Catchy harvest brings numerous challenges Harvest was a real snatch and grab affair with numerous challenges for Jeff Claydon, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct strip seeding system. In my last article for Direct Driller, written 27 May, I reflected on the dramatic contrasts between this season and last, both in …
In the ever-evolving landscape of British agriculture, the pursuit of sustainable and eco-friendly practices has become a top priority. Amidst this journey, the spotlight has turned to the intriguing world of mycorrhizal mycelium. These remarkable fungi form a unique partnership with plant roots, offering a multitude of benefits for both soil health and crop productivity. …
Precision in calculating emissions and sequestration in agricultural soils is crucial for the carbon footprint of crops, grass, and livestock, and for the valuation of natural capital. Dr Alasdair Sykes, Trinity AgTech’s managing director of sustainability, explores the latest advances in quantifying and understanding nitrous oxide emissions. According to industry reports, in 2019 nitrous oxide …
A move to biological seed treatments has helped a Borders grower move away from chemical alternatives in a bid to help secure long-term business sustainability and improve soil health. Though sustainability has become a buzzword in farming over recent years, for many growers making strategical decisions across their operations to promote long-term viability is an …
Profitable businesses are best placed to help the planet. Knight Frank’s Mark Topliff speaks to consultants Simon Britton and Andrew Martin to discuss the five standout traits of the most successful farmers they have worked with. Farming businesses that perform at the top 25% level financially are more capable of riding out volatile markets and …
October 2023 Sustainable Farm Incentive, my experience and future plan We joined SFI pilot at the first possible opportunity, our previous entry level scheme consisting of little more that 3m margins, that never really added an awful lot to local biodiversity, had expired 2 years earlier. Countryside stewardship was the natural replacement, it was competitive, …
Future topics in the seeding sector are mainly centred around placement precision. HORSCH is working on a new seed drill to meet current and future requirements. Philipp Horsch explains the features and potential of the new narrow seed drill Solus, what the limits might be and whether this drill will be suitable for the UK. …
Written by Emma Adams on behalf of The Farm Carbon Toolkit At Farm Carbon Toolkit we are delighted to announce the dates for the farm walks hosted by our fantastic Soil Farmer of the Year 2023 winners. The competition this year was stronger than ever and captured the diversity of UK agriculture with the standard …
October 2023 A year in farming is a long time, and blimey what a difference a year makes! 2022 and 2023 could not have been different in terms of weather! This year had the hallmarks of the previous two years, a relatively dry winter and spring looking as if it would continue the trend, and …
In the realm of sustainable agriculture, the significance of soil biology in crop nutrition cannot be overstated. Soil is not just dirt; it is a dynamic living matrix that acts as the foundation for plant growth, serving as a reservoir for essential nutrients, water, and providing a habitat for a myriad of diverse microorganisms. The …
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