Farm Trial Results

Making the most of organic materials to reduce fertiliser bills

Farm Trial Results, Research, Soils Farmer / By

Written by Lizzie Sagoo from ADAS Earlier this month, ADAS, Rothamsted and Bangor University welcomed over 250 delegates from 25 countries to the 18th International RAMIRAN conference in Cambridge. The theme of this year’s RAMIRAN was maximising the utilisation of organic fertilisers against a background of changing regulation and increasing pressure on the environment and food production. Following …

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Unearthing Insights: Navigating Compaction Challenges in the Transition to Conservation Agriculture

Farm Trial Results, Research, Soil Health, Soils Farmer / By

Written by Joe Stanley from the Allerton Project It’s well established, including by our own research (in part discussed in June’s article on our pioneering Conservation Agriculture trial), that a move to reduced tillage or direct drilling (DD) can generally be considered beneficial for the triumvirate of farm economics, soil health and environmental sustainability. With …

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On-farm trials make progress towards weed seed solutions

Farm Trial Results, Soils Farmer / By

As growers grapple for grassweed solutions, Direct Driller looks at the results from the first year of on-farm trials investigating a novel way of controlling weed seeds at harvest. Written by Charlotte Cunningham Grassweeds are the bane of any arable farmer’s life, with control often an uphill battle when it comes to tackling particularly persistent …

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High silt content soils make for a slow drilling transition

Farm Trial Results, Soil Health / By

After five years of cover crops and reduced tillage cultivations, Kent farm manager Dom Hughes reviews his experience – and how good advice has been vital to not making a mess of it. “Slowly, slowly catchee monkey” has become my mantra. This old English proverb, which is another way of saying ‘be patient’, is perhaps …

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The evolution of tillage techniques on heavy arable land in the East Midlands

Farm Trial Results / By

Written by Dr Alastair Leake from The Allerton Project “There’s a reason why we use the plough” a colleague sagely advised me when I questioned this fundamental agricultural practice; “It works” – and I was treated to a history lesson to-boot. Having transitioned from growing heated glasshouse salad crops in hydroponics, the ultimate zero-till system, …

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Arable Soil Farmer of the Year – A farm walk with David Miller

Farm Trial Results, Soil Health / By

Written by Emma Adams on behalf of The Farm Carbon Toolkit The second in our series of farm walks was with David Miller in Hampshire. This year’s Arable Soil Farmer of the Year, David is keen to demonstrate how a regenerative system can be both simple and profitable even on challenging soils. Managing 700ha of …

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Drill Manufacturers – Claydon Drills

Farm Trial Results, Manufacturer in Focus, Soil Health / By

Excellent soil health is fundamental for maximum farm productivity With autumn drilling on the Claydon farm completed and crops developing well, Jeff Claydon, inventor of the Opti-Till® direct strip seeding system, discusses the importance of excellent soil health and the role of effective stubble management in achieving it. 30 November 2022  Excellent soil health is a …

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