Innovative Farmers
Innovative Farmers is a not for profit network giving farmers research support and funding on their own terms. Groups of farmers come together for practical ‘field labs’, carrying out hands-on research on topics such as weed control, animal welfare and disease resistance. Discover more via the online portal.
Partner Contributions
Managing diverse swards and herbal leys
Event
Join Innovative Farmers for a workshop and farm walk at Low Sizergh Farm in Cumbria on managing and establishing diverse swards.
Using bokashi in cattle systems
Event
Innovative Farmers are hosting a webinar introducing a new project, explaining how to buy and use bokashi and outlining its potential benefits.
Living Mulches Final Report
Resource
The final report for Innovative Farmers field lab trials which aimed to determine the impacts of living mulches on cash crop yields and weed composition.
No-till with living mulches – the holy grail for arable?
Resource
This webinar (part of the 2021 Northern Real Farming Conference and hosted by the Soil Association) explores growing a low growing permanent cover crop such as small white clover to help shade out weeds and provide fertility for the rotation.
Three silvopasture tree planting designs to suit your farm
Resource
Details of planting designs for 3 contrasting farms in Devon who are taking part in a long-term field lab trial to help justify financial commitment to turn pasture over to silvopasture.
Film: Farmer-led solutions to on farm plastic
Resource
An Innovative Farmers video featuring a grower taking part in an Innovative Farmers field lab that is exploring alternatives to using plastic mulches.
Intercropping and Companion Cropping in Arable Systems
Resource
Final report from a field lab that looked at opportunities for intercropping to provide more efficient resource use, reduced pest and disease pressure, and better weed competition.
Herbal Leys Virtual Field Day: Parts 1 & 2
Resource
This is part 1 and 2 of a collaborative 2-part series of virtual events exploring establishment, management, soil health, grazing and ensiling in relation to herbal leys.
Virtual Field Day: Intercropping in Arable Systems
Resource
Intercropping offers the potential for more efficient resource utilisation, reducing pest and disease pressure and better competition with weeds. This is a recording of an event co-ordinated by Agricology, Innovative Farmers and the ORC that was held as a virtual alternative to a field lab meeting.
Intercropping Beans and Triticale, Sonning Farm, Berkshire
Research Project
This trial at the University of Reading Crop Research Centre in 2018/19 compared intercrops of beans and triticale to monocrop comparisons in spring and winter sown crops, looking at the impact on weed control, lodging and yield.
Film: Dairy farmers come together to research ways of reducing antibiotics
Resource
One of a series of Innovative Farmers films shining a light on a field lab - this one focuses on reducing antibiotics in dairy farming.
Film: Farmer led research into hot water seed treatment at Riverford
Resource
One of a series of Innovative Farmers films shining a light on a field lab - this one focuses on hot water seed treatment.