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Regenerative Agriculture and Direct Drilling
Regen Ag General Discussion
Building resilience in heavy soils
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<blockquote data-quote="Wigeon" data-source="post: 7232717" data-attributes="member: 52408"><p>This autumn and last year have well and truly shown the value of soil structure, and highlighted in particular where problems exist. </p><p></p><p>My farm is generally grade 3 heavy silty clay loam with flints, with a decent chunk at 55%- 60% forecast establishment rates, according to Soyl. It also has no land drains or ditches, but it does have some hills. Its renowned locally as a wet farm, but will comfortably do 10t ha in a 'normal' yr. </p><p></p><p>Extremes of weather are obviously a major challenge at the moment, and the thing that exercises me most is how to improve resilience. Spring 'droughts' I can cope with, more or less. 6 inches of rain over an october weekend I can't. </p><p></p><p>Obvious solutions: </p><p></p><p>Get some grass leys with deep rooting legumes etc into the rotation. Fine- i have put in 1/4 of the farm down for 2 yrs. All well and good but no schemes available as still in hls, and will only earn sps and a few pennies from sheep, but basically naff all, after topping etc. </p><p></p><p>Got some compost. There isn't any. </p><p></p><p>Zero till. Great theory, but have struggled thus far. 4 yr experiment looked good - loads of worms, walked cleaner etc, but consistently underperformed at harvest, and then c35% of the winter barley on it failed due to wet feet last year. </p><p></p><p>Cover crops. Only managed to grow one decent one ever. Timeliness of establishment usually a challenge if wheat not off till end of Aug. </p><p></p><p>Plaster it with muck. I'd love to, but there isnt any. </p><p></p><p>Diverse rotations. Have dropped osr this year, and now have a mix of wheat, grass, beans, linseed and oats, probably. </p><p></p><p>Subscribe to direct driller. I do.</p><p></p><p>Smaller tractors and bigger tyres. Tricky one- timeliness in seemingly ever decreasing weather windows vs tiptoeing along when you can. Ultimately only damage limitation rather than improvement. </p><p></p><p>Have i missed anything? What are others doing? With forecast rain tonight I'm at the point of shutting the gate till spring, in the less than comforting position of knowing that a decent chunk of my winter wheat isnt going to make it, not counting the stuff that's still in the bag...</p><p></p><p> Must be others in this boat? </p><p></p><p>Thanks</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Wigeon, post: 7232717, member: 52408"] This autumn and last year have well and truly shown the value of soil structure, and highlighted in particular where problems exist. My farm is generally grade 3 heavy silty clay loam with flints, with a decent chunk at 55%- 60% forecast establishment rates, according to Soyl. It also has no land drains or ditches, but it does have some hills. Its renowned locally as a wet farm, but will comfortably do 10t ha in a 'normal' yr. Extremes of weather are obviously a major challenge at the moment, and the thing that exercises me most is how to improve resilience. Spring 'droughts' I can cope with, more or less. 6 inches of rain over an october weekend I can't. Obvious solutions: Get some grass leys with deep rooting legumes etc into the rotation. Fine- i have put in 1/4 of the farm down for 2 yrs. All well and good but no schemes available as still in hls, and will only earn sps and a few pennies from sheep, but basically naff all, after topping etc. Got some compost. There isn't any. Zero till. Great theory, but have struggled thus far. 4 yr experiment looked good - loads of worms, walked cleaner etc, but consistently underperformed at harvest, and then c35% of the winter barley on it failed due to wet feet last year. Cover crops. Only managed to grow one decent one ever. Timeliness of establishment usually a challenge if wheat not off till end of Aug. Plaster it with muck. I'd love to, but there isnt any. Diverse rotations. Have dropped osr this year, and now have a mix of wheat, grass, beans, linseed and oats, probably. Subscribe to direct driller. I do. Smaller tractors and bigger tyres. Tricky one- timeliness in seemingly ever decreasing weather windows vs tiptoeing along when you can. Ultimately only damage limitation rather than improvement. Have i missed anything? What are others doing? With forecast rain tonight I'm at the point of shutting the gate till spring, in the less than comforting position of knowing that a decent chunk of my winter wheat isnt going to make it, not counting the stuff that's still in the bag... Must be others in this boat? Thanks [/QUOTE]
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Building resilience in heavy soils
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