Soils

Huntingdonshire Monitor Farm: Launch and summer farm walk

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:21:44 GMT

There’s a new Monitor Farm in Huntingdonshire! Join us at Common Barn Farm with the team at G.T. Ramply & Son to hear about their plans as the next AHDB Monitor Farm for the area.

Farming across 3,500 acres, over varying soil types, Ramply Farms grow winter and spring cereals, oilseed rape, cover crops, and contract some lighter land out for onions.

This launch event will introduce the key challenges and objectives for the farming business, with presentations, technical discussion and a summer farm walk.

What we'll cover

AHDB cover crop trial – insights from the Bedfordshire trial comparing 2-way and 10-way cover crop mixes, and their impact on soil health, livestock and cash crop performance
Launching the Huntingdonshire Monitor Farm – meet Andrew Ramply and Joe Hicken as they introduce the farm business objectives and priorities
Crop establishment and machinery – including the interrow hoe, Horsch Avatar and changes to row spacing for improved crop establishment
Integrating livestock into the rotation – finishing store lambs on winter cover crops and exploring impacts on margins and spring crop productivity
Soil type and management demonstration – David Felce will lead an in-field demonstration exploring how varying soil types influence management decisions across the farm
In-field crop walk – including OSR after three years out of the rotation, spring cropping, varieties Vibe and Dawsum, and spring oats following grazed cover crops
East Midlands cover crop trials – plans for the new Autumn 2026 Huntingdonshire trial comparing 3-way and 6-way cover crop mixes

BASIS and NRoSO points are available for this event.

As always, food and beverages will be provided. Please sign up to attend for catering purposes.

We look forward to welcoming you to attend the next chapter of AHDB Monitor Farms in the East Midlands!

Put soil first to support crop protection benefits

Wed, 20 May 2026 07:39:50 GMT

Put soil first to support crop protection benefits

Herefordshire: Multi-species swards – from seed to feed

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:16:24 GMT

Learn about growing and managing multi-species swards to improve livestock performance and boost economic return.

If you’re thinking of drilling or overseeding a sward but aren’t sure what mix will work best for your livestock system, join one of our upcoming events and we’ll help you review the options.

Your local host farmer – who’s been there, done that and seen the benefits – will share their experiences, and you’ll learn from trusted advisers and other experts who will provide an in-depth look at the value of multi-species swards and how to manage them.

What we’ll cover

How to choose, establish and manage the right mix for your farm and livestock system
How the right mix can increase the quality and performance of livestock and boost economic return
When to reseed or overseed
How multi-species swards can boost soil health and biodiversity

Agenda

10:00am Arrival and reception
10:30am Welcome and introduction to host farm
10:45am
- Forage selection: Choosing the right species/mixes for your soil, system and goals
- Establishment and economic benefits: Selection and management of multi-species swards for livestock performance and gains
12:15pm Farm walk and discussion
- Practical use of multi-species swards – what, where and why
- Environmental gains and soil health
1:00pm Lunch and networking
1:45pm Environment and further economics
2:00pm Final thoughts and close

Important information

This is fully funded and lunch will be provided.

Spaces are limited – book early so you don’t miss out.

BASIS CPD points are available for attending this event.

If you have any questions about these events, contact your regional knowledge exchange manager.

Speakers

To be confirmed

Other events in this series

Other events to follow.

South Notts Monitor Farm: Launch and summer farm walk

Tue, 12 May 2026 15:10:22 GMT

There’s a new Monitor Farm for South Notts! Join us at Smite Hill Farm to hear from Grant and Sarah Page about their plans.

As the Bingham Monitor Farm comes to the end of it’s three-year term with AHDB, Joe Fisher will share his closing remarks, learnings and plans he has for the future of Manor Farm, Saxondale.

What we'll cover

AHDB cover crop trial: Molly Bampton will share insights from the Bedfordshire cover crop trial. This trial has been looking at the benefits of a 2-way vs 10-way mix cover crop, and it’s impacts on soil health, livestock and cash crop performance
Launching South Notts: Grant and Sarah Page will introduce their farm business, including diversifications, and the challenges they hope to explore and overcome as the next AHDB Monitor Farm for the region
East Midlands cover crop trials: The South Notts Monitor Farm cover crop trial will begin in Autumn 2026, aiming to produce accurate margins for both field and financial performance when growing and grazing cover crops ahead of spring crops

Event details

Food and drinks provided
Basis and NRoSO points available
Please sign up so we can plan catering

We look forward to welcoming you to the next chapter of AHDB Monitor Farms in the East Midlands.

Molly Bampton
Knowledge Exchange Manager – Cereals & Oilseeds

Sioe Deithiol Llinell Sylfaen yr Amgylchedd 2026

Wed, 06 May 2026 08:41:00 GMT

Sioe Deithiol Llinell Sylfaen yr Amgylchedd 2026

Farming beef for the next generation: The Underley farm tour

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:59:38 GMT

Join Ian Farrant at Underley on the Herefordshire–Worcestershire border for the closing Monitor Farm event, showcasing lessons learned from a progressive, forage‑led beef system focused on sustainability, profitability and resilience.

Underley is a 600‑acre beef finishing farm, finishing 600 cattle a year. During the event, we'll explore system change, practical trials and honest reflections from Ian’s Monitor Farm journey.

Agenda

10:00am–10:30am Arrival, welcome, registration, tea and coffee
10:30am–11:00am Introductions and farm overview
- Ian Farrant will introduce Underley, outlining the system, challenges and motivations for joining the Monitor Farm programme
- Reflections on business resilience and system changes
11:00am Farm walk
Station 1: Defra NUE-Leg trial – clovers and legumes
- Germinal and Ian will give an overview of the NUE-Leg project and Underley’s involvement
- Open discussion on the challenges of these trials and the opportunity to reduce fertiliser use and improve nitrogen efficiency
Station 2: Establishing and growing lucerne
- Why Ian chose to trial home‑grown lucerne in a beef system
- Honest discussion on establishment challenges – including why Ian nearly gave up on the crop and the benefits seen for cattle performance and feed self‑sufficiency
12:45pm–1:30pm Lunch and networking
1:30pm–2:30pm Station 3: Calf rearing and home-grown feeding systems
- Ian will explain why he made the switch from British Blues to Aberdeen Angus‑sired dairy‑beef calves and how this fits better within his forage‑based finishing system where he has transitioned to a home‑grown TMR leading to positive financial and practical impacts
2:30pm–3:00pm Discussion and Q&A
3:00pm Close

BASIS and NRoSO CPD points will be available.

Why are high doses bad news for fungicide resistance?

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:05:44 GMT

Why are high doses bad news for fungicide resistance?

Environment Baselining Roadshow 2026

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:45:00 GMT

Environment Baselining Roadshow 2026

Nitrogen nuance: Drier March tempers excess winter rainfall

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:25:44 GMT

Nitrogen nuance: Drier March tempers excess winter rainfall

Cornwall: Multi-species swards – from seed to feed

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:11:00 GMT

Learn about growing and managing multi-species swards to improve livestock performance and boost economic return.

If you're thinking of drilling or overseeding a sward but aren’t sure what is the best mix for your livestock system, this event is for you.

Join technical experts Ellie Roberts and John Harris at Hole Farm who will explore the value of multi-species swards and how to manage them.

What we’ll cover

How to choose, establish and manage the right mix for your farm and livestock system
How the right mix can increase the quality and performance of livestock and boost economic return
When to reseed or overseed
How multi-species swards can boost soil health and biodiversity

Agenda

10:00am Arrival and reception
10:30am Welcome and introduction to host farm
10:45am
- Forage selection: Choosing the right species/mixes for your soil, system and goals
- Establishment and economic benefits: Selection and management of multi-species swards for livestock performance and gains
12:15pm Farm walk and discussion
- Practical use of multi-species swards – what, where and why
- Environmental gains and soil health
1:00pm Lunch and networking
2:00pm Final thoughts and close

Important information

This is fully funded and lunch will be provided.

Spaces are limited – book early so you don’t miss out.

BASIS CPD points are available for attending this event.

If you have any questions about these events, contact your regional knowledge exchange manager.

Speakers

Ellie Roberts is NIAB’s technical expert for the National Variety and Recommended Lists for grass and clover (herbage) and maize and APHA forage crops.

Her research interests are in grassland systems, soil–plant–animal interactions and health, and the economics of forage systems.

John Harris – Oliver Seeds.

Other events in this series

Other events to follow.

Cheshire: Multi-species swards – from seed to feed

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:24:00 GMT

Learn about growing and managing multi-species swards to improve livestock performance and boost economic return.

If you’re thinking of drilling or overseeding a sward but aren’t sure what mix will work best for your livestock system, join one of our upcoming events and we’ll help you review the options.

What we’ll cover

How to choose, establish and manage the right mix for your farm and livestock system
How the right mix can increase the quality and performance of livestock and boost economic return
When to reseed or overseed
How multi-species swards can boost soil health and biodiversity

Agenda

10:00am Arrival and reception
10:30am Welcome and introduction to host farm
10:45am
- Forage selection: Choosing the right species/mixes for your soil, system and goals
- Establishment and economic benefits: Selection and management of multi-species swards for livestock performance and gains
12:15pm Lunch and networking
1:00pm Farm walk and discussion
- Practical use of multi-species swards – what, where and why
- Environmental gains and soil health
3:00pm Final thoughts and close

Important information

This is fully funded and lunch will be provided.

Spaces are limited – book early so you don’t miss out.

BASIS CPD points are available for attending this event.

If you have any questions about these events, contact your regional knowledge exchange manager.

Speakers

James Bretherton is a grassland consultant and founder of AgScope. He specialises in soil conditions, health, biology and chemistry.

Representatives from Germinal will also be speaking at this event. Germinal is a seed specialist providing market-leading solutions for the agricultural and amenity sectors. Operating directly in Great Britain and Ireland, Germinal has working partnerships in over 25 countries.

Other events in this series

Other events to follow.

Latest edition of Nutrient Management Guide RB209 now available

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:47:42 GMT

Latest edition of Nutrient Management Guide RB209 now available

Arable Crop Report says prospects are very good despite wet winter

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:57:21 GMT

Arable Crop Report says prospects are very good despite wet winter

Cotswolds: Multi-species swards – from seed to feed

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:56:53 GMT

Learn about growing and managing multi-species swards to improve livestock performance and boost economic return.

If you’re thinking of drilling or overseeding a sward but aren’t sure what mix will work best for your livestock system, join one of our upcoming events and we’ll help you review the options.

What we’ll cover

How to choose, establish and manage the right mix for your farm and livestock system
How the right mix can increase the quality and performance of livestock and boost economic return
When to reseed or overseed
How multi-species swards can boost soil health and biodiversity

Agenda

10:00am Arrival and reception
10:30am Welcome and introduction to host farm
10:45am
- Forage selection: Choosing the right species/mixes for your soil, system and goals; Ian Wilkinson
- Establishment and economic benefits: Selection and management of multi-species swards for livestock performance and gains; Ellie Roberts
12:15pm Farm walk and discussion
- Practical use of multi-species swards – what, where and why
- Environmental gains and soil health
1:00pm Lunch and networking
2:00pm Final thoughts and close

Important information

This is fully funded and lunch will be provided.

Spaces are limited – book early so you don’t miss out.

BASIS CPD points are available for attending this event.

If you have any questions about these events, contact your regional knowledge exchange manager.

Speakers

Ian Wilkinson is a joint owner of Honeydale Farm and co-founder of FarmED.

Ian joined Cotswold Seeds and became MD in 1998. Since being under Ian’s direction, Cotswold Seeds built its reputation on developing forage, herbal leys, green manures and complex seed mixtures to improve soil health, sequester carbon and mitigate climate change.

Ellie Roberts is NIAB’s technical expert for the National Variety and Recommended Lists for grass and clover (herbage) and maize and APHA forage crops.

Her research interests are in grassland systems, soil–plant–animal interactions and health, and the economics of forage systems.

Other events in this series

Other events to follow.

We need your views on how cover crops impact weeds

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:15:08 GMT

We need your views on how cover crops impact weeds

East Suffolk Monitor Farm: Back to basics

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:16:20 GMT

Join Dennington Hall Farms for a practical meeting focused on the core principles that drive consistent crop performance.

With ongoing pressure on margins, this session will revisit the fundamentals that underpin resilient arable systems.

Speakers and topics include:

All things soil and soil health, David Purdy
Focus on seed, genetics and plant breeding, Heather Oldfield and Phil Tailby from Limagrain
The right nutrition at the right time, Omex
A view from an independent agronomist and business consultant, Doug Inglis

The meeting will include a farm walk to look at current cropping and discuss in-field management, seasonal challenges and lessons learned.

Amy Catling
Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager – Cereals & Oilseeds

How to account for winter rainfall in nutrient management plans

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:05:44 GMT

How to account for winter rainfall in nutrient management plans

Building resilient arable systems: Long-term no-till, biologicals and foliar nutrition in practice

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:33:07 GMT

Join us at this on-farm meeting led by Geoff Homer, George Hosier and Ben Arthur.

We will be discussing:

Long-term direct drilling – review, outcomes and lessons learned.
Integrating grazing into arable systems
Foliar nitrogen – melting urea
Soil biology, brewing biologicals and on-farm microbiology

The presentations will be insightful and backed by data, providing the opportunity to question the outcomes of their collective learnings.

The presentations will be practical and followed by a farm walk (weather permitting).

Lunch will be provided and BASIS and NRoSO points will be awarded.

David Hunter
Knowledge Exchange Manager - Cereals & Oilseeds

Whole farm regenerative grazing for upland livestock systems

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:44:54 GMT

A practical introduction to increasing farm resilience and productivity through regenerative grazing and ecosystem management

Together with Pasture for Life, we're delighted to invite you to join this thought-provoking workshop with industry renowned consultant Caroline Grindrod and beef and sheep farmer Nick Prince.

Agenda

In the morning, Caroline will explore why regenerative grazing works best when applied as a whole-farm system rather than a set of isolated practices.

Drawing on her experience across UK uplands, she'll cover:

Why soil, plant, animal and farm ecosystems are interlinked and why understanding these connections matters for reducing inputs and increasing productivity
The role soil biology plays in pasture health and farm viability
Principles of adaptive grazing management for hill and upland systems
Why regenerative farming requires systems thinking, not just new techniques
Building farm business resilience in the face of policy change and climate uncertainty

After lunch, Caroline will explain how she works with individual farms to apply these principles within their specific context – landscape, stock type, labour availability and business goals.

This isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, it's about reading your own land and making decisions that fit your situation.

We'll then relocate to a nearby upland hill farm, kindly hosted by Yorkshire Dales beef and sheep farmer Nick Prince, where we'll see some of these ideas in practice, learn more about the farm and discuss his experiences.

Register

To attend you must register in advance.

Please let us know of any dietary requirements when you book your place.

Final confirmation and event information will be shared before the event.

Caroline Grindrod

Caroline is a trainer, consultant and coach supporting livestock farmers to transition to regenerative agricultural systems.

She uses her 'ROOTED framework' and a whole-system design approach to help farmers work with their individual unique contexts rather than against them.

With a background in environmental conservation and hill farming in the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, Caroline has worked with farms across thousands of acres of UK uplands, from Welsh mountains to Scottish Highlands.

Somerset: More from less – making the most of your soils

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:23:30 GMT

Join Terrafarmer and LEAF farmers Rob Addicott and Jeremy Padfield for a practical on‑farm event digging deep into soil biology.

We'll assess the opportunities and potential cost saving and efficiency improvements in the latest biological fertiliser technologies.

Agenda

10:30am Arrival and refreshments

11:00am Stratton Farms background and introduction

Rob and Jeremy will outline their 2350-acre mixed farm partnership with a focus on their 440 acres of permanent pasture, red clover and herb legume leys.

They are advocates of regular testing of nutrients and organic matter in order understand their soils and to help make their businesses more resilient and sustainable.

11:30am Terrafarmer soil biology and Stratton Farms analysis results

Terrafarmer will present the farm’s recent soil analysis results and outline a ‘What next?’ action plan, including:

Identifying opportunities from the soil data
Potential cost savings and efficiency gains from current biological fertiliser technologies
Approaches to nitrogen reduction and nutrient management
Strategies to support soil health improvement and long‑term farm productivity

12:15pm Lunch

12:45pm Farm walk and Q&A

The guided farm walk will provide an opportunity to see practical examples of the systems discussed, including:

Soil structure, biology and nutrient status in different fields
Establishment and performance of herbal leys
Discussion around nutrient cycling, water quality and grazing management
Demonstration of Tow & Fert machinery

2:00pm Event close

This event qualifies for BASIS points.