Soil science Groundswell event explores benefits
of no-till agriculture • Lower costs can help boost profi ts • Scientists and farmers work together • Healthy soils mean healthier farms
M
ore than 1200 farmers and visitors attended this summer’s Ground- swell event – exploring no-till farming methods and conserva- tion agriculture. Held at Lannock Manor Farm,
near Hitchin, Hertfordshire, the show and conference brought to- gether 60 exhibitors and visitors from as far away as America, Chi- na and South Africa for two-days of knowledge exchange, learning and demonstrations. Host farmer John Cherry said:
“To create healthy soil, a good starting point for arable farmers is to adopt the three basic ten- ets of conservation agriculture: minimum soil disturbance, keep- ing the soil covered at all times with living or dead plant mat- ter, and growing a good diversi- ty of crops.”
A healthy farm, started with healthy soil, said Mr Cherry. It would grow healthy plants which needed fewer fungicides, insec- ticides, molluscicides and herbi- cides. “Soil health is much talked about, but very hard to measure. Groundswell is a forum for dis- cussing exactly this.”
Scientific approach Farmers benefi ted because healthy soil made their lives easier. So too did policy-makers, who wanted to see the benefi ts of healthy soil for the wider popu- lation in terms of carbon seques- tration, water absorption for fl ood prevention, clean water for drink- ing and clear rivers. This was good news for ara- ble farmers and the people who ate their produce. “Healthy plants will also result in healthy animals if they graze them; healthy ani- mals are also cheaper to produce and better for the consumer. Soil
health begets wealth.”
Mr Cherry said Groundswell sought to promote the ideas of farmers and scientists interest- ed in improving soil, water, hu- man and environmental health – and reverse the view that agri- culture required high inputs and low profi ts.
No-drill demonstrations The event included demonstra- tions from 12 direct drill com- panies and innovative farming machinery including the Small Robot Company. There were also interactive workshops courtesy of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.
Policy changes are undoubtedly the biggest driv- ers of change and determining what UK farmers do with their land, says Richard Barnes of Kings Crops, offi cial cover crop partner for Groundswell 2018.
Policy changes encourage switch to cover crops “Many growers have been looking at alterna-
Until 2017, Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) re- quirements were easily met by planting peas and beans under the Nitrogen Fixing Crop op- tion. But the subsequent withdrawal of plant pro- tection products means growing these crops while meeting EFA rules is impractical or sustainable.
tives – catch and cover crop options are a simple way of doing this,” says Mr Barnes. “When care- fully selected and implemented effectively, they are good for soils, water, crops and the wider en- vironment.” As a result, a bigger area of green cover crops is expected to be planted post-harvest this year. At the same time, interest is increasing in soil health and direct drilling, with policy-makers keen to en- courage practices which bring wider benefi ts.
AUGUST 2018 • ANGLIA FARMER 29
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