- Location
- Nr Malvern... SW Worcestershire
I was very interested to read Andy Barr's column in this weeks FW.
http://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/farmer-focus-surprised-by-soil-ph-tests-results.htm
He is one of the few contributors that I actually read and believe..
I get very concerned by the growing band of no-tillers who seem to think that by growing cover crops and direct-drilling all your problems are going to be solved. We have owned a direct-drill for 17 years and hired several in for three years before then...and yes we have had some good results and have cut our establishment costs. BUT with changing weather patterns and ever more weed and soil structure problems we are just not getting the sort of yields we were ten years ago... When we started down this route we saw yields drop in years 2-4 and we thought that was acceptable as they appeared to pick up again...however on some of our longest no-till fields after 10- 15 years we are seeing some significant yield drops.. due to soil fertility (pH) and structural problems. There is no getting away from the fact that by running any sort of machinery over land you are going to cause soil compaction and by mono cropping you are going to create a soil fertility and weed problems.
As our only drill is a direct-drill we have got to make the system work..
I often read Michael Horsch's comments that direct-drilling in western Europe is not a long term solution and initially I thought as many others that he would say that as he is selling cultivation kit.. But I have to say he has a point.
My solution is going to be put land into long term fallow with some fertility building cover crops, change our drill and find a source of income outside the farm!!!
Discuss (for those of you not watching the rugby..)
http://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/farmer-focus-surprised-by-soil-ph-tests-results.htm
He is one of the few contributors that I actually read and believe..
I get very concerned by the growing band of no-tillers who seem to think that by growing cover crops and direct-drilling all your problems are going to be solved. We have owned a direct-drill for 17 years and hired several in for three years before then...and yes we have had some good results and have cut our establishment costs. BUT with changing weather patterns and ever more weed and soil structure problems we are just not getting the sort of yields we were ten years ago... When we started down this route we saw yields drop in years 2-4 and we thought that was acceptable as they appeared to pick up again...however on some of our longest no-till fields after 10- 15 years we are seeing some significant yield drops.. due to soil fertility (pH) and structural problems. There is no getting away from the fact that by running any sort of machinery over land you are going to cause soil compaction and by mono cropping you are going to create a soil fertility and weed problems.
As our only drill is a direct-drill we have got to make the system work..
I often read Michael Horsch's comments that direct-drilling in western Europe is not a long term solution and initially I thought as many others that he would say that as he is selling cultivation kit.. But I have to say he has a point.
My solution is going to be put land into long term fallow with some fertility building cover crops, change our drill and find a source of income outside the farm!!!
Discuss (for those of you not watching the rugby..)