Event
Maize growing conference and farm walk – a Farm Net Zero event
Join Innovative Farmers for a technical day discussing maize establishment, intercropping, under-sowing and silage, and sharing findings from FNZ trials.
Join the Farm Net Zero team at Duchy College for a technical day on growing maize, and a farm walk to view the trial field.
Traditionally-grown maize has frequently come under fire for being associated with soil erosion and runoff. At this event we’ll talk about the best ways to minimise negative impacts of growing maize, and maximise the benefits for yield, silage quality and soil health.
We’ll discuss:
- Establishment methods; their impact on soil health and structure, and the effects of different methods on yield and gross margins. We’ll share the results and learnings from the FNZ-Innovative Farmers trials and hear from the farmers who took part.
- Different growing approaches: we’ll explore methods for under-sowing maize, sharing experiences from the trial, and options for intercropping maize with beans from a farmer trialling it in Cornwall.
- What makes good silage and how to maximise quality
We’ll also take a walk to the Duchy trial field to look at the cover crops in situ.
Agenda:
- 10am Arrive, tea and coffee
- 10.30: Introduction
- 10.45: Maize establishment – methods, impacts on soil and yields
- 11.45: Tea break
- 12.00: Forage quality – intercropping with beans and the making of good silage
- 1pm: Lunch
- 1.45: Farm walk and discussion on under-sowing
- 3pm: Close
The event is free to attend and food and refreshments will be provided.
Agroforestry at Hall Farm, Brooksby Campus
13th March 2025
Join this Soil Association farm walk to explore the agroforestry practices at Hall Farm (Brooksby Campus) in Leicestershire.