Do you vividly recall the start of your journey into regenerative farming, can you pinpoint a specific enlightening moment? For some, this revelation is a regularly discussed topic, while for others, it unfolds as a gradual evolution. The changes introduced by SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) this year, however, are compelling new farmers to embrace regenerative …
I first encountered this definition of Regenerative Farming about a year ago, and it struck a chord with me. Farmers talk (often nostalgically) about farming again like their grandfather used to, but while that is true in the approach, the method has changed massively. Technology has played a pivotal role in enabling regenerative practices to …
Written by Chris Fellows It’s an odd thing to define what a “regenerative farmer” actually is. I generally think, it has more to do with the mindset of change than anything else. Then it becomes a journey and at some point you may meet the criteria of an official definition, if we actually ever get …
Written by Chris Fellows Did you know we are currently in what is called the Fourth Agricultural Revolution? I’ve heard the phrase before, but I had to look up what the first three were. There is some variation, depending on what you read and where you live, but this is my summary of how the …
Written by Chris Fellows We certainly confused a few in the last issue with the title change. As you can see, we are back to normal now (see what we did there). But the point stands, regen agriculture is everywhere right now and Defra have made it more profitable than ever. Thus, every other publication …
Welcome to the 5th Anniversary issue of Direct Driller / Normal Farming magazine. When we started the magazine, we really didn’t know what to call it. We knew it should focus on soil health, reduced cultivation, conservation agriculture (remember when it was called that), sustainability, efficiency and profitability. Lots of good words and I’d hope …
Written by Chris Fellows We have recently taken part in an Innovate UK competition to try and encourage farmers to read from formal material. Trial results, papers, research, on-farm projects and so forth. The assumption being that farmers who are better informed, make better decisions and thus become more profitable or sustainable (or both hopefully). …
Chris Fellows reviews important research into this ignored gas which pollutes our atmosphere. Reducing tillage could result in less production of a potent greenhouse gas, according to a study out of Penn State University. Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” is the most important greenhouse gas after methane and carbon dioxide and the biggest …
Does No-Till Means Less Nitrous Oxide in the Atmosphere? Read More »
Getting a confession out the way. About a third of my meals are 100% vegan. But in balance, an evening dinner rarely doesn’t contain meat. I like to think this is normal. Nutritionally balanced. A healthy diet, that supports a healthy farming ecosystem of arable and livestock. What’s not to like about that? Well, everything …
As executive editor of Direct Driller I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new sponsor Trinity AgTech and its founder and executive chairman Dr Hosein Khajeh-Hosseiny. At the same time, give most sincere thanks to ProCam for their support and inspiration from the magazine’s first issue. Procam have been great from the …
