Written by David Kennedy, Director General for Food, Farming and Biosecurity at Defra Many readers will have contributed to our “Health and Harmony” consultation on future farming policy in the spring of 2018, when we travelled across the country to gather views from all farmers – receiving over 43,000 responses. Now we are once again …
A golden opportunity to help shape agricultural policy Read More »
Written by John Meadley from the Pasture Fed Livestock Association “Humankind, despite its artistic and technical abilities, sophistication and accomplishments, owes its existence to six inches of soil – and the fact that it rains”. That phrase, attributed to Confucius (551 – 479 BC), reminds us that soil is the most basic, vital and precious …
By Philip Gibson, Managing Director, Reverberate PR I sometimes think that we are our own worst enemy. We operate in an industry facing increasing negativity. We are being challenged on climate change impact, pesticide use, soil health and biodiversity. It feels like we are under attack. Yet much of the public face of farming continues …
If you are like us, then you don’t know where to start when it comes to other reading apart from farming magazines. However, there is so much information out there that can help us understand our businesses, farm better and understand the position of nonfarmers. Below is a book you might find interesting, challenge the …
Have you heard the news? It’s amazing how no-till has captured the imagination of people far removed from farming. Even farmers whose ploughshares still shine with use are beginning to think they need to get better informed. The news is giving no-till the attention it needs. As can be see by the numerous soil events, …
Four Prevented Planting Acre Priorities Heading into 2020Written By Emily Unglesbee , DTN Staff Reporter © Copyright 2019 DTN LLC In a year like 2019 you realise in the UK we always expect get our winter crops planted. Our temperate climate means this is nearly always the case. There will be talk of exceptionally wet …
Evolution or revolution? Two AHDB Monitor Farmers (Richard Payne and Hew Willett) tell their story of theirjourney to direct drilling, with an introduction from Harry Henderson, AHDB There was once a time when establishing a cereal crop was a straightforward standard process. Bale or burn the straw, subsoil if necessary, plough press, power harrow, and …
BASE-UK was established in 2012 and is independent of all businesses or organisations. We provide a forum for members to share information, experience and ideas on conservation agriculture, which includes topics such as minimum tillage, direct drilling, cover cropping, integration of livestock and many other techniques offering more sustainable agriculture by working in harmony with …
A very warm welcome to this new issue of Direct Driller. There’s much to get your teeth into, including topics that are new but highly relevant. A glimpse into the future shows new crops on the cusp of becoming commercial. Why, for example, have we yet to realise the potential of rye? And in the …
We are often asked how much of the UK’s farmed acres are direct drilled. It isn’t easy to answer exactly, but the easy answer is that it is always increasing. Data seems to suggest between 8% and 12% is no-tilled, but given all the confusion over naming, we are not sure that even this is …
