Soil science
Input costs reduced by precision farming and no-till management
reducing cropping costs and im- proving soil health for Overbury Enterprises. Managed by Jake Freestone, the business extends to 1,600ha ranging from Cotswold Brash at 1000ft to sand over gravel and heavy Lias clays at 100ft Based on the Worcestershire-Glouces- tershire border, near Tewkesbury. In addition to 950ha of com- binable crops, the LEAF demon- stration farm includes 100ha of vegetables and 60ha of hand- picked peas, the farm also hosts a fl ock of 1,100 ewes on 300ha of permanent pasture. Mr Freestone says no-till crop- ping has enabled the implemen-
N
o-till crop establishment and the latest precision farming technologies are
tation of an arable conservation agriculture policy. “We’re prac- tising conservation agriculture in an effort to ensure the farm’s biggest asset, its soils, remain healthy and viable for this and future farming generations.” On higher land, the rotation is oilseed rape, winter wheat, win- ter cover crop, hand-picked peas, cover crop, wheat, winter cover crop, spring barley and winter barley. On heavier land, three wheat crops are separated by break crops of oilseed rape, com- binable peas and spring linseed.
“
By having fewer implements and fewer tractors, we’ll save £280,000
l-r: Tim Stanford (sprayer operator), Jake Freestone and Chris Limb of LH Agro discuss the merits of individual nozzle control
Cover and companion crops Vetch, crimson clover and buck- wheat are sown as companion crops to oilseed rape. Soya beans are used on land where the es- tate’s shoot makes rape unviable due to potential bird damage. And any soil likely to remain bare for more than fi ve weeks is sown with
a cover crop. Key to the no-till policy is the
farm’s Cross Slot drill. “We fi rst trialled cross-slot drilling in 2013 when we worked with Prime West to sow 40ha. It’s a technique I’d seen being used to good effect in New Zealand to maintain natural soil structure, reduce soil erosion
>>
• Steel portal framed buildings • Grain drying and storage • Groundworks and drainage • Electrical engineering works • Elevator/conveyor repairs
Steel Portal Framed Buildings
Grain Drying and Storage Ground works and Drainage
Electrical Engineering Works
Royston Depot Tel : 01763 242361
Cambs depot 01954 210 355 Mob: 07885 202 005 Hardwick, Cambs CB23 7QL
AUGUST 2018 • ANGLIA FARMER 41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
