Intelligent Farming Podcast November 2024

In this episode, we discuss the recent weather challenges we’ve faced here in the UK. After an extremely wet September that made drilling crops difficult, the warm and dry weather that followed has helped the soil recover, and I’m pleased to see the wheat crop looking healthy. We also touch on the importance of getting the balance right with nutrient application - availability is just as crucial as overall levels in the soil. That’s why I always recommend regular soil and leaf testing to keep things in check.

It’s been encouraging to see how well the rape and canola crops have bounced back over the last couple of weeks, despite the earlier wet conditions. This really highlights the resilience of healthy soil and the value of patience and good timing when working the land. That said, we are dealing with a few slug issues in the rape fields, but with colder weather on the horizon, I’m hopeful that nature will help keep them under control, reducing the need for any pesticides.

Nick and I spend some time comparing conventional farming practices to regenerative approaches, sharing how early incorporation of compost through shallow ploughing or discing can make a real difference. We talk about anaerobic composting too, and how important it is to keep a good balance between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in the soil microbiome.