Agricology Blog

Across the channel in the Netherlands a remarkable thing is happening. The whole supply chain has worked together through the ‘Potato Covenant’ to shift the organic potato sector to 100% use of robust, blight-resistant varieties.

Insights and demonstration into cattle foot trimming at Daylesford Organic Farm.

Although often considered a relatively ‘new’ weed, it was recognised as a ‘very trouble­some weed among wheat’ over 175 years ago (Sinclair, 1838). However, black-grass has certainly become more widespread and more problematic to control during the last 50 years.

Cast your mind back to a warm summer day, a time when shortly after it has rained, you are in the garden or your field and the aroma of soil is wafting on the air. That deep warming aroma is called ‘petrichor’, and what you are actually smelling is a compound called geosmin, which is produced by soil bacteria specifically associated with healthy soils.

Have you ever wondered about all the things that your land delivers and whether there may be any way of measuring it? Not so long ago Michael Gove, as Environment Secretary, talked a lot about the historic opportunity provided by Brexit for ensuring that any funding for farming (which may replace the funding under CAP), rewards the delivery of public goods from land and not just food production. But if this is going to be possible, we need to find ways of identifying and measuring them.

Charley and Andrea Walker take a holistic approach to farm management by carefully considering the social, ecological and financial impacts of every decision. They aim to find a balance between running a successful business, creating a healthy environment and ensuring a good quality of life for themselves and their family.

In this month's Agricology vlog, Richard Smith talks to us about scanning 1,200 Lleyn sheep at Daylesford Organic Farm with Bob Tofield.

Denise Walton farms organically at Peelham Farm in the Scottish Borders. Alongside her family, she has transformed it from a derelict arable farm to a thriving, connected habitat, designed to provide space for wildlife, such as birds and pollinating insects.

Environmentalists, researchers and sustainability pioneers from across Europe convened in North Wales this autumn for an eagerly anticipated summit after three years of intensive research into the on-farm production of biochar - a form of charcoal with multiple agricultural benefits, not least the trapping and storing of carbon dioxide.

Richard Smith, Farms Manager for Daylesford Organic, explains how they rear their Friesian calves at Daylesford. This includes having a calf stay with its mum for 6 days - which allows it to take as much colostrum as it likes from its mum and gives it a fantastic start.

Helen Browning, Chief Executive of the Soil Association and farmer at Eastbrook Farm in North Wiltshire introduces the farming enterprise which includes their 200 saddleback sows.

Roller crimper method to kill off cover crops, and direct drilling into the mulch, and the impacts on weeds and soil health.