Groundswell 2018

martian

DD Moderator
BASE UK Member
Location
N Herts
Talking of beer...what did people think of the Bean beer? Interesting concept, like the Hodmedod's products, in adding value to the humble bean, which is too blooming cheap to be useful as a break crop.

Good to catch up
Might I suggest lighting for the bar it got dark at 11 and more beer
We ran out of lager at 9
Darkness equals bedtime at this time of year and we perhaps hadn't allowed for so many Germans camping...
 

SimonD

Member
Location
Dorset
I dont mean farmers (already a few of them speaking) I think for farm staff and operator involvement it would be interesting to run some operator / staff workshops. As you rightly say getting staff on board is essential

Best way of passing on practical knowledge. I attended Simon Chiles operators course at John Cherry's and one of the most rewarding parts was walking some of the crops discussing strategies and "Learning From Experience". Forums are great for passing on theory and discussion but practical workshops are excellent in demonstrating the end product. Run some courses?
 

SimonD

Member
Location
Dorset
just think about what you would have taken out of Greg spending several days with him. Was a good time with him prior to Groundswell.
The main reason for not going to Groundswell this year: too many speakers, tooo little time to get into depth.
Had a day seminar with Greg over here with a intensive pasture walk. What Greg talks about he has lived and gone through.
Don't get me wrong: Groundswell is one of it's kind and worth going.
Sometimes maybe a little less with having a chance to get into depth can be a option.
York-Th.
p.s. By the way, the Worm lady, performance 2 years ago at Groundswell, did give us a presentation on here new program. Have a gues about the topic.
You are right: "The Cow."

I though it strikes the right balance between interested amateur and the more seasoned operator. Additional events were run last year, an example being a day with Joel Williams which was more than enough to go away with detail rather than overload.
 

Fred

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
Mid Northants
An enjoyable Wednesday night and Thursday , we camped and a big thank you to Bob who leant me a blanket because I forgot my sleeping bag (prat). Yet again all the speakers up to standard , and meeting farmers who share their experiences always worthwhile.
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
I dont mean farmers (already a few of them speaking) I think for farm staff and operator involvement it would be interesting to run some operator / staff workshops. As you rightly say getting staff on board is essential

Finding the right pitch for all isn't that easy. Many employees are just as clued up as their employers. Most will be carried on this journey to varying degrees. One of my lads is happy to do as he is asked. The other is much more interested. One course wouldn't be enough for one & would lose the other!
 
If you can get him - Darren Docherty. (regrarians) would be good - all about sorting systems for water catchment which can help design for mob grazing
Richard Perkins - who runs a hugely successful chicken farm in sweden - whos used mob grazing and holistic management combined with a widely diverse farm.
Greg Judy again along with ian mitchell innes and neil dennis -but in a more discvussion type event like the field walk.

And maybe something aimed at the animal guys about fodder systems using the direct dsrilling - because it seemed to me that there are two camps within no-till and it should really be one.

then i would like to hear a actualy debate on some of the govt polices (as in theory brexit will have occured) - one that isnt full of platitudes and smoke blowing :)
 

martian

DD Moderator
BASE UK Member
Location
N Herts
I bet Gabe Brown and Joel Salatin would be good. Big names (expensive to get to speak too i bet) but if you dont ask you dont get ;)
I tried Gabe, but he doesn't like leaving the ranch in June, sensible fellow. Joel needs a whole day to himself really...well all the good guys do, but there's something to be said for teasing the audience with tasters of new ideas and ways of farming which are their interest, as well as the land they farm
 

holwellcourtfarm

Member
Livestock Farmer
Well, we've got a couple of dates (26th/27th June 2019) and a few ideas...it's a wee bit early yet, but we are open to ideas.

Who would people like to see/hear?
This was Jane Rickson's presentation to the Farmacy group, gives an idea of her expertise and approach. I'm sure she'd go much deeper for the already engaged audience at Groundswell. (y)
 

Attachments

  • Farmacy Feb 27th 2018 Rickson_no blanks.pdf
    6.5 MB · Views: 24

Samcowman

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cornwall
Any forthcoming relevant Nuffield scholars that could present a paper?
There’s bound to be some of them up for it.
Someone like Greg Judy would be good especially if it wasn’t from an American perspective, if anyone is skeptical then they are more likely to take note if they weren’t from as far away. Especially if it done in conjunction with a soil biologist that can explain what’s happening underneath the soil as well
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.3%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.9%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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