Soil Health

Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the earth’s crust and an essential nutrient for soil health and crop production, so why don’t more farmers focus on it?

The number of flood warnings on England’s best farmland last winter hit a record high, exceeding the previous record by 20%. 

Hutchinsons technical manager, Dick Neale, and regional technical support manager, Alice Cannon, offer establishment advice following a washout 2023/24 season.

The UK will be increasingly tested by more droughts like those seen in 2022, emphasising the importance of being prepared for similar extreme weather in future, say scientists who have analysed that summer’s events.

Clarkson’s Farm fans will have seen Andy Cato, of Groove Armada fame, on a recent episode of the hit show, encouraging Jeremy Clarkson to drill a field blending both wheat and beans. Kaleb Cooper certainly took some convincing, but unlike some of Jeremy’s own experiments, this is one which has some real science and thought behind it.

It’s all change for Norfolk farmer David Cross as he works to explore the potential of livestock grazing to restore soil health. Sarah Juggins writes.

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.