The spring wheat is looking well, especially considering the lack of rainfall. It’s had 90kg/ha of nitrogen plus a dose of micronutrients, fish hydrolysate, molasses and fulvic acid, and I’m happy with how it looks.

I am often cursing our heavy clay soil, but right now it’s doing us proud with moisture visible just an inch or so beneath the surface.

As part of the soil-first farming journey I’m on, I always try to consider the cultural options at hand before considering synthetic alternatives.

See also: Farmer Focus: Rewilding, beavers and nut trees

About the author

Anthony Becvar

Anthony Becvar is a third-generation farmer of an 80ha mixed farm in East Sussex on heavy Weald Clay. Crops include spring beans, winter wheat and spring barley, alongside diversification projects which include two breweries and an agricultural mechanic.

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There seems to be a fair amount of “other plants” in the fields, but the dry weather has been perfect for the comb harrow to play a part in relieving the pressure.

All headlands have had two passes and results have been impressive. I’m hoping to get in a full field pass in the next week or so, just before the canopy closes.

There is rain due next week (fingers crossed) so I may apply the last dose of nitrogen beforehand – thereby incorporating it into the surface before the rain. Timing this so that pulled weeds desiccate before the rain arrives will be key.

I’ve met with a couple of good friends recently to talk over regenerative practices and ideas that can fit in with our different rotation ideas.

Staying with John and Alice Pawsey is a great experience in itself and we talked in depth about crop rotations, weed control, diversification, families and fine wine.

Discussing rotational productivity with an organic producer highlights how many cultural management options we have available and that synthetic answers can be seen as the last resort, rather than the norm.

I also met with old friend and local mixed farmer Tom Gribble, who has so many ideas but, like me, is just starting out on the soil regen journey and is searching for the best options that suit his farming system and rotation.

Both meetings really affirmed the need for us to reach out to other farmers on a similar course and mindset to learn what we can and bounce around ideas on how to achieve it.

Many farmers have asked the same questions and done the experiments we want to. We just need to keep up the conversations.