Soil Health News

Following a difficult winter, many growers will be relying on spring crops to deliver farm profits. For those drilling spring oilseed rape, getting the crops established and away quickly will be key to productivity. David McLellan, agronomist at Omya UK, says there are some quick wins growers can take advantage of.

Delve deeper into the benefits of Omya Calciprill, a granulated soil conditioner made from high quality natural calcium carbonate.

Variable-rate nitrogen applications could go some way to managing uneven growth of winter cereals and oilseeds following the continued wet weather and saturated soils, reckons Omnia digital farming manager, Aidan Monaghan.

More needs to be done to improve the resilience of soils in the face of increasingly extreme weather patterns, according to speakers at a recent water quality event for farmers in East Anglia.

A Shropshire family farm is making a gradual move to regenerative farming and improved soil health with the help of a Weaving IR (inter-row) drill. David Williams reports.

Whether you’ve been watching your winter sown crops suffer in the recent wet weather or you’re hanging out for spring planting, there’s one thing for sure – the healthier your soil, the better your crops will be able to withstand what the climate throws at them.

While many farmers are ready to start spring cultivations, sowing and planting, their lands may still be flooded or saturated from heavy and prolonged winter rain, making the soil too wet to work. A Bush Tyres expert has shared a number of tips on how to handle farming work in current conditions.

A delayed 2023 harvest, followed by a particularly wet autumn hampered winter drilling, so spring cropping could be the only option for those farmers severely affected.

Late drilling of winter wheat has become an increasingly common practice across UK arable farms for controlling black-grass, for second wheats and crops that are being sown after sugar beet and potatoes, and requires careful management to ensure maximum yields can be met.

In the heart of a West Dorset dairy farm, sustainability is at the forefront of farm management philosophy. Adam Holman serves as the dedicated assistant farm manager. Recognising the importance of responsible farming, Adam has taken significant steps to minimise the farm’s environmental impact. One such step is reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers, which can have adverse effects on the environment if not managed carefully.

BASF recently revealed interim results of a five-year project designed to improve soil health and increase carbon storage, keeping land in production while ensuring there’s a home for wildlife and biodiversity.

At a time of much uncertainty in UK agriculture, companies like Yara are taking a long and confident view of the future. With construction of a $150 million production facility about to start in the UK plus the development of new green fertilisers and digital tools, Jari Pentinmäki, managing director of Yara UK, thinks there’s cause for optimism.