Issue 32 Soils – Direct Driller

Drones for Spraying Pesticides—Opportunities and Challenges

Artificial Intelligence, Farm Trial Results, Products in Focus, Tech Farmer / By Direct Driller

Erdal Ozkan; Professor and Extension State Specialist—Pesticide Application Technology; Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering; The Ohio State University Direct Driller Note – this is the most comprehensive guide to different types of drone spraying and although is written in the US, they are also significantly ahead of the UK in terms of adoption …

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Introduction – Issue 32

Other, Soils Farmer / By Mike Donovan

How full was your grain store this harvest and how have your planting plans changed between 2021/2 and 2024/5? My guess is your 2024 harvest is 10 per cent below a 2022 baseline average and you’ll be planting as much as 10 per cent fewer acres for the next. The area planted will largely depend …

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Apply Now: New ADOPT Fund Backs Farmer-Led Regenerative Innovation

Research, Soils Farmer / By Chris Fellows

Written by Chris Fellows Farmers are at the frontline of meeting environmental challenges while keeping their businesses resilient and productive. Innovation—especially farmer-led innovation—is key to moving regenerative practices forward. The ADOPT Fund is now open and aims to do exactly that. With up to £20.6 million available in 2025/26, the Accelerating Development of Practices and …

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Farming for Nutrition: How Soil Health Shapes the Food We Eat

Research, Soils Farmer / By Direct Driller

Written by Dr. Hannah Fraser As a farmer and a medical doctor, I get to witness the intersection of agriculture, human health, and nutrition. My husband and I are organic farmers in Yorkshire, where we grow heritage and diverse population wheats, and have a keen focus on improving soil health and biodiversity. Our journey into …

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Regenerative Agriculture Starts Underground

Biodiversity, Cover Crops, Research, Soils Farmer / By The Allerton Project

Written by Joe Stanley from the Allerton Project ‘I know it isn’t the sexiest subject, but…’ is invariably where any mention of agricultural field drainage begins, invariably accompanied by an apologetic shrug of the shoulders and a gaze cast toward the ground. Personally, I take the opposite view. I have always been fascinated by field …

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Farmer Focus – Anna Jackson

Farmer Focus, Livestock on Farm, Soils Farmer / By Anna Jackson

A positive outlook So far this year we have lambed on a viable grass crop, had a second crack at boats (beans and oats) and campaigned for the future of farming. When I say it’s been a busy year already, it’s been a busy year already. We have a tendency as a farm to over …

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Farmer Focus – Tom Martin

Farmer Focus, Soils Farmer / By Tom Martin

April 2025 I always say farming is the fourth industry I’ve worked in—but it’s the one that feels most like home. Before I found myself knee-deep in cover crops and grazing rotations, I was in offices negotiating film rights at Universal Pictures. From cinema releases to Blu-ray deals in Portugal, I had a foot in …

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Make time to plan the best way forward for your farming business

Manufacturer in Focus, Soils Farmer / By Jeff Clayon

The time has come to assess how you will be able to farm in the future and calculate the best options for your business going forward, says Jeff Claydon, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding system. Feb 2025 Here in Suffolk, grey skies and cold weather have characterised the first …

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Farmer Focus – Neil White

Farmer Focus, Soils Farmer / By Neil White

Apr 2025 I will attempt to keep this politics free. I suppose the joy of farming is that no two years are the same, and 2025’s weather has definitely started on a more positive note than 2024. As I write this, I am finished my spring sowing and it’s all rolled, one full month ahead …

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What makes RL trials tick?

Biodiversity, Farm Trial Results, Research, Soils Farmer / By AHDB

AHDB is demystifying the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) by bringing the processes that underpin them to life. Jason Pole, AHDB Technical Content Manager, explains. With a focus on the RL protocols, our winter wheat on trial initiative is revealing how we decide which varieties to sow and recommend – and everything in …

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Issue 32 SoilsMay 2025