Written by cpm
Download PDF While direct drilling and cover crops are the main drivers of sustainability for Hants grower David Miller, a focus on soil and crop health have helped him step up his green credentials. CPM visits to find out more. The route to retaining crop performance without costs rising higher was to look at improving soil health. By Tom Allen-Stevens Its visual appeal isn’t the only stunning attribute of David Miller’s spelt wheat. Buoyant demand from a health-conscious consumer gives it an attractive market price. And for David, it’s the resource that goes into it (or lack of this) that’s equally appealing. “Most spelt wheat is organic, and it’s a crop that looks after itself – it needs just 120kgN/ha and a touch of fungicide. Growth regulator is the biggest concern. But it’s ideal in an integrated pest management (IPM) situation, and while more modern wheats struggled during this difficult season, the spelt motored through,” he says. Sown at 200kg/ha, David drilled the crop crosswise to improve the plant stand and reduce the risk of lodging. He’s expecting 7t/ha, half of which comes out through dehulling. “It’s early to combine, harvested in front of wheat, so fits in well with…
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