Farmers Weekly changing?

[martian]

We all like to have a moan about the yellow peril, but I've been really impressed in the last few months how its coverage is changing from advising farmers to spend a fortune on inputs and machines to actually farm better. The current edition (11th Feb) even starts off with a puff for the BASE UK conference which happened this week and extolling farmer led initiatives such as BASE which help farmers make their farms more economically and ecologically resilient. There followed at least ten pages of stories about various aspects of regenerative farming and its benefits, as well as some sensible articles about how to cut nitrogen use etc.

I came away from the BASE conference with a spring in my step, it's always a joy to spend time with such a positive bunch of people and it was uplifting to hear that membership of the organisation has doubled in the last couple of years. I suppose you could take the view that the FW can see the writing on the wall as is reporting the new normal, but, whatever, it makes a lovely change from flicking through the mag and chucking it in the recycling with a disappointed grunt.

 

[clbarclay]

Shame they couldn't have done that sooner before some of us cancelled subscriptions, then again that may have helped influenced a change?

 

[ajd132]

Is it time we stopped calling it ‘regenerative agriculture’. It’s just a natural progression for conventional farming.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Shame they couldn't have done that sooner before some of us cancelled subscriptions, then again that may have helped influenced a change?

15 years ago . In the meantime too busy feting Lamyman et al.

 

[martian]

Is it time we stopped calling it ‘regenerative agriculture’. It’s just a natural progression for conventional farming.

It's not quite time yet...the 'conventional' approach to most of modern life is essentially degenerative, we dig stuff (oil, coal) out of the ground, burn it for short term benefit (going on holiday, keeping warm) or make single use products out of it which then litter the planet when used. Farming is much the same, we buy machines, fertilisers, sprays and produce single use food whilst leaving our soil degraded and we're told this is ok.

A regenerative approach involves a change of mindset, it's not about maximising output of commodity products while suffering collateral damage to our base asset the soil, so much as working out ways of producing food that people might actually want to eat at the same time as improving the soil, the water cycle, the carbon cycle and the lives of everybody in our communities. This is not only a massive PR opportunity for farmers here and worldwide, it's realistically the only way the human race is going to have a chance of a decent future. It's great to have the FW on side. It is progression for conventional farming and easy for everyone to do, once they get the mindset.

 

[ajd132]

It's not quite time yet...the 'conventional' approach to most of modern life is essentially degenerative, we dig stuff (oil, coal) out of the ground, burn it for short term benefit (going on holiday, keeping warm) or make single use products out of it which then litter the planet when used. Farming is much the same, we buy machines, fertilisers, sprays and produce single use food whilst leaving our soil degraded and we're told this is ok.

A regenerative approach involves a change of mindset, it's not about maximising output of commodity products while suffering collateral damage to our base asset the soil, so much as working out ways of producing food that people might actually want to eat at the same time as improving the soil, the water cycle, the carbon cycle and the lives of everybody in our communities. This is not only a massive PR opportunity for farmers here and worldwide, it's realistically the only way the human race is going to have a chance of a decent future. It's great to have the FW on side. It is progression for conventional farming and easy for everyone to do, once they get the mindset.

Aren’t we being forced down the ‘regen’ route whatever? The old system is just reaching the end of its cycle. Some people will embrace it and some will fail/not change.
I’ve been asked to do a talk about input reduction in regen ag. I’m struggling to work out whether it’s because we went ‘regen’ or if we just realised we didn’t need as much in the first place!
The ‘regen’ sector is becoming full of companies trying to profit from it, we basically have regen serviced agronomy now.
I used to think regen could become the new organic and we could get a premium, but I don’t see that happening now.
most sectorsIn business appear to be trying to become more sustainable, it’s just natural evolution.

 

[Will Blackburn]

The old (EU) system was designed around the needs of: BASF, Bayer, JD (Mannheim), Fendt, Deutz, Lemken, Horsch, Grimme, etc.

 

[clbarclay]

The human race are going to have one hell of a fight against the economics of supply and demand if they are going to change the conventional food production system to be low energy or zero fossil fuel input.

 

[Northern territory]

Let’s be honest though, some of us small mixed farmers have used such approaches for years but it’s not some sudden rags to riches story. You still need scale to make a decent living.

 

[AM_Arable]

We all like to have a moan about the yellow peril, but I've been really impressed in the last few months how its coverage is changing from advising farmers to spend a fortune on inputs and machines to actually farm better. The current edition (11th Feb) even starts off with a puff for the BASE UK conference which happened this week and extolling farmer led initiatives such as BASE which help farmers make their farms more economically and ecologically resilient. There followed at least ten pages of stories about various aspects of regenerative farming and its benefits, as well as some sensible articles about how to cut nitrogen use etc.

I came away from the BASE conference with a spring in my step, it's always a joy to spend time with such a positive bunch of people and it was uplifting to hear that membership of the organisation has doubled in the last couple of years. I suppose you could take the view that the FW can see the writing on the wall as is reporting the new normal, but, whatever, it makes a lovely change from flicking through the mag and chucking it in the recycling with a disappointed grunt.

Thank you. It was great to speak to many of the delegates and agree the positivity was infectious. There is a tension between being relatable to as many of our readership as possible and trying to show leadership on some issues. So the trick is to meet people where they are (often 'conventional' still) but show them how others are doing it and inspire them without ramming it down their throats. Like farming, its a messy business and we don't always get it right but we'll carry on having a go

 

[SilliamWhale]

Is it time we stopped calling it ‘regenerative agriculture’. It’s just a natural progression for conventional farming.

I hate the term. Its flawed because its not really a "thing".

However I do understand why people wanted to move it from regenerative to sustainable because the idea is that you wouldn't want to sustain something that wasn't functioning well enough ie you wanted to do better.

I prefer to use more qualitative terms

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

Aren’t we being forced down the ‘regen’ route whatever? The old system is just reaching the end of its cycle. Some people will embrace it and some will fail/not change.
I’ve been asked to do a talk about input reduction in regen ag. I’m struggling to work out whether it’s because we went ‘regen’ or if we just realised we didn’t need as much in the first place!
The ‘regen’ sector is becoming full of companies trying to profit from it, we basically have regen serviced agronomy now.
I used to think regen could become the new organic and we could get a premium, but I don’t see that happening now.
most sectorsIn business appear to be trying to become more sustainable, it’s just natural evolution.

Our input reduction lead us to regen ag here not the other way round

 

[Hindsight]

It's not quite time yet...the 'conventional' approach to most of modern life is essentially degenerative, we dig stuff (oil, coal) out of the ground, burn it for short term benefit (going on holiday, keeping warm) or make single use products out of it which then litter the planet when used. Farming is much the same, we buy machines, fertilisers, sprays and produce single use food whilst leaving our soil degraded and we're told this is ok.

A regenerative approach involves a change of mindset, it's not about maximising output of commodity products while suffering collateral damage to our base asset the soil, so much as working out ways of producing food that people might actually want to eat at the same time as improving the soil, the water cycle, the carbon cycle and the lives of everybody in our communities. This is not only a massive PR opportunity for farmers here and worldwide, it's realistically the only way the human race is going to have a chance of a decent future. It's great to have the FW on side. It is progression for conventional farming and easy for everyone to do, once they get the mindset.

Do you ever get in an airplane to fly somewhere. And if so why do you fly (business, holiday etc)

 

[Clive]

We all like to have a moan about the yellow peril, but I've been really impressed in the last few months how its coverage is changing from advising farmers to spend a fortune on inputs and machines to actually farm better. The current edition (11th Feb) even starts off with a puff for the BASE UK conference which happened this week and extolling farmer led initiatives such as BASE which help farmers make their farms more economically and ecologically resilient. There followed at least ten pages of stories about various aspects of regenerative farming and its benefits, as well as some sensible articles about how to cut nitrogen use etc.

I came away from the BASE conference with a spring in my step, it's always a joy to spend time with such a positive bunch of people and it was uplifting to hear that membership of the organisation has doubled in the last couple of years. I suppose you could take the view that the FW can see the writing on the wall as is reporting the new normal, but, whatever, it makes a lovely change from flicking through the mag and chucking it in the recycling with a disappointed grunt.

new owners seem to have made a big difference and they have some good journalists not afraid to upset advertisers at last

@AM_Arable is getting things right


it’s still a lot of money though and has far too much advertising/ advertorial but is heading the right direction i think

 

[Clive]

I hate the term. Its flawed because its not really a "thing".

However I do understand why people wanted to move it from regenerative to sustainable because the idea is that you wouldn't want to sustain something that wasn't functioning well enough ie you wanted to do better.

I prefer to use more qualitative terms

“conservation agricultural” is my favourite description and best from a marketing point of view as people know what conservation is


Regenerative is what Dr Who does isn't it ?