using organic materials on farm (John Williams, ADAS)

12:00 Lunch

12:45 Walk to long-term organic materials field site:

• Site demonstration (Anne Bhogal, ADAS)
• Soil health monitoring on farm (Elizabeth Stockdale, NIAB)

14:30 Close of meeting