Four special half-day grower workshops are being organised across England by the Soil and Water Management Centre and RASE to help growers looking to repair soil damage caused by the wettest year on record.

As well as focusing on practical remedial and tillage techniques to repair damaged soils, the workshops – sponsored by HGCA and Catchment Sensitive Farming – will provide topical tips on managing and maintaining farm drainage systems and guidance on avoiding drainage issues before they arise.

“The past summer and autumn have shown just how much of a structural knife-edge many of our agricultural soils are on,” says Agrii senior agronomist, Andrew Richards who chairs the developing Soil and Water Management Centre at Harper Adams University.

“With the climate as variable as it’s becoming we need to take every opportunity available to make good any damage caused by heavy machinery employed under some of the most trying conditions most of us can remember.”
Andrew Richards

“With the climate as variable as it’s becoming we need to take every opportunity available to make good any damage caused by heavy machinery employed under some of the most trying conditions most of us can remember. At the same time, of course, we must do everything possible to improve the resilience of the soils on which our livelihoods depend.”

The events being held include Harper Adams University in Shropshire on 28 January, Lackham College in Wiltshire on 29 January and at Morley Farms in Norfolk on 4 February. Places are limited and further details and tickets, priced £10, are available from www.repairingsoils.eventbrite.co.uk.

A parallel free workshop is also being held at Bishop Burton College in Yorkshire for all those attending the annual Agrii spring farming event on 7 February.

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