Strategic Cereal Farm North Open Day

You are invited to join us on a Strategic Cereal Farm NorthOpen Day.

Join David for his first summer farm walk of the programme and a review of what’s to come over the next few years!

What will this meeting cover?

12:30 Registration and Lunch

13:00 Introduction to Strategic Farm Network - Fiona Geary, AHDB

       Overview of trials at other strategic farms to include:

• Cover crops to reduce nitrate leaching
• Optimising nitrogen application
• Managing lower inputs
• Flowering strips to reduce pesticide use

13:10 Introduction to Church Farm - David Blacker, Strategic Farm Host

• Overview of previous soil and nutrition trials
• Rotation to control persistent grass weed populations
• Current and future drainage plans

13:30  Farm walk looking at:

       Integrated Pest Management

• IPM strategies for the control of persistent brome populations
• Discussion on the biological and integrated control of weeds, pests, and diseases
• Implementing more informed choices on the sustainable use of pesticides

       Soil Health and Structure

• Soil health scorecard including the biological, chemical, and physical status of the soil
• Demonstration of soil testing methods
• Methods to enhance soil health to optimise crop production
• Discussion of previous trials on compost and cover crops to improve soil health

       Hands-Free Farming

• Demonstration of innovative automated farming technology
• Autonomous tractors: reduced compaction, lower labour costs and improved efficiency, but is the future or a fad?
• Precision farming techniques to sustainably improve crop performance and reduce environmental impact.

15:00 Group Discussion: Opportunities and Challenges for trials

With David’s aim in mind of economical and sustainable improvements in crop yield, we will ask for suggestions from the audience on replicated, relatable and reliable trials for the future.

16:00 Close