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 …
The impact of rising CO2 levels on the nutritional quality of crops Written by Louis Gray, UWE & Dr William Stiles, Aberystwyth University. Take home messages:• Increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are expected to change the nutritional composition of plants, and plant growth patterns• Certain existing crops may start to perform less well, …
Written by Dr David Cutress: IBERS, Aberystwyth University. • Silicate and carbonate reactions could offer a route for long-term carbon storage• Whilst issues surround carbonate minerals, silicates, like basalt rock, appear more promising• Applying crushed silicatesto agricultural soils could benefit carbon footprints, nutrient availability, pH, soil water retention and plant growth and yields• Currently, there …
Written by James Warne from Soil First Farming As we look around at the landscape in the early autumn we can see that some early drilled cover crops are now coming into flower. Those planted in late July after the first harvests of OSR or Barley will now have been in the ground for 6-8 …
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. …
Written by Joe Stanley from the Allerton Project It’s well established, including by our own research (in part discussed in June’s article on our pioneering Conservation Agriculture trial), that a move to reduced tillage or direct drilling (DD) can generally be considered beneficial for the triumvirate of farm economics, soil health and environmental sustainability. With …
Written by Jeff Claydon April 2023 Issue Spring is the ideal time to check your soils and consider how to improve them, says Jeff Claydon, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct strip seeding system. Spring is an excellent time to focus on soil health and how to improve it, because regardless …
Written by Robert Patten B.Eng. MBA from Plantworks and Smart Rotations We can define regenerative agriculture in many ways, indeed many have, but for the sake of a grounded definition let us agree it begins with a focus on the soil being an asset and not a commodity. This is a good start, as assets …
Hundreds of farmers and foresters can discover the benefits of farming with trees for sustainable food production in the UK’s first Agroforestry Show. The event, hosted by the Woodland Trust and Soil Association and sponsored by lead partner Sainsbury’s, will explore the boost that trees can deliver for nature and climate as well as delivering resilience …
UK’s first Agroforestry Show to explore the perks of farming with trees Read More »
Rasmus Bjerre-Edberg Strategic Business Development Lead, Agreena The opportunity for farmers to simultaneously capture carbon and improve their incomes is spreading in agricultural communities across the European continent and beyond. But a new report says the shift is “far too slow” and must speed up or risk “destroying the planet”. Toby Simpson thinks more could …
Carbon farming is gaining ground … but not fast enough Read More »
