While spring brings a renewed sense of vitality to the soil, it also presents challenges, particularly following the level of rainfall seen in the UK this winter. Wet, compacted soils can impede the growth and development of crops, exerting a   cascade of effects that ripple through the soil ecosystem and impact potential yields.
With Amazone notching up 140 years of machinery manufacturing last year, Direct Driller takes a look at how its technology has developed. Over one million fertiliser spreaders have been built by Amazone, and 2024 is the 75th anniversary seed drill production for the company. Based in Osnabrück, Germany and manufacturing at eight sites across the …
Written by Harry Barnett I never dreamt that a soil disturbing potato farmer like myself would be writing an article for the Direct Driller magazine but I feel privileged to share some of my findings and views. I am based on the Holkham Estate in North Norfolk, where I run a potato growing enterprise growing …
March 2024 It feels like a very long time since my last ramblings in the October issue of Direct Driller magazine. I’m sure I’m not the only one that thought we’d never experience another winter like we had in 2019, the wettest on record at the time! While winter 2023/24 may not have seen the …
As the daylength increases we are all now waking up from what feels like the mildest ‘winter’ and longest wet spell ever experienced (since the last one anyhow!). It feels like it started raining in July and we haven’t really had a respite since. Soils in most parts of the country have been permanently wet …
Since the start of 2024 it has become evident that farmers all over the world have been pushed to the point where rising costs, increasing legislation and governmental pressures have left them with little choice but to make their feelings known to politicians in no uncertain terms. As I write this, it seems as if farmers everywhere are protesting. In the UK, throughout Europe and as far afield as the USA, Canada and Australia, the slogan ‘No Farmers, No Food, No Future’ is being seen everywhere.
No one wants to talk about the recent weather over the last 5-6Â months, in summary it has been bloody awful and relentless for farmers and non-farmers alike and I expect most farm records have all been smashed for the wrong reasons. The topic and the big consequences that farmers have endured and suffered has certainly been one way to get people feeling pretty down, with plenty of stress and worry added into the job.Â
International expertise, as well as UK-based knowledge and practical experience, was on the agenda at this year’s BASE-UK conference, which took place in Nottingham in early February. A wide variety of topics were covered over the two days, from soil health, cover cropping and intercropping, to integrating livestock and the nutrient density of our food. …
BASE-UK – Conference 2024 – Learning from Experience! Read More »
In the evolving landscape of agricultural technology, a new player, Farmdeals, is making significant waves by transforming the way farmers purchase their supplies. As one of the UK’s only digital buying groups, Farmdeals is leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline the procurement process, reduce costs for farmers, and enhance efficiency for suppliers. Our revolutionary app and …
Revolutionising Farm Purchases: How Farmdeals is Changing the Game for UK Farmers Read More »
Dairy farmers and the wider supply chain are under huge pressure to reduce their emissions and reach net zero targets. But carbon accounting tools only capture half of the picture if they solely focus on emissions – and farmers have a hidden ally under their feet which is already delivering incredible benefits. When you add …
