Soils

AHDB outlines biostimulants basics for growers of cereals and oilseeds

Wed, 01 May 2024 08:26:21 GMT

AHDB outlines biostimulants basics for growers of cereals and oilseeds

AHDB at the Cereals Event 2024

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:25:16 GMT

Meet the AHDB team on stand (526) at Cereals 2024 to discuss how we use your levy to deliver:

Trusted variety and product testing
Independent, practical research and market intelligence
Work across the supply chain
Farmer-to-farmer learning (through a network of Strategic Farms, Monitor Farms and Arable Business Groups)

Stop at our stand to chat to staff, take part in some technical debates and pick up free resources. Try to visit us early, resources are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our stand will include a focus on four technical topics.

Topic 1: Recommended Lists (RL)

First released 80 years ago (8 August 1944), the Recommended Lists (RL) is long-lived, trusted and one of AHDB’s most consistently recognised and valued products. At Cereals 2024, join us to celebrate the RL's rich history and find out how it will continue to evolve to meet the needs of farmers.

Visit the AHDB stand to:

Pick up the latest RL booklet
Find out about the RL app and other digital resources
Learn about the latest results from the RL review
Get BASIS and NRoSO points (as part of the Cereals 2024 knowledge trail)
Take part in the sustainable varieties debate and the 80 years celebrations (on day one)*

ahdb.org.uk/rl

Topic 2: The Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

RB209 can help you make the most of organic materials and balance the benefits of fertiliser use against the costs – both economic and environmental. At Cereals 2024, we want to hear what you think RB209 does well and what could be improved (as part of a strategic review of nutrient management guidance).

Visit the AHDB stand to:

Get the latest RB209 guidance
Talk to the team about nutrient management
Discuss the RB209 review

ahdb.org.uk/RB209

Topic 3: Planning soil management

The soil health scorecard provides a way to monitor soil health based on key chemical, biological and physical indicators. At Cereals 2024, a new ‘Planning soil management’ pack will be available to pick up, which will help you get started with the scorecard approach on your farm.

Visit the AHDB stand to:

Grab a planning soil management pack
Learn about the soil health scorecard
Find out about our GREATsoils information and tools

ahdb.org.uk/GREATsoil

Topic 4: Environmental data and value

Many farmers are exploring markets and payments for carbon sequestration, biodiversity net gain (BNG) and regenerative actions. At Cereals 2024, talk with the team to discover how we will help you measure and get the maximum value out of your farm’s environmental data.

Visit the AHDB stand to:

Hear about the new baseline pilot
Learn how to get involved with the baseline pilot farms
Find out about our environment resources, including the cover crops guide

ahdb.org.uk/environment

Knowledge exchange

Our network of regional Knowledge Exchange Managers helps to connect you with AHDB activity. At Cereals 2024, numerous team members will be on hand to talk about your farming opportunities and challenges.

Visit the AHDB stand to:

Get information on our Strategic Cereal Farms, Monitor Farms and Arable Business Groups
Make sure you are signed up to receive the best products, tools and services
Learn more about what AHDB does for your farming business

ahdb.org.uk/cereals-engagement-team

More activity…

*We’ve got many exciting plans for Cereals 2024, including a series of discussions taking place at the seminar area in our marquee. Keep an eye on this page for the latest developments.

How to nurture wet-weather-ravaged cereals

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:44:07 GMT

How to nurture wet-weather-ravaged cereals

Field drainage: A glossary of terms

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:32:47 GMT

Field drainage: A glossary of terms

Field drainage: Designers, contractors and the law

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 11:19:18 GMT

Field drainage: Designers, contractors and the law

Field drainage: Renewal and installation

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:00:45 GMT

Field drainage: Renewal and installation

Field drainage: Maintenance and repairs

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:12:47 GMT

Field drainage: Maintenance and repairs

Field drainage: Use of mole drains

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:24:32 GMT

Field drainage: Use of mole drains

Field drainage: The importance of soil health

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 12:00:49 GMT

Field drainage: The importance of soil health

Field drainage: Environmental impact assessments

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:09:32 GMT

Field drainage: Environmental impact assessments

Field drainage: When to invest in field drainage

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:12:01 GMT

Field drainage: When to invest in field drainage

Field drainage: The signs of good and bad field drainage

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 09:24:47 GMT

Field drainage: The signs of good and bad field drainage

Field drainage: How to map field drainage systems

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:46:39 GMT

Field drainage: How to map field drainage systems

Field drainage: Benefits and costs to farm businesses

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 14:18:41 GMT

Field drainage: Benefits and costs to farm businesses

Ecological principles and system-based decision making in agriculture

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:47:35 GMT

Join us, in partnership with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and The Farmer Scientist Network, as we tap into the expertise and experience of our speakers to find the answers that you need to take your business forward.

We understand the vital role that farmers play in supporting the environment and ensuring the well-being of our communities. The agriculture landscape is evolving, and it is time to explore sustainable practices that not only preserve but enhance our precious resources. This panel discussion will explore innovative approaches to farming that align with agroecology principles and system-based decision making.

This meeting will cover

Ecological principles in agriculture: Explore the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the impact of ecological principles on crop resilience and resource conservation.
System-based decision making: Understand how shifting to a system-based approach transforms decision-making processes on the farm, leading to more resilient and adaptive strategies.
Changing information requirements: Learn about the evolving information needs in the context of reformative farming and how technology can support informed decision making.
Success stories and lessons learned: Hear from experienced farmers who have successfully implemented ecological practices and embraced system-based decision making.

RoSA CPD points will be available for attending this event.

About the speakers

Jason Rowntree

Jason Rowntree is the director of Michigan State University’s Centre for Regenerative Agriculture. He has been responsible for the system change that has taken place there, using holistic and regenerative management principles to improve soil properties, forage production and ecological function while employing an 18–20-month finishing model.

Jason’s research focus is identifying the metrics and management that reflect ecological improvement in grazing land systems. He has also worked with the Savory Institute to co-develop an Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) that is now being used on over 2m acres of grasslands on every continent except Antarctica. Furthermore, he is also the project director of a new $19.2m-funded project entitled, 'Metrics, Management, and Monitoring: An Investigation of Pasture and Rangeland Soil Health and its Drivers'.

His work in beef sustainability has been featured in the movie 'Sacred Cow', The Washington Post, New York Times, Forbes and many other popular media publications.

Stuart Johnson

Stuart Johnson runs a family tenanted farming business with his parents and brother. They currently manage 540 acres AHA mixed farmland under long term regenerative management; 280 acres FBT permanent pasture, where they are introducing regenerative practices; and 220 acres annual let land conventionally managed.

They view their business as a livestock-based business that has the capacity to grow home used arable and cover crops.

The family tenated farming business focuses on regenerative practices at their home farm in West Wharmley. Initially it was purely for financial reasons, there was not much thought for social or environmental benefits at the time. They wanted to make sure as a business they are as resilient as possible going forward, reducing their exposure and reliance on external parties or inputs.

They have now reduced nearly all variable costs without over sacrificing yields. They believe they are more resilient to price changes and weather extremes and, in an industry that has seen hugely aggressive swings of late they are hoping this can only be positive.

Ruth Wade

Ruth Wade is an ecologist at heart, with a passion to use knowledge and ideas from ecological systems in agricultural systems, working towards sustainable farming whilst maintaining a resilient and productive farming system.

She is particularly interested in plant-soil interactions, plant defence strategies and multi-trophic interactions. She uses a combination of novel laboratory, small plot and field scale trials to investigate the impact of different land management decisions and changes in rainfall patterns on plant growth, plant chemical composition, soil structure and fertility as well as interacting organisms such as insects and their natural enemies.

Liz Genever

Dr Liz Genever, a mixed farmer in south-east Lincolnshire, is a beef and sheep consultant who specialises in grass and forage systems. She is one of the founders of Carbon Calling, which has the aim of building a community of farmers who support and learn from one another to make their farm and themselves healthier and happier. She worked at AHDB for 13 years as a technical specialist and established her own independent consultancy business in 2019.

Liz was part of OFC Emerging Leaders programme in 2020 and completed the WCF Challenge of Rural Leadership course in 2016. She just completed the holistic management training.

Her goals are to be the go-to-person for beef and sheep farmers interested in regenerative approaches, and to develop and deliver a holistic approach for her home farm. She has experience of managing research and knowledge exchange project over her career, which including AHDB’s Ram Compare and Challenge Sheep projects.

This panel discussion aims to provide you with valuable insights, practical knowledge, and a platform for open conversation. We look forward to your participation and to collectively exploring the possibilities that reformative farming and system-based decision-making hold for the future of agriculture.

Talking Leaders: Rooted leadership

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 14:40:07 GMT

Join this online broadcast with Sean Cameron to learn about soil preservation techniques, carbon capture in agriculture, leadership and more.

Sean works on his family farm on the south-eastern edge of the Pampas in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Since 1996, his arable farm has operated a no-till system. The main crops are wheat, barley, white clover seed production, sunflower, corn and seed corn, and sweetcorn produced under irrigation. They also produce some peas and often plant a second crop of soybean after the wheat and barley harvest.

Sean will be talking on a variety of topics, including:

Soil preservation techniques
- Highlighting methods such as no-till farming to protect and enhance soil health
Comparative Analysis: Arable farming in the UK vs Argentina
- Exploring the advantages and disadvantages of arable farming in both regions
Strategies for reducing chemical usage in agriculture
- Discussing alternative approaches to minimise chemical inputs in farming practices
Economic and social contrasts
- Comparing the costs and socio-economic aspects of arable farming in the UK and Argentina
Carbon capture in agriculture
- Examining the role of farmers in carbon capture and how it can be leveraged for the farmer’s benefits
Leadership and management in agribusiness
- Addressing key aspects of leadership and management in the context of modern agribusiness, emphasising sustainable practices and decision-making

Find out more about our AgriLeader activities and other Talking Leaders broadcasts

Enhancing nutrient use efficiency of organic manures

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:01:29 GMT

Enhancing nutrient use efficiency of organic manures

Managing and making the most of manure

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 08:59:36 GMT

Join us for a meeting hosted by Lacesston farm, Gateside, Fife, for a discussion on farmyard manure (FYM).

The meeting will cover

The benefits of FYM, how to manage it to get the best out of it
The value of the nutrients and how to increase those nutrients

Speakers

John Weir (host farmer) will describe his farming strategy for his FYM
SOYL will then give a presentation using John’s soil sample analysis and FYM sample analysis to show how that fits into a nutrient management plan. This will also cover which financial savings could be made with FYM
Audrey Litterick from Earthcare Technical will also present on how the benefits of FYM can be increased through careful management

Registration and refreshments will be available from 10:30am, with presentations commencing at 11:00am, 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.

Find out more about AHDB Farm Excellence

Soil health scorecard seeds companion crop push at Monitor Farm

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 15:27:07 GMT

Soil health scorecard seeds companion crop push at Monitor Farm

Using cover crops and companion cropping to build soil health

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:11:59 GMT

Join us for the next Wainfleet Monitor Farm meeting.

We look forward to welcoming you to catch up on what has been happening at the Monitor Farm since we last met.

We will also be joined by Joe Martlew, AHDB Senior Knowledge Transfer Manager, and David Purdy, Soil Health Specialist, to discuss soil health monitoring and how you can use cover and companion crops to improve soil health.

The meeting will cover

Monitor Farm update, including harvest and drilling
Soil health monitoring
How cover crops and companion cropping can improve soil health

Registration and refreshments will be available from 9:30am, with presentations commencing at 9:45am. Lunch will be provided.

BASIS and NRoSO points will be available.

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

Find out more about AHDB Farm Excellence.

Discover our monitor farm network.