Jan 2025 Listen to the article below – 5 minutes 31 seconds It’s been a while since I last wrote a Farmer focus article in Direct Driller magazine. Harvest 24’ Seems like a long time ago, yet we’re now closer to the next harvest than we were the last. 2024 On the farm was a […]
Farmer Focus – Phil Rowbottom Read More »
For a generation, farmers have taken for granted their most valuable resource, often considering it to be simply ‘dirt’. The focus has been on force-feeding the crop and beating the soil into submission, driven by an ethos of yield over profit, with little respect for the aftermath. Inputs for many have typically increased since the
For The Love of Soil… Read More »
Written by Tim Stephens NSch, Catchment Management Specialist, Wessex Water A vital element Phosphorus (P) is essential for life in all its forms, but many UK rivers, lakes and wetlands suffer from an excess of this critical element. Too much P causes growth of algae and duckweed, which smothers aquatic life and starves the water
Getting a grip on phosphorus Read More »
Unmoved stubbles can often be the driest land on the farm after heavy rainfall. Yet we are told that cultivation helps to dry land out. What are the factors that allow stubbles to move water downwards faster than cultivated ground? It’s now apparent that many cultivated soils are not draining recent deluges fast enough. Crops
Three practical days featuring US soil biology researcher Dr Elaine Ingham about unlocking the power of soil were run by Soil Ecology Laboratory last November. Direct Driller visited the one held in Norfolk The promise of a day with Dr Elaine Ingham and her team is always likely to attract a crowd and that was
Unlocking the power of soils Read More »
Written by Nick Adams, Wildlife Consultant, Lower Pertwood Farm The winds of change are blowing strongly through the Agricultural sector. Leading the charge is the word “wilding” with all its different permutations and options. Lower Pertwood Farm has always had a strong commitment to its wildlife and is fortunate in that it has many acres
Balancing Wildlife and Farming at Lower Pertwood Farm Read More »
A network of cover crop champions is providing a practical view on the impact of cover crop approaches. Technical Content Manager Jason Pole provides an update on the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds’ initiative. During summer 2024, we asked farmers growing cover crops ahead of various cash crops for harvest 2025 if they would be willing
Cover crop champion update Read More »
In a political environment where farming is battling increasing headwinds, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding system, Jeff Claydon is focusing on minimising risk and maximising income. November 2024 I have always been an optimistic farmer, but right now I am struggling. I’m not normally one to get political, but
We’re changing how we manage the Claydon farm Read More »
10 years ago now in the early days of TFF we ran a trial here on my farm for some of the direct drills that were available at that time. The thread that blogged that can be founds here ……….. the result was interesting ! Read the original thread here Since then the direct drill
TFF Direct Drill Demo day 2025 Read More »
Dr David Cutress: IBERS, Aberystwyth University. Agroforestry To begin with, let’s ensure that we are all considering the same concept when discussing agroforestry as its definition can either be highly specific (as is the case in scientific literature) or it can be expansively broad (often in media and political communications). A recent review highlighted that
Agroforestry options Read More »
