Innovation sites

Innovation sites are farmer-led, on-farm projects that test ideas and solutions to real farming challenges. The results are used to develop content and case studies for future Monitor Farm events. 

Because these projects are carried out on a local scale, the data will not be used within scientific papers or thought leadership.

Innovation sites might focus on:

• Farming practices
• Research questions
• Business management

Topics or themes may be identified by farmers, through the AHDB letterbox, or from relevant AHDB research projects.

The aim is to investigate real challenges faced by levy payers, create solutions and share practical learning with other farmers through the Farm Excellence Network.

These projects are comparing on-farm technologies that help adjust nitrogen applications throughout the season.

Technologies being assessed include:

• Omnia
• N-Sensor
• Messium (Cornwall only)

The trial is comparing the use of liquid fertiliser to a distilled digestate product and the impact on crop health and yield.

This project will look at whether grazing cereal crops with sheep over winter can reduce or remove the need for autumn herbicides and T0 fungicides. It will also explore whether crop variety impacts the success of this method.

These sites will investigate whether using multiple IPM methods, as identified in our Top 10 tips for cabbage stem beetle (CSFB) management, can reduce crop losses and improve oilseed rape establishment.

These projects will assess whether the new AHDB BYDV tool can improve the timing and accuracy of insecticide applications to help manage BYDV infection.

These trials are comparing a simple two-way cover crop mix with a more complex 12-way mix.

The projects will assess:

• The value of cover crops as winter lamb fodder
• Impacts on soil structure
• Effects on soil nutrition for the following cash crop

This project will monitor pests and diseases in field margins to assess whether they act as a source of infection and how they spread into neighbouring crops.

This trial will investigate whether applying rock dust can improve soil health, using visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) assessments and our soil health scorecard.

If you’re interested in becoming an innovation site and taking part in future on-farm trials, contact your regional knowledge exchange manager or Agronomy and Environment Manager, Bek Hirstman, at bek.hirstman@ahdb.org.uk.