Know How / Regenerative agriculture

Regenerative farming, or conservation farming, was once considered a system for mavericks, but is becoming more mainstream now that farm payments will focus on environmental practices. At its heart, regen farming is all about soil health, encompassing practices such as no-till, cover cropping, mob grazing and livestock in the arable rotation. There is no one system-fits-all, rather a vision to rebuild degraded soil biodiversity to lock in carbon, improve the water cycle and encourage biodiversity.

Practical advice

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PEST MANAGEMENT

How to introduce SFI 2023's no insecticide option

After another delay, applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2023 are due to finally open in mid-September, with the new no use of insecticide action being one of the…

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Top 5 mistakes when adopting regen farming

Regenerative farming can deliver many benefits to soils and balance sheets, but taking early mis-steps can have the opposite effect. There are stories of yields plummeting when switching to direct-drilling,…

LIVESTOCK

Regenerative approach builds resilience for 1,750-cow herd

Building resilience into the business by growing his own cereals and having a rolling stock of 27,000t of silage is part of Neil Baker’s move to regenerative agriculture. In fact,…

LIVESTOCK

Farmer networks will be key for SFI uptake

Building confidence via networks of farmers will be crucial to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and rollout of agroecological practices on UK farms. This is according…

SOILS

New Zealanders share soil fungi knowledge to improve crops

Adopting regenerative farming practices can help increase levels of soil fungi, thereby improving soil structure and making nutrients and water more available to crops. Practices such as ploughing, applying di-ammonium…

BUSINESS

How demand for ‘regen beef’ is expanding in niche markets

Significant premiums are being paid by some butchers, restaurant chains and retailers for regeneratively farmed beef. The sector remains in its infancy, and what exactly is involved in regenerative practices…

COVER CROPS

A guide to catch cropping before autumn cereals

While many farmers are growing cover crops over winter before spring crops, there is also the possibility of establishing a catch crop between harvest and an autumn-drilled crop. The key…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Guide to soil biology and how to protect it

Many farms are closer to being “regenerative” than they might think, says a leading soil scientist. Ian Bell of Northern Soil Regen told delegates at Carbon Calling in Cumbria last…

Insights

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Regen farming videos

Groundswell 2022

See all our coverage from Groundswell 2022, the UK event for farmers interested in regenerative and conservation agriculture.
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Case studies

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REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

How a large-scale regen system is working at Dyson Farming

Implementing regenerative agriculture principles across 14,000ha is a central component of Dyson Farming’s long-term circular farming model, as it produces high-quality food with minimal environmental impact. The plan has been…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How Wold Top Brewery barley grower lowered carbon footprint

The Yorkshire farming family behind the successful Wold Top Brewery and Yorkshire’s first single-malt whisky distillery is using the latest precision mapping technology in its drive towards a low-carbon, sustainable…

ARABLE

Arable farm finds new income streams with nature-based system

Nature-based solutions are being put to the test on a Cotswolds arable farm, both locally and at scale, to see what benefits and rewards they have to offer. Dunthrop Farms…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

4 farmers outline bale grazing benefits in field lab trial

A group of farmers is taking part in a four-year project to explore the impact of bale grazing on forage quality and soil health. The Innovative Farmers field lab will…

SHEEP

8 ways sheep farmers can adopt regen methods

Coaxing more life out of the soil is a work in progress at Hill Farm, near Hay-on-Wye. Here, Sam and Will Sawday and their mother, Penny Chantler, run a flock…

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Grower's soils improve and inputs reduce with regen approach

Hampshire grower David Miller has seen the organic matter of his chalky light soils rise by nearly 1% over the past four years by the use of cover crops and…

ARABLE

How a hybrid regenerative system works on Bucks Monitor Farm

A hybrid regenerative system has been put in place at Dollars Grove Farm in North Crawley, as the business takes the steps required to secure its sustainable future and build…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Big brewer offers a premium for regen barley

Ben Taylor is growing spring malting barley for brewer Carlsberg which will earn him a price premium for following regenerative farming practices, such as growing cover crops and establishing a…