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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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Tips to make the most of existing trees and hedges on farm

Managing a farm’s existing trees and hedges is a cost-effective way to add natural resilience to a livestock business without needing a big investment in new saplings or whips. Enhancing…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Managing soils to withstand wet winters and dry summers

Farmers could bolster production and farm resilience by focusing on soil health, rather than blaming the weather, soil type and location for waterlogging and drought. So says independent farm adviser…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How to companion crop successfully in winter wheat

Companion cropping is an emerging practice that is recognised in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) with an action that attracts a payment of £55/ha. In its most common form, it…

PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATION

How to introduce the SFI no-till action into cropping

The expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer for 2024 includes a no-till action which pays £73/ha for each of the three years of an agreement. Known as SOH1, the static…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How to minimise soil compaction without steel and diesel

Increased occurrence of extreme rainfall events should prompt farmers to remind themselves of the dangers of compacted soils. However, plenty can be done to reduce the risk of declining productivity…

OTHER CROPS

How to maximise SFI herbal leys in arable rotations

About 175,000ha of SAM3 herbal leys are due to be grown in Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 (SFI23) schemes, according to the figures released by Defra for agreements reached by the…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How partial budgeting can help bale-grazing decisions

Livestock farmers considering a switch from winter housing to outwintering and bale grazing should ensure they factor in the costs of changing system when making their decision. This is the…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Managing regen farming: Options for support and advice

Regenerative farming offers opportunities but requires a higher level of management and must be tailored to the land and farm in question, not followed dogmatically. However, there may be more…

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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SOILS

Herts grower shares experience with Johnson-Su bioreactor

A source of protozoa and nematodes, the extract from a US-invented composter is part of one Hertfordshire grower’s five-year plan to improve soil biology and cut costs. Richard Blair, with…

PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATION

Long-term direct driller reveals yield impact of ploughing

A wheat crop established under the plough yielded 1.7t/ha more than the long-term direct drilled part of the field, more than paying for the extra costs associated with ploughing. But…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How regen principles are building Powys farm’s resilience

Regenerative farming techniques including adaptive multipaddock grazing and integration of livestock and arable enterprises are helping bolster the resilience of a Powys beef and sheep farm. See also: How partial budgeting…

ARABLE

Hants arable farm extends regen approach to two vineyards

The decision to stop pedalling faster without gain and instead change the farming system to one based on regenerative principles was taken more than 20 years ago on a Hampshire…

ARABLE

How an award-winning arable farm combines business and nature

Bedingham Hall Farm near Bungay is maximising its environmental conservation, while remaining committed to profitable food production. It has done this by making full use of the natural features available…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How sustainable farming is central to Raby Estate's business

Attention to detail has been critical as Raby Estate has changed direction and set about creating a more robust and commercially viable business, with an environmentally sustainable farming enterprise at…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How the regen farming route works for a downland dairy

Dai and Sophie Wilson have opted for a low-cost, low-input dairy system, which suits the uniqueness of their land and allows for the nature-friendly, high-welfare enterprise they want. Farm vet…

SHEEP

How a robust hybrid ewe flock is thriving on regen system

Transitioning to regenerative grazing on the family farm at Aqualate Estate on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border and switching to home-bred rams has helped improve flock health for Wojtek Behnke. He has…