Jamie Stotzka, Consultant Bioagronomist Healthy soils contain billions of bacteria from thousands of species. A special group of these bacteria, collectively known as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria or PGPR are known to promote plant health, growth and productivity. PGPR are unlike the nodulating rhizobia only found associating with leguminous plants, as they are free-living in […]
It’s clear that we need to build more resilient soils, both for the future of our farms and for the long-term health of the land. The satellite images of muddy waters spilling out of brown rivers around the UK after a heavy rainfall are hair-raising. We can visibly see the soil gliding off fields, into
HOW TO BECOME A SOIL HEALTH EXPERT ON YOUR FARM Read More »
A stressful time trying to establish autumn crops is what originally prompted Northamptonshire estate manager, Andrew Mahon, to move away from traditional cultivations. But it’s been a journey that’s paid off. As manager of the 1,000 ha Bromborough Estate at Glebe Farm, Podington near Wellingborough – with 840 ha of owned land plus 165 ha
STEPWISE MOVE TO NO-TILL DRILLING HAS PROVED A SENSIBLE APPROACH Read More »
Report by Chris Fellows, Direct Driller Magazine Recognising an interest in reducing soil movement, AHDB has picked a new Monitor Farm that predominately uses a system of reduced tillage. The 4th July was the first event held at Rick Davies’ Newton Lodge Farm. It was a great chance for us to get to know Rick
AHDB NORTHAMPTON MONITOR FARM LAUNCH 4TH JULY Read More »
Written by Harry Henderson of the AHDB, August 2018 Take a look at the European Conservation Agriculture Federation website and you’ll see Finland has the highest percentage of arable cropping in a no-till system in Europe – 13 per cent (the UK stands at 8 per cent). While you can understand dry-land countries, such as
TO TILL, OR NOT TO TILL, THAT IS THE QUESTION. FINLAND HAS THE ANSWER Read More »
AHDB Soil Health Farmers and growers are concerned about the current health of their soils. Most farmers and growers understand the importance of soil health for the productivity, sustainability and profitability of their business, but many face significant challenges when interpreting results from the laboratory analysis or when choosing suitable methods for assessing the health
SOIL ASSESSMENT METHODS Read More »
I If you think of soil health, the best place to start is with ecosystem engineers – earthworms. The results from the spring pilot farmland earthworm survey indicated that turning over a spadeful of soil in any field, and you are highly likely to find at least one earthworm. There are 3 types of worms
WANT TO ASSESS YOUR SOIL HEALTH? TRY THE FREE #30MINWORMS SURVEY THIS AUTUMN Read More »
Written by Robert Patton from Plantworks UK ‘It was a new day yesterday but by God it’s an old day now’. The briefest of reflections on the COVID I could dream up, courtesy of Jethro Tull (worthy of pointing out to the younger audience not the chap that developed the seed drill). While we struggle
Practical Soil Biology Read More »
Procam have been working with a number of no-till farmers to look at ways of maximising crop yields whilst reducing inputs. One of the key areas which Procam have been looking at is the use of growth promoting bacteria and fungi to help stimulate root development and increase nutrient and water uptake by the crop.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Modern Wheat Varieties Read More »
By Edward H. Faulkner With a Foreword by S. Graham Brade-Birks M.Sc. (Manc.), D.Sc. (Lond.), of the SouthEastern Agricultural College (University of London), Wye, Kent. First published 1945 Traditions of the Plough The answer to the question, Why do farmers plough? should not be difficult to arrive at. Ploughing is almost universal. Farmers like to
Plowman’ s Folly – Part 1 Read More »
