Groundswell Show 2022

[CopperBeech]

Anyone else pick up Covid at Groundswell?

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Not sure, but happy to have a conversation with anyone local ish

@martian was hinting at one of the talks that that type of thing might be on the agenda in coming years?

 

[CopperBeech]

One thing I did notice ..... is that Groundswell / Regen ag is now very much ‘cool’, which I guess is a good thing! There were a lot of social media bods, influencers and folk who were there to be seen to be there. Like i said, probably a good thing but would be good if it sort of stayed at the current level rather than just became another of this industry’s ‘style over substance’ things. I kind of want to talk to boots on the earth farming folk.

Also ..... here’s another tricky one! Obviously every year there are a raft of folk who are coming to learn about regen ag for the first time..... but there are of course lots who have been to the event before and who have been doing regen ag for a fairly long time. A lot of sessions are an introduction to x, y or z. But it would be great to hear a bit more.

Im probably going to attract a bit of criticism for saying this, but as much as I enjoyed Greg Judys talk, I don’t think it was very revolutionary for those of us who’ve been doing mob grazing or have even read about it etc. Get cows, mob them up, keep them moving, protect your regrowth, long rest periods. This is the basics of it. What would be good would be to delve a bit deeper into the profitability of it all. Speaking to Greg and Jan at length later, they were in the position to rent about five large grazing blocks (ranches) within 5 miles of them, which they could walk stock between, for between $10 an acre (hectare?) and nothing. They don’t have TB issues either from what I could understand.

Understanding that.... the question “well why the hell aren’t you getting out and doing it” kind of finds its answers. I think if a lot of us were able to rent large swathes of land all around us that no one wanted for either free or a token rent ...... then we would probably be able to do some pretty cool stuff.

Essentially without the financial figures behind it, it is in danger of becoming a rich / lucky mans folly?

Ive got to say that this was why the “our regen journey” session was so good. A bit of distance travelled!

 

[Badshot]

Anyone else pick up Covid at Groundswell?

Nah, missed out on that little gem
Had 3 nights and two days there, so god knows how I missed it.
You were sat in front of me at the vineyard talk I think.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

One thing I did notice ..... is that Groundswell / Regen ag is now very much ‘cool’, which I guess is a good thing! There were a lot of social media bods, influencers and folk who were there to be seen to be there. Like i said, probably a good thing but would be good if it sort of stayed at the current level rather than just became another of this industry’s ‘style over substance’ things. I kind of want to talk to boots on the earth farming folk.

Also ..... here’s another tricky one! Obviously every year there are a raft of folk who are coming to learn about regen ag for the first time..... but there are of course lots who have been to the event before and who have been doing regen ag for a fairly long time. A lot of sessions are an introduction to x, y or z. But it would be great to hear a bit more.

Im probably going to attract a bit of criticism for saying this, but as much as I enjoyed Greg Judys talk, I don’t think it was very revolutionary for those of us who’ve been doing mob grazing or have even read about it etc. Get cows, mob them up, keep them moving, protect your regrowth, long rest periods. This is the basics of it. What would be good would be to delve a bit deeper into the profitability of it all. Speaking to Greg and Jan at length later, they were in the position to rent about five large grazing blocks (ranches) within 5 miles of them, which they could walk stock between, for between $10 an acre (hectare?) and nothing. They don’t have TB issues either from what I could understand.

Understanding that.... the question “well why the hell aren’t you getting out and doing it” kind of finds its answers. I think if a lot of us were able to rent large swathes of land all around us that no one wanted for either free or a token rent ...... then we would probably be able to do some pretty cool stuff.

Essentially without the financial figures behind it, it is in danger of becoming a rich / lucky mans folly?

Ive got to say that this was why the “our regen journey” session was so good. A bit of distance travelled!

Yes three young ladies in font of me, asked some hairy arsed farmer to take their photo next to the "welcome to Groundswell" sign "because it was their first time".

Edit, but is it such a bad thing that non farmers want to learn more about where their food, air and water comes from?

 

[AT Aloss]

Many thanks for kind comments and thanks for coming. Also thanks for constructive criticism, I agree our vetting process was a bit lax in regard to some exhibitors and that there were a few other irritating things we got wrong. I also feel that we gave too much attention to policy stuff, but we're open to suggestions. The core of the event is you lot, so what you think matters. Let rip!

I give no quarter about my displeasure regarding HSBC being there. They have been shown to have been completely merciless with some farming clients. I would be concerned to see more banks attending who have track records of acting without integrity towards farmers, many who now embrace regenerative practices to reduce their banking exposure, in order to escape their asset grabbing clutches. I'd much rather have seen the space provided for start-up businesses and/or the food/commodity marketing sector so some challenges can be addressed with them. I am concerned about how rural start-ups obtain finance and it is vital they understand the pitfalls of certain banking products, personal guarantees & providing security because "you cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth."

Although I have some bias, I think it is still important to have the opportunity to see new products in the bio-stimulant & soil ecology + plant nutrition sector. It is taking time for many of them to evolve from farmer led information to peer reviewed but without Groundswell it would be very difficult to network & engage with interested parties to carry this work out. It is still very pleasing to see NIAB's continued involvement. It would have been interesting to see a wider selection of cover crops in the drill exhibition area & with more independent explanation of what benefit each cover crop is delivering. There also seemed to be less emphasis on soil compaction which must continue to be a feature even if some exhibitors are absent?

It was great to see more livestock & what seemed like more first time attendees this year and perhaps the seminars had a little too much emphasis in their direction (what it means to be Regen etc ). There seemed to be a general feeling amongst regular attendees that there seemed to be fewer technical briefing seminars that we had benefitted from in previous years. I realise it's not always possible to get every desired speaker nor should the seminars be the same every year, but I look forward to speakers from previous years returning to update attendees (new & old) with how their work is developing.

The hospitality offerings were absolutely superb this year & Groundswell never fails to impress on me what @martian and his wonderfully friendly team achieve each time. Thank you John & your team - Groundswell continues to inspire & I'm sure you'd enjoy it a lot more if you weren't bedevilled by the onsite water supply! It is a testament to you that some of the "bigger boys" are chasing space at the event, but I would hate for it to lose sight of its humble beginnings and what that has delivered to us all. Perhaps when we hear complaints about the entrance fees we have forgotten what previous @Groundswell Agriculture events have taught us all. It is vitally important that we still cultivate opportunities for "small agriculture," there's lots of other opportunities for the corporations & it must continue to be farmer led. The answers aren't in the clouds where the money men are - they forgot what soil and some organic matters smelled like a long time ago, the answers are still beneath our feet. I fully intend to remain grounded & I wish you well for planning Groundswell 2023.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Yes, I think there may have been a slight reduction in technical detail.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

One thing I did notice ..... is that Groundswell / Regen ag is now very much ‘cool’, which I guess is a good thing! There were a lot of social media bods, influencers and folk who were there to be seen to be there. Like i said, probably a good thing but would be good if it sort of stayed at the current level rather than just became another of this industry’s ‘style over substance’ things. I kind of want to talk to boots on the earth farming folk.

Also ..... here’s another tricky one! Obviously every year there are a raft of folk who are coming to learn about regen ag for the first time..... but there are of course lots who have been to the event before and who have been doing regen ag for a fairly long time. A lot of sessions are an introduction to x, y or z. But it would be great to hear a bit more.

Im probably going to attract a bit of criticism for saying this, but as much as I enjoyed Greg Judys talk, I don’t think it was very revolutionary for those of us who’ve been doing mob grazing or have even read about it etc. Get cows, mob them up, keep them moving, protect your regrowth, long rest periods. This is the basics of it. What would be good would be to delve a bit deeper into the profitability of it all. Speaking to Greg and Jan at length later, they were in the position to rent about five large grazing blocks (ranches) within 5 miles of them, which they could walk stock between, for between $10 an acre (hectare?) and nothing. They don’t have TB issues either from what I could understand.

Understanding that.... the question “well why the hell aren’t you getting out and doing it” kind of finds its answers. I think if a lot of us were able to rent large swathes of land all around us that no one wanted for either free or a token rent ...... then we would probably be able to do some pretty cool stuff.

Essentially without the financial figures behind it, it is in danger of becoming a rich / lucky mans folly?

Ive got to say that this was why the “our regen journey” session was so good. A bit of distance travelled!

I found our regen really good, and the complete opposite of the CLA talk on sequestering/trading carbon, I was totally underwhelmed with them, but as our agricultural fiscal policies in the UK are basically reward the owners of land for owning land (and let those who engage in the "trade" of farming sink or swim), I was not very surprised.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I give no quarter about my displeasure regarding HSBC being there. They have been shown to have been completely merciless with some farming clients. I would be concerned to see more banks attending who have track records of acting without integrity towards farmers, many who now embrace regenerative practices to reduce their banking exposure, in order to escape their asset grabbing clutches. I'd much rather have seen the space provided for start-up businesses and/or the food/commodity marketing sector so some challenges can be addressed with them. I am concerned about how rural start-ups obtain finance and it is vital they understand the pitfalls of certain banking products, personal guarantees & providing security because "you cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth."

Although I have some bias, I think it is still important to have the opportunity to see new products in the bio-stimulant & soil ecology + plant nutrition sector. It is taking time for many of them to evolve from farmer led information to peer reviewed but without Groundswell it would be very difficult to network & engage with interested parties to carry this work out. It is still very pleasing to see NIAB's continued involvement. It would have been interesting to see a wider selection of cover crops in the drill exhibition area & with more explanation of what benefit each cover crop is delivering. There also seemed to be less emphasis on soil compaction which must continue to be a feature even if some exhibitors are absent?

It was great to see what seemed like more first time attendees this year and perhaps the seminars had a little too much emphasis in their direction (what it means to be Regen etc ). There seemed to be a general feeling amongst regular attendees that there seemed to be fewer technical briefing seminars that we had benefitted from in previous years. I realise it's not always possible to get every desired speaker nor should the seminars be the same every year, but I look forward to speakers from previous years returning to update attendees (new & old) with how their work is developing.

The hospitality offerings were absolutely superb this year & Groundswell never fails to impress on me what @martian and his wonderfully friendly team achieve each time. Thank you John & your team - Groundswell continues to inspire & I'm sure you'd enjoy it a lot more if you weren't bedevilled by the onsite water supply! It is a testament to you that some of the "bigger boys" are chasing space at the event, but I would hate for it to lose sight of its humble beginnings and what that has delivered to us all. Perhaps when we hear complaints about the entrance fees we have forgotten what previous @Groundswell Agriculture events have taught us all. It is vitally important that we still cultivate opportunities for "small agriculture," there's lots of other opportunities for the corporations & it must continue to be farmer led. The answers aren't in the clouds where the money men are - they forgot what soil and some organic matters smelled like a long time ago, the answers are still beneath our feet. I fully intend to remain grounded & I wish you well for planning Groundswell 2023.

How about a dedicated session or 2 with just a facilitator, no designated speakers, for those already doing it to discuss specific questions? It would be a sort of user workshop....

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I would have liked more of a presentation from Merlin Sheldrake, rather than a question and answer session, and I would have been interested to listen to Philip Landry (Farmageddon book and compassion in world farming), but he was taken ill with Covid, can he come next year?

 

[AT Aloss]

How about a dedicated session or 2 with just a facilitator, no designated speakers, for those already doing it to discuss specific questions? It would be a sort of user workshop....

That's a good format

 

[Shaun Dowman]

View attachment 1044811

That's where our umbrella went on wednesday night

 

[martian]

I would have liked more of a presentation from Merlin Sheldrake, rather than a question and answer session, and I would have been interested to listen to Philip Landry (Farmageddon book and compassion in world farming), but he was taken ill with Covid, can he come next year?

Merlin requested an interview rather than a presentation. We'll see about Philip Lymbery next year...

 

[CopperBeech]

Yes three young ladies in font of me, asked some hairy arsed farmer to take their photo next to the "welcome to Groundswell" sign "because it was their first time".

Edit, but is it such a bad thing that non farmers want to learn more about where their food, air and water comes from?

No not at all. But obviously it’s the farmers at ground level that will be the ones to enact change. I think it’s really important to attract the press, city folk and randoms to a point. But some like workshops and knowledge / good practice sharing stuff would be great. It’s not just about “going regen” but about managing to sustain it. And without being a d*ck, if it doesn’t make money then it can only be adopted by those owner operators who don’t have to worry about that so much. Of course it does make / save money, but understanding the nitty gritty of that is important for us poor tenant farmers

 

[CopperBeech]

How about a dedicated session or 2 with just a facilitator, no designated speakers, for those already doing it to discuss specific questions? It would be a sort of user workshop....

This!

 

[CopperBeech]

I must say though that I enjoyed the three days huge amounts! And will be back next year whatever. But I just have a mind that leans toward critical analysis. It isn’t meant in a moany or negative way. I think the Cherry family are doing amazing things for ag, and it takes some balls to stick your head above the parapet whilst also running a serious farming operation.

Actually ....... I’d quite like to know more about YOUR regen journey @martian

 

[Secret Agronomist]

Unless you can make root crops work without deep tillage (can be fine but very hard to do well) then hard to see how it meets a regenerative mindset imho.

When we aim for plant diversity we really mean at the same time, not sequentially. Every time you add another species into the mix the resilience and biology improve. That's fairly easy for us grazing types but hard for arable as the systems we've evolved all depend on monoculture cropping.

So volunteer tatties in the carrots doesn't count then!

 

[Huno]

Rather a fatous statement Huno. Waas it intended to demean and belittle, as that is what in the context it seemed.

Time to leave online.. nonsense... fat yes... fatous... Li colnshire through and though!!!

 

[Huno]

I must say though that I enjoyed the three days huge amounts! And will be back next year whatever. But I just have a mind that leans toward critical analysis. It isn’t meant in a moany or negative way. I think the Cherry family are doing amazing things for ag, and it takes some balls to stick your head above the parapet whilst also running a serious farming operation.

Actually ....... I’d quite like to know more about YOUR regen journey @martian

Nob .....

 

[Huno]

Nob .....

He is just the facilitator you narrow minded human