What agronomists can say % of establishment methods

[richard hammond]

I think this discussion should be Agronomist/ advisor led if they care that much about a sustainable system of food production.

I will brave enough to say in rough figures a) 35% no till, b)35% strip till, c)30% high movement of soil, I feel its going the right way with my clients. What are the rest doing??

 

[neilo]

I think this discussion should be Agronomist/ advisor led if they care that much about a sustainable system of food production.

I will brave enough to say in rough figures a) 35% no till, b)35% strip till, c)30% high movement of soil, I feel its going the right way with my clients. What are the rest doing??

Surely a lot of variation by area. Over here, there are very few that don't plough & combi-drill everything, as they always have.

I've been asked several times whether I think it was time to plough here again yet. Only just got soil structure sorted after the years of abuse the place suffered before.

 

[richard hammond]

Surely a lot of variation by area. Over here, there are very few that don't plough & combi-drill everything, as they always have.

I've been asked several times whether I think it was time to plough here again yet. Only just got soil structure sorted after the years of abuse the place suffered before.

I do agree areas do make a difference at the moment but I am finding all soil types can reduce tillage systems if the wish is there! the old adage of this is how its always been done is getting a bit tired in my ear shot, change is not always bad, its all about return isn't it! spend less in a controlled system and make more money!!

 

[richard hammond]

Surely a lot of variation by area. Over here, there are very few that don't plough & combi-drill everything, as they always have.

I've been asked several times whether I think it was time to plough here again yet. Only just got soil structure sorted after the years of abuse the place suffered before.

I also need to add if the plough is right to set a new start then do it , no till or strip till is not a religion, do what is necessary but aim to become better than you were last season! sorry sustainability is in my eye king!

 

[neilo]

I also need to add if the plough is right to set a new start then do it , no till or strip till is not a religion, do what is necessary but aim to become better than you were last season! sorry sustainability is in my eye king!

I heard just the other day, that one of the local dealers had sold more ploughs this year than they had for a long time.

 

[Doctor who]

When you work with growers who are seriously willing to change, you start to believe that change is really happening. Reality is 85%+ are still high soil movement.

 

[Doctor who]

When you work with growers who are seriously willing to change, you start to believe that change is really happening. Reality is 85%+ are still high soil movement.

 

[Doctor who]

When you work with growers who are seriously willing to change, you start to believe that change is really happening. Reality is 85%+ are still high soil movement.

 

[Doctor who]

Look at the subsoiler or joker 1st thread, not one response has mentioned a spade to see if there is any compaction in the 1st place, but lots of ‘we always do’ and for 85% that’s how it is‍

 

[richard hammond]

Look at the subsoiler or joker 1st thread, not one response has mentioned a spade to see if there is any compaction in the 1st place, but lots of ‘we always do’ and for 85% that’s how it is‍♂

Negative approach in my opinion

 

[Brisel]

Look at the subsoiler or joker 1st thread, not one response has mentioned a spade to see if there is any compaction in the 1st place, but lots of ‘we always do’ and for 85% that’s how it is‍♂

Re-read the thread - some did mention a spade...

 

[Brisel]

I think this discussion should be Agronomist/ advisor led if they care that much about a sustainable system of food production.

I will brave enough to say in rough figures a) 35% no till, b)35% strip till, c)30% high movement of soil, I feel its going the right way with my clients. What are the rest doing??

I'll tag a couple of known agronomists like @Ugo79 @BenB but my mind has gone blank as to others. @Hindsight ?

I'd say that you've got a much higher % of DD clients than most. As I look around here I'd say over 50% are deep non inversion tillage with some rotational ploughing especially for spring barley. All plough systems seem to be decreasing IME.

 

[MNBVCXZ]

7% totally direct drill
40% totally min till
40% totally strip till
the rest is a bit of everything....some direct drilling where situations allow and some ploughing for maize/potatoes etc.
The interesting thing is once farms have gone to strip till they never look back! Not quite there regards to cropping and potential issues that arise when the plough or deep cultivator disappear but the system is correct its just the weather and experience of the system that after a while they get their head around.

 

[SilliamWhale]

7% totally direct drill
40% totally min till
40% totally strip till
the rest is a bit of everything....some direct drilling where situations allow and some ploughing for maize/potatoes etc.
The interesting thing is once farms have gone to strip till they never look back! Not quite there regards to cropping and potential issues that arise when the plough or deep cultivator disappear but the system is correct its just the weather and experience of the system that after a while they get their head around.

I think the key word is experience. It takes a while to get a handle on things with no till etc.

 

[ollie989898]

I doubt many agronomists even understand the word 'sustainable'; particularly given that the method of establishment used has fundamentally zilch to do with it. You can keep massaging yourselves and flashing your green credentials but don't try to kid yourself direct drilling is automatically more sustainable.

A lot of my clients used ploughs to establish their crops but would still have a much lower impact on the environment than the 1000 acre arable man who hasn't used a plough in years. A far more realistic and holistic approach needs to be considered.

 

[BenB]

Of farms I work with, about 85% Min-Till and 15% Predominately or fully plough-based.

However of that 'min-till' section there are many who will direct-drill or scratch-till where the opportunity arises and is appropriate, so it's not always high soil movement. Equally some of my plough-based clients will use a contractor/neighbour to direct drill in some situations.

 

[richard hammond]

I doubt many agronomists even understand the word 'sustainable'; particularly given that the method of establishment used has fundamentally zilch to do with it. You can keep massaging yourselves and flashing your green credentials but don't try to kid yourself direct drilling is automatically more sustainable.

A lot of my clients used ploughs to establish their crops but would still have a much lower impact on the environment than the 1000 acre arable man who hasn't used a plough in years. A far more realistic and holistic approach needs to be considered.

Go on then please enlighten us as to the answer for sustainable food production over all soil types !!

 

[richard hammond]

I'll tag a couple of known agronomists like @Ugo79 @BenB but my mind has gone blank as to others. @Hindsight ?

I'd say that you've got a much higher % of DD clients than most. As I look around here I'd say over 50% are deep non inversion tillage with some rotational ploughing especially for spring barley. All plough systems seem to be decreasing IME.

You forgot ollie,

 

[richard hammond]

I'll tag a couple of known agronomists like @Ugo79 @BenB but my mind has gone blank as to others. @Hindsight ?

I'd say that you've got a much higher % of DD clients than most. As I look around here I'd say over 50% are deep non inversion tillage with some rotational ploughing especially for spring barley. All plough systems seem to be decreasing IME.

you forgot ollie

 

[Brisel]

He's not an agronomist any more!