Farmer Jake's Blog

Alberta Day 2 18th June

Day 2 and we are out on farm. Today we were visiting the team from Agritrend who are a group of independent crop coaches (agronomists) who all work under the Agritrend umbrella The company was started by Rob Saik in 1997 and is now involved in many aspects...

Posted Jun 19 2013, 03:17 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nuffield, Canada, Wheat, Alberta, Agritrend, Wheatland County, PremiumAg [Edit Tags]

Alberta Day 1 - 17th June

On our first full day in Canada we ventured out into the Rocky Mountains along the main East-West Trans-Canadian Highway (Number 1). We headed into Canmore, then onto Banff where we had lunch before heading further into the mountains in search of lake...

Posted Jun 18 2013, 01:48 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Calgary, Bow Valley Parkway, Lake Louise, Banff, Grizzly Bear, Alberta, Lake Moraine, Valley of the 10 Peaks [Edit Tags]

Welcome to Calgary

Well we have finally left the country! After a farewell at the airport with Andrea, we headed into Terminal 3 at Heathrow for our flight. As we checked in the lady asked us if we minded taking a later flight as the flight we were booked onto was over...

Posted Jun 17 2013, 01:28 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nuffield, Calgary, Heathrow, Ryan Bonnett, Airdrie [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Adventures Part 2

So it's finally here, take off day. The first leg of my Nuffield personal study to investigate whether or not it is possible to grow a 20T/Ha wheat crop in the UK in the next 20 years. It's been a long time in the planning stages with e-mails...

Posted Jun 16 2013, 07:37 AM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nuffield, Wheat, 20:20 Wheat, Palouse, Calgary, Great Plains [Edit Tags]

All Covered Up?

Well this year is certainly making me think long and hard about the long term benefits of cover cropping when there is no other crop planted in the ground. It is also making me think about leaving ground bare and I'm coming to the conclusion that...

Posted Jun 15 2013, 09:43 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Soil, Cover Crops, soil structure, phacelia, fodder radish, mustard, subsoil [Edit Tags]

NIABTAG Visit to the Gene Pool

Monday the 13th May was another day to remember on my Nuffield adventure. My visit was to the HQ of NIABTAG near Cambridge, who just the evening before had been on Countryfile with a brand new development in wheat breeding! I was met by Bill Clarke, to...

Posted May 17 2013, 04:37 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nuffield, 20:20 Wheat, Genetic Modification, NIABTAG [Edit Tags]

Cranfield University - National Soil Resources Institute

I can't believe where the last month has disappeared too. After Canada, lambing day and the spring work on the farm, things sure have been very busy. Last week we hosted Natasha King, a 2013 Nuffield Scholar, who we met in Canada. So as I was heading...

Posted May 13 2013, 11:10 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: cultivation, Soil, Nuffield, Cranfield University, Mixed Cropping [Edit Tags]

Lambing Live at Overbury Farms 14th April

Lambing is here again as as last year we are hosting our annual 'Lambing Live' Event on the 14th April. It will be great to see lots of people here again as in previous years, there will be so much going on. The tractor and trailer rides will...

Posted Apr 07 2013, 02:35 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: sheep, Lambing Day, Lambing Live, Game Keepers, Countrywide Farmers [Edit Tags]

Canadian Wheat and Maple Syrup

After the Grain Farmers of Ontario March classic I met up with Steve Twynstra who owns a very impressive cash cropping business near Ailsa Craig, situated about 25 minutes drive North West of London Ontario. Steve's business revolves around soybeans...

Posted Apr 07 2013, 02:06 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Ontario, Nuffield, Canada [Edit Tags]

Onwards into Canadian Agriculture

Monday and Tuesday I was very lucky to be included in the Grain Farmers of Ontario March classic. An event aimed at bring the latest information and some great comedy to grain producers in the region. The event also hosted a trade show with over 50 exhibits...

Posted Apr 05 2013, 01:47 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Peter Johnson, Kathleen Wynne, Grain Farmers of Ontario [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference - The End of The Beginning

Sunday morning arrived all too quickly after a late night in the bar; continuing the discussions after Steve Larocque's excellent presentation; dancing, talking and letting our hair down (those of us that have any). We even got restricted in the bar...

Posted Apr 04 2013, 09:50 AM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Ontario, Tractor, Nuffield, CSC, Guelph, Staff Wines, Niagara Falls, Corn, Sue-Anne Staff, Maize [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference Saturday - Putting it All Together

The final part of the conference was arguably the best. We were split into 6 groups to work together on a presentation for the other groups. We were given two hours to work out a plan; in our case, "Telling the Story of Agriculture", then we...

Posted Mar 26 2013, 08:19 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nuffield, CSC, Niagara Falls, Skylon, Steve Larocque [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference - Friday The Global Environment

Up bright and early on Friday morning we headed out to VineTech Canada to meet Wes Wiens. Wes runs a great business producing vine stock for other vineyards to plant. He has about 20 acres with over 1.7 million vine plants growing at at any one time....

Posted Mar 22 2013, 04:31 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Ontario, Nuffield, Canada, CSC, VineTech, Vines, Grape [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference - Thursday 'Evolving for and Urban Setting'

Thursday morning arrived way too soon. Although the start was early everyone was up and ready to go. We had to check out of the Guelph Delta hotel and board the bus by 8am. Our first stop was Cranston Farms, a herd of 70 cows or so managed and owned by...

Posted Mar 19 2013, 02:48 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Ontario, Nuffield, CSC, Staff Wines [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference - Wednesday, Speaking Up For Agriculture

I was really looking forward to getting stuck into day 3 of the conference, a day entitled 'Speaking up for Agriculture' Kelly Daynard works for an organisation called Food and Farm Care who are the voice of Agriculture sector bodies in the province...

Posted Mar 18 2013, 02:51 AM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Ontario, Nuffield, Canada, CSC, Guelph [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference - Tuesday

Tuesday morning was an early start in the meeting hall for an introduction into the bio products industry from some very innovative and positive people. Innovation is a message I am starting to hear loud and clear! First on the scene with a very positive...

Posted Mar 13 2013, 12:16 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nuffield, Canada, CSC [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference - Monday

Monday morning came around very quickly and it was straight down to business with a great line up of speakers to give us an overview of the International, National and then Provincial activities. First up was: Bob Seguin from the George Morris Centre...

Posted Mar 13 2013, 05:21 AM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nuffield, CSC [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference - Guelph

Well where do I start, I think I have heard that before somewhere on this trip already. I will try and summarise what we have been doing for the last few days in Canada. I arrived on my own having flown Air Canada instead of BA and eventually met up with...

Posted Mar 13 2013, 03:53 AM by Farmer Jake

[Edit Tags]

Nuffield Pre Contemporary Conference - London

What a day we had yesterday (Friday 8 th March), with a real mixed bag of presentations and discussion. Our morning started with a walk from the Union Jack Club to the treasury where we were met by Brendan Bailey (Head of Structural Reform Branch). The...

Posted Mar 10 2013, 05:59 AM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: NFU, Nuffield, Conference, London, DEFRA, CSC [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Pre Contemporary Scholars Conference -London

Our Nuffield adventure has finally begun. After weeks of preparation, excitement, nervousness and apprehension we are finally together in London and our study tour is underway. After meeting up last night for a drink or two in the bar at The Union Jack...

Posted Mar 07 2013, 11:40 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nuffield, London, HOuse of Lords, Baroness Byford, Farmers Club [Edit Tags]

Did The Earth Move For You?

I have been doing quite a lot of driving recently and it's been interesting looking over the hedge to see exactly what has been going on. This year I have seen far more poorer fields than good ones, no reflection on the farmers just as a consequence...

Posted Mar 03 2013, 10:46 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: LEAF, Soil, Simply Sustainable Soils, slug pellets, metadehyde, erosion [Edit Tags]

Nuffield Trip To Harper Adams University

Last Thursday, that's nearly a week ago and it only seems like yesterday (time flies when under pressure) I met up with some of my fellow #Nuffield13 scholars at Harper Adams. A few of us interested in Precision Farming wanted to visit Professor Simon...

Posted Feb 27 2013, 09:34 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Soil, Nuffield, Precision Livestock Farming, Harper Adams University, Compaction, Precision Farming [Edit Tags]

Nuffield - Rothamsted Revisited

Well here's the deal, this picture demonstrates to me the challenge that we have set ourselves very clearly. Don't be mistaken though the 20 by 20 is in 20 years not by 2020. The aim of the project at Rothamsted , under the main heading of 20...

Posted Feb 22 2013, 09:26 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Rothamsted, Wheat, 20:20 Wheat [Edit Tags]

Core Sampling For Nitrogen

Well its that time of year again when we go and test the amount of nitrogen left in the soil after the winter. The nitrogen is measured after the winter so that we can take account of any nitrate that has leached (washed) out from the soil. The nitrogen...

Posted Feb 21 2013, 11:00 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Nitrogen Fertiliser, Soil, Agrii, Soil Mineral Nitrogen, Soilquest [Edit Tags]

Nuffield and the James Hutton Institute

Well where do I start? I have had a very busy 10 days or so continuing my Nuffield research into the 20t/ha wheat project and it has literally taken me all over the country. On Sunday the 10th February I had a lovely 8 hour drive from Overbury to Dundee...

Posted Feb 21 2013, 10:32 PM by Farmer Jake

Filed under: Potatoes, LEAF, Nuffield, The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, Sustainable Farming Systems, Nitrogen Utilisation Efficiency, LEAF Innovation Centre, Cereals, Professor Geoff Squire, Invergowrie [Edit Tags]

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