Huggate Monitor Farm Summer Meeting

You are invited to join us on a farm walk at the Huggate Monitor Farm summer meeting hosted by Gary Shipley!

We look forward to welcoming you back to Huggate Wold Farm for an update on what has been happening at the monitor farm since we last met, as well as a look at the latest research, industry news, and notice of upcoming meetings and conferences. 

What will this meeting cover? 

At his 657ha family farm on the top of the Yorkshire Wolds, Gary Shipley grows winter feed wheat, winter malting barley, oilseed rape, spring barley, vining peas for Birds Eye and seed potatoes. As well as arable cropping, the farm also has 150 gimmer lambs on rough grazing in the dales and a stabiliser suckler herd.

During his time as a monitor farmer, Gary has experimented with cover crop mixtures to improve soil health, participated in the cereal Yield Enhancement Network (YEN), and most recently trialled direct drilling a portion of his spring barley as a move away from the conventional, plough-based system currently used. Gary is keen to create a resilient business and believes part of this is through personal development and retaining motivated people, look out for winter 22/23 meetings where we will be covering important topics like these and more!

In addition to a farm walk to include looking at the cropping for harvest 2022, machinery, buildings, and enterprises, we will also be discussing: 

• Offsetting high fertiliser prices in arable crops: an update on Gary's biostimulant trial which uses bacteria to capture nitrogen from within the air and supply it to the plants. 
• To plough or not to plough: we will be comparing the development of the spring barley trial which has been established by both plough and direct drilling techniques. We will also look at the potential yield and costs associated with each system. Soil specialist Philip Wright will be picking apart Gary's direct drill trial where he has been having issues with compaction on a particular headland.
• Integrated farming systems: we will speak to Gary about whether the B&B pig unit is bringing value to his arable rotations and what the future holds for him in terms of integration of farm enterprises.
• The pathway to regenerative farming: is it possible to do it? Phillip Wright will be talking us through cultivations, principles and practices of regenerative farming. Then we will be discussing the feasibility of adopting this system at Huggate Wold Farm.

The event will start with teas and coffees served from 10:00 am and will finish with a light lunch at 13:00 pm.

Please bring suitable footwear & clothing for a field walk.

BASIS and NRoSO points will also be available for attending this meeting.

Find out more about Huggate Monitor Farm’s Story 

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