Resource: Farmer experience

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.

This film, created by the Soil Association through the FABulous Farmers project, explores some of the many benefits that can be experienced from different agroforestry systems.

A panel of industry experts discuss solutions to the practical challenges in the growing, harvesting and processing of mixed crops.

Video and accompanying practice abstract produced as part of the EU Horizon 2020-funded project OK-Net Ecofeed which explore the benefits and practical considerations of feeding insects to laying hens.

John Pawsey gives some insights into the principles of how he achieves health on his mixed organic farm in East Anglia, following his participation in the Farm System Health Project.

Ten statements / principles farmers have developed that make them successful in developing healthy farming systems, as part of the HealthNetworks Project, and used as the basis for the Farm System Health project.

An Innovative Farmers video featuring a grower taking part in an Innovative Farmers field lab that is exploring alternatives to using plastic mulches.

Organic Grower article explaining a system German grower Johannes Storch created using cover crops, grass and silage as mulch and the MulchTec planter he and his team invented to plant through the mulch.

Recording of an online workshop organised by CFE on water, soils, wildlife, and on-farm profit and featuring Phil Jarvis, Farm Manager at the GWCT Allerton Project, who talks about activities they have undertaken on the farm and in the wider catchment to improve water quality and soil health.

There is increasing recognition of the benefits of integrated agroecological farming systems but it can be hard to know where to start. In this podcast, Katie Bliss speaks to farmers David Rose and George Young who share their experiences of moving towards an agroecological approach.

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.

An up-to-date, easy to read guidebook and manual on why Integrated Pest Management is the key to sustainable crop health across agricultural and horticultural sectors and how to implement it on-farm. Practical, realistic and concise with case studies from across the LEAF network.

A report from the NFFN demonstrating the potential for farming systems that are sustainable both for farming and the environment, and ways in which the NFFN can help support this.

David Rose, farmer and co-founder of Home Farm Ecocentre in Nottinghamshire talks about his silvoarable agroforestry system and research being carried out in one of a series of podcasts.

This article, aimed at smaller-scale farmers and market gardeners, describes some perennial leafy greens, roots and alliums, including guidelines for growing and different ways in which they can be used. 

Footage recorded at the ORFC 2020 session on ‘The future of agroecological weed management.’ Mike Mallett of Maple Farm Kelsale shares insights into approaches to weed management he is implementing on his diverse 350 acre organic farm in Suffolk.

One of a series of Innovative Farmers films shining a light on a field lab – this one focuses on reducing antibiotics in dairy farming.

One of a series of Innovative Farmers films shining a light on a field lab – this one focuses on hot water seed treatment.

One of a series of Innovative Farmers films shining a light on a field lab – this one focuses on no till and cover crop farming.

Assess the potential business benefits of agroforestry for your farm or client and understand the possible benefits to the wider environment with this invaluable handbook.

A publication explaining the on-farm research carried out at Wakelyns and led by the late plant pathologist Prof. Martin Wolfe, putting into action his theories of agrobiodiversity being the answer to achieving sustainable and resilient agriculture.

Small is beautiful; small is successful – ‘Small Farm Profits’ details ten case studies of economically viable, sustainable & creative enterprises working on small acreages.

This Nuffield Report is the result of arable farmer David Walston’s explorations of why some soils are more productive than others and the best ways to improve them.

A case study focusing on Douglas Christie, a farmer in Scotland, who has been experimenting with direct drilling and growing cover and companion crops in his quest to reduce inputs and improve soil health and biodiversity.