Farm management software gets an EasyPlan
New solutions are seeking to disrupt what was a stable farm management software market. Tech…
The optics of pest invasions
Light based sensors could provide early warning of pollen beetle infestation in oilseed rape writes…
Leveraging NDVI for Sustainable Land Management: Enhancing Natural Capital for Farmers and Landowners
Effectively managing natural capital is crucial for optimising land use, conserving soil health, preserving water…
OSR monitoring network strengthened to help predict CSFB migration
AHDB will monitor cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) at several winter oilseed rape sites across…
Safety and stewardship with closed transfer systems
By Nick Badger, Frontier Agriculture Modern sprayers are managed by advanced computer systems, equipped with…
3 Reasons Why Regen Farmers Should Use More Precision Technology
Regen farmers tend to be early adopters of technology because they’re very comfortable with change…
Digital Technology Farm Network explores data-driven ‘fields of the future’
Which digital technologies hold the most commercial value for UK farms and how can they…
Data driven sheep management
A change in circumstances meant Herefordshire-based mixed farmer, William Cawley, had to reassess his system…
Patents – how to make them work for you
Farmers are no strangers to innovation. For generations new ways have been found to improve…
Issue 30 – Contents
Inside this issue: Introduction Defra Answers your SFI 2024 Questions Farmer Focus – Tim Parton…
Introduction
Written by Mike Donovan What will be the farming policy be for the new government?…
Defra Answers your SFI 2024 Questions
Written by Chris Fellows After the interruption of a General Election, Defra have been able…
Farmer Focus – Tim Parton
September 2024 How one’s life can change between articles! You never think anything is ever…
Mycorrhiza manipulation: nature vs nurture
Mycorrhiza can be added to systems physically via inoculation or encouraged from surrounding environments Inoculation…
Restoring farmland biodiversity: The Allerton Project
The Allerton Project, as a research and demonstration farm, has been in operation since 1992….
Stow Longa delivers vital insights into carbon and nitrogen efficiency
With its current trials programme now entering its tenth year, Agrii’s Stow Longa site, near…
Farmer Focus – John Pawsey
September 2024 Alice and my pre harvest holiday was with Wild With Consent whose website…
Glyphosate or tillage: which is worse for soils?
Which is the lesser of two evils – glyphosate or tillage? That’s what Rothamsted Research’s…
Farmer Focus – Andrew Jackson
September 2024 Another year has passed and although I am without doubt a bit older,…
Getting emissions down in a measured way
Written by Rob Nightingale from Frontier “Yield is king!” This was a tag line in…
The Time is Now: Why It’s the Perfect Moment to Get Behind Regenerative Agriculture
Written by Angus Chalmers, Managing Director of RDP Comms The World Economic Forum defines regenerative…
Beyond the barrel: the unique process behind the added fulvic acid in L-CBF BOOST
By David Maxwell, sales director, QLF Agronomy The welcome addition of a family-owned distillery at…
Farmer Focus – Andy Cato
September 2024 The deluge of the last few days, following the wettest winter since 1836…
Timing is everything
Reflecting on last season’s challenges and the lessons learned Jeff Claydon, Suffolk arable farmer and…
Early sown winter wheat returns to heavy land blackgrass site
High yielding, profitable early-sown winter wheat crops are once again a regular feature on the…
Welcome to the first tech focussed edition of Direct Driller Magazine. From now on, issues will rotate between soils issues and tech issues.
Contents –
Old-fashioned farming with modern technology – page 4.
It’s 2030, so how have we done? – page 4.
Labour pains push robotic pickers – page 6.
Industry-leading research in robotics and automation – page 12.
Flash, crackle, pop – page 14.
Agronomist in Focus – Todd Jex – page 16.
The win-wins of regenerative agriculture – page 19.
Robots find their way into farmers fields – page 22.
Bayer and Microsoft forge a new frontier – page 26.
Robitics and perception in agriculture – page 28
What will appear at FIRA24? -30
Farmer Focus – Thomas Gent – 36
From hands-free hectare to aerial delivery – 37
Farmer Focus – Daniel Davies – 39
Catapult plans for UK agritech – 41
Shedding light on LED grow lighting – 46
Drilling down into fixed costs – 48
Farmer Focus – Simon Beddows – 50
Making methane practical – 52
Hitting rock bottom – 53
Basics best for hi-tech wine – 56
Biochar venture wins equity investment – 59
Farmer Focus – Clive Bailye – 61
Manufacturer Focus – Vaderstad – 63