CROSSCUTTER MAKES LIGHT WORK OF STALE SEEDBEDS Preparing the ideal stale seedbed ahead of a direct drill is an exacting task and like many farmers, Richard Budd has tried a number of approaches at Stevens Farm, near Hawkhurst, Kent. With 900ha of combinable crops on land varying from Weald clay to Tunbridge Wells sand, the …
Farmers and agronomists in Canada began exploring the benefits of reduced tillage and direct drilling nearly 50 yearsago. The reasons were simple – the need to reduce soil erosion, retain soil moisture, save on fuel costs and reducethe time taken to establish their crops. It hasn’t been the answer to everything, and in some years …
Written by Kristy Wesson of Secanim KalFos is a slow-release calcium phosphate fertiliser produced from the combustion of animal by-products andbioliquids. It is produced as part of the UK’s safe and responsible treatment of fallen stock and provides a valuable route for the recycling of nutrients. Replacing costly mineral-based phosphate fertilisers, the majority of which …
Staff changes and opting for a bigger drill Someone once told me that one of the great skills of good management was not being afraid to change your mind. Over the last decade our move to conservation agriculture has created the need to change machinery and labour profiles to match the workload and give us …
MAKE SOIL HEALTH YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY The importance of good soil health cannot be overstated, but the key is to achieve it. Strip seeding pioneer Jeff Claydon, who farms in Suffolk and designed the Claydon Opti-Till® System, explains how In my last article for Direct Driller I mentioned briefly the importance of good soil …
Dr. Anna Krzywosznska is a social scientist, and a Research Fellow at the Department of Geography at the University ofSheffield. Over the last few years she has been studying the uptake of sustainable soil management practices amongstEnglish farmers. She has found that the experience of adapting soil-friendly farming systems can be difficult forfarmers because it …
What Is It Like To Do Sustainable Soil Management? The English Farmers’ Experience Read More »
PH-value, soil structure (elimination of capillary action, compression, smearing of the soil) and moisture of the soil canbe seen by the growth of different weeds. If the crops in the field show an irregular growth pattern or there is extremely wet harvest and poor soil preparation conditions resulting in silting, acidification, nutrient or oxygen deficiency …
Analysis Of Indicator Weeds And Organic Crop Rotations Read More »
At this year’s Groundswell, headline sponsor and the UK’s largest water-only supplycompany, Affinity Water will demonstrate the relationship between soil health, waterresources and the environment. Shaun Dowman, agricultural advisor at Affinity Water, explains that there is a need to change how we manage our soils and water resources, and that a close relationship between farmers …
Water Focus Affinity Water Sponsor Feature Groundswell 2019 Read More »
NOVAG SET FOOT ON ENGLISH GROUND “At the beginning of our story, we started working with Baker No-Tillage Ltd, a manufacturer from New Zealand, to source openers for the first machines we designed”, says Ramzi FRIKHA, export manager and company founder. This partnership did not work, due to strong disagreements about improvements to be made …
Charlotte Rowley, AHDB Crop Protection Scientist runs the rule over CSFB in 2019 If you are a regular Twitter user, you might be wondering how there is any oilseed rape left in some parts of the country following the onslaught of cabbage stem flea beetle this year. Pictures have been posted from across the country …
