Author name: Direct Driller

Parsnip Pioneers: the world’s first autonomously grown parsnip crop

Farm Trial Results, Machinery, Research, Robotics, Tech Farmer / By

Huntapac’s parsnip crop, grown without human machinery operation, used Skippy Scout drone monitoring operated by Agrii’s technical experts in the world’s first instance of entirely autonomous vegetable agronomy and production. Huntapac, in collaboration with Autonomous Agri Solutions, AutoSpray Systems and Agrii, funded by the Marks and Spencer Plan A Accelerator Fund, successfully grew a crop …

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New technology connecting the lab to the field

Agronomist Focus, Artificial Intelligence, Biodiversity, Robotics, Tech Farmer / By

Drone technology is unlocking the potential of traditional crop trials and helping to bridge the gap between detailed laboratory studies and field trials. Drones were used to assess an oilseed rape trial this spring at a site in Yorkshire, gathering data that hasn’t been possible before. The trial is a collaboration between Envirofield, Agrii and …

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Artificial intelligence is speeding up the development of the next generation of Biostimulants

Artificial Intelligence, Products in Focus, Tech Farmer, Varieties / By

Written by Syngenta Syngenta and the pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) company TraitSeq are combining forces to use the full power of AI for the development of innovative, high-performance biostimulants. Syngenta, a world leader in developing the next generation of biologicals products for agricultural use, will use its extensive knowledge of crop biology to complement TraitSeq’s …

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Humic Substances: a background to their classification, properties, origins and uses in Agriculture.

Soil Health, Soils Farmer / By

Written by Tim Smales from Humi-Cert.com Humic substances play a vital role in a healthy soil.  We’ll review what humic substances are, their benefits, the various amendments that are available and some examples of how they are used in agriculture.  Having an understanding of these substances and their properties is of great use in understanding …

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Planning for silage success 2025 – using AgTech to fine tune decision making.

Agronomist Focus / By

Improving quality and producing the right quantity for the animal numbers on farm takes planning and it starts with the soil, test so that you know what you already have on farm in the soil, in the slurry/FYM means than when the conditions are right the correct amount of nutrients can be applied to the …

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Ecoacoustics – a new underground horizon for soil health

Biodiversity, Livestock on Farm, Soil Health, Soils Farmer / By

Following on from a farm trial undertaken by Andy Cato’s Wildfarmed farms, (as mentioned in our Farmer Profile issue Nov’ 24) we’re drilling down (pardon the pun) into the technology behind a new technique for measuring soil health – ecoacoustics. Ecoacoustics is an emerging science which investigates natural and anthropogenic sounds and their relationship with …

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New seed germination model devised

Research, Soils Farmer / By

New research from Rothamsted Novel tool will give breeders more predictive accuracy for seed development and growth. Scientists at Rothamsted have developed a novel mathematical model for seed germination. The new tool is derived from field data and marks a significant improvement in accuracy over previous models. Germination models use water and temperature as the …

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Worcestershire-based family business wins industry award

Manufacturer in Focus, Soils Farmer / By

Chadbury-based agricultural machinery manufacturer, Weaving Machinery, has been awarded Gold in the British and Irish Manufacturer of the Year category in the LAMMA Innovation Awards 2025. Family business, Weaving Machinery, has launched several new products and innovations over the past five years, with widespread recognition. The Sabre drill debuted in 2020 and quickly became one …

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Enhancing Carbon Sequestration Through Regenerative Agriculture

Agronomist Focus, Soil Health, Soils Farmer / By

By Indigro Ltd Regenerative agriculture is proving to be a game changer in enhancing soil carbon sequestration and farm sustainability. Over four years, Indigro Ltd conducted a comprehensive survey of their clients, gathering invaluable data on how different practices influence soil organic carbon (SOC). The study, led by agronomist Charlotte Cook, provides a compelling case …

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