Agronomy

The integration of cover crops has been the key ingredient for one farmer in his move to improving the health and resilience of his heavy clay soils.

This year’s Soil Farmer of the Year competition has opened for entries.

Trials at Helix Farm North in Yorkshire have investigated responses to nitrogen and fungicide inputs in winter wheat and barley crops.

A joint initiative has been launched to develop high-performance sensors, automated data analysis and interpretation for smart herbicide treatments.

Regenerative farming practices have been firmly integrated at Greenknowe Farm with owner, Neil White using a direct drilling system to plant 90 per cent of his crops

Regenerative farming practices have been firmly integrated at Greenknowe Farm with owner, Neil White using a direct drilling system to plant 90 per cent of his crops

Soil health has long been the focus for the Goodwin family. But it was the expansion of the livestock enterprise that was the ‘missing link’ in getting their arable land back to health.

Growers can now assess and benchmark their soil health, and obtain management recommendations using the Soil Health Scorecard.

Consider spring herbicide programmes carefully to avoid carryover of residual activity from spring applied sulphonylurea (SU) herbicides, particularly if it remains dry and then turns wet later in the season.

Input costs have risen at record levels over the last year, far outstripping the increase in commodity prices for most farmers.