Ripon Monitor Farm Meeting – Transitioning to reduced tillage and inputs

You are invited to join us for the second Ripon Monitor Farm Meeting of the season hosted by Jonathan Fryatt

Welcome to the second instalment of Ripon Monitor Farm winter meetings. Join Jonathan Fryatt as we discuss the results from the Harvest 21/22 trials where we looked at the performance of Wheat under different establishment techniques and the impact of lowering nitrogen rates on Spring Barley.

For this event, we will also be speaking to two farmers who are well on their way to transitioning to reduced tillage and inputs. Peter Cartwright from Revesby Estate and Martin Lines, Cambridgeshire Farmer and Chair of Nature Friendly Farming Network will be talking to us about their experiences of changing systems.

What will this meeting cover?

Martin Lines (Nature Friendly Farming Network): Moving away from high-input systems

Martin’s five-year plan to move away from fossil-fuel based fertilisers: the practices, technology and mind frame behind this.  

• What does a healthy wheat crop look like? Challenging the stereotype.
• IPM techniques to reduce inputs: Rotation management, habitat creation, variety choice, livestock integration etc.
• Chasing margins over yield: are getting too caught up on pub yields?
• Establishing a carbon baseline with a view to accessing markets in the future.
• Tips from a farmer to a farmer on making changes to your system.

Peter Cartwright (Revesby Estate): The transition to direct drilling- 10 years in the making

• The importance of getting the soil right before buying the drill, what are the steps to transitioning and where are the figures to prove it is worth it?
• Rotation changes to improve soil health and manage grass weeds.
• Returning organic matter to the soil: how cultivations need to be flexible to manage chopped straw?
• Control Traffic Farming: what are the benefits being seen at Revesby Estate of implementing this system?
• Nutrition: Foliar nitrogen and under-sown clover.

Professor Pippa Chapman (Leeds University): Regenerative Farming Systems in Yorkshire

• Testing of regenerative farming practices to support evidence-based practice at the Leeds University research farm.
• Introduction to the trial testing 7 different transitions to regenerative farming: conventional, adding a cover crop and reducing tillage, using wheat blends, incorporating sheep grazing, pasture cropping and including a herbal lay in the rotation.
• Results from the survey launched to understand the opinions, opportunities, current activities, and challenges with regenerative agriculture.

Registration and refreshments will be available from 10:30 with presentations commencing at 10:50 and lunch will be provided.

BASIS and NRoSO points will be available for attending.

The event is free to attend, but please register to allow us to cater accordingly.

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