“Sometimes in farming we get so used to having our heads down and looking forwards, that we don’t look sideways, and the monitor farm programme has allowed me to do this” famous last words from Bill Webb as three years come to an end with a ☀️ farm walk on the Mersey estuary.
Don’t ask why I’m stood like I’m about to sub on for Ellis Genge but I’m beyond excited to have started my new role as the NE Cereals & Oilseeds Knowledge Exchange Manager at AHDB. Looking forward to more farm visits and launching what I am sure will be a very exciting career.
Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll! Sorry I haven’t got round to replying to the comments yet I’ve been busy… graduating with a First Class Honours in BSc Agriculture with Crop Management from
@HarperAdamsUni
🥳
#graduation
#happydays
Emergency stop on the way back from work to sit & watch the start of harvest in Yorkshire, it’s always a joy to watch, this year even more so after what has been such a challenging season. Wishing all farmers near & far a safe, happy & hopefully bountiful harvest 🌾 Thank you! 👏🏻
Small announcement for a Monday night, in August I will be leaving my much loved role at AHDB💔 but I’m planning on doing something quite BIG and I’m wondering whether you lovely people could help me?🙏🏻 😅
#quarterlifecrisis
Look who I managed to make smile this afternoon, Cheerful Charlie getting his
@BASISRegLtd
points at the
@TheAHDB
stand. Last chance to swing by for a chat but it’s been great to see so many faces new and old. Looking forward to the same again
@Groundswellaguk
It’s been just over two weeks since I set off on my one way trip around the world. After arriving in the dark I woke up to this surreal view, feeling eternally grateful to experience this. Still adjusting to this new life but itching to get out on farm in a couple of weeks time.
If you’re going to be cold, you may as well be cold with a drink in hand and up to your eyeballs in French cheese 🍻🧀Back to work now, just as I was getting my legs warmed up after 4 years off the slopes🏂
I might get lynched for saying this, but crops of rape and scenery this good could be enough to sway the most devout Lancastrian to question the colour of the rose….
The grind doesn’t stop for the
@AHDB_Cereals
team. Crop walking and roughing on the walk back from
@CerealsEvent
to the hotel…. Tell me that’s not value for levy 😜
A really great buzz all day on the stand, with 80 years of the Recommended List celebrations inc RL 🍺 & 🧁.
Plenty of air acrobatics going on tonight… I may have moved to Yorkshire but nights like this in the Lancashire hills are unbeatable.. teeming full of diverse and intelligent creatures. Plus, Hay timing this week.. life is good 🌞
What a delight to see this guy at Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland 🐙 If anyone saw me manhandling an octopus back into the sea, no you did not… it wasn’t pretty 🤦🏼♀️
Picture perfect scenery this morning looking out onto the North Sea. I’ve seen the good, the average and the very ugly from Beverley to Beadnell today. How is everyone’s rape looking?
Out of office! An intense but enlightening two weeks lie ahead in the deep south, I’ve packed my nose clip. Wish me luck. I wouldn’t be here without
@arableadvisor
@YorksAgSoc
@TheAHDB
, so thank you.
Ah yes, 7th January, the day Galileo discovered the first three moons of Jupiter, I too am doing something just as commendable but slightly less achievable today…
The last one standing at Groundswell after an extra night in VIP (
@Cereals_Ana
take note for next year). Lots of new faces and ideas, truly an environment that cultivates curiosity and feeds the mind, plus the sparkling cider ain’t bad either….
Biochar was the buzz word at the
@AllertonProject
today, possible enhanced water retention and carbon capture in soils. Queries around C stability/ practicalities and the effect on yields/ environment, but plenty of trials to support it. Thoughts on
#biochar
?🪨
Back home after a busy day in the office! Firstly a BIG Ripon MF meeting & then chairing the
@FutureFarmerYAS
debate. 220 people today..all still figuring it out but keen to learn, forever inspired by the resourcefulness & resilience of this industry. Too late for one of these?!
Afternoon well spent with
@SpudSlingsby
putting the world to right…Well, Andrew was, I was too busy thinking about the apprentices face when the boss says “go lift those few bales from field next door will you”
Cue biblical rain to show the
@TheAHDB
board what challenges we’re up against. Thanks
@angusgowthorpe
for hosting some honest & engaged conversations around the future of British farming. All went home with smiles on their faces & boots full of water, so I’d call that a success?
Come find myself and the rest of the
@AHDB_Cereals
team at stand 408A, where I will be answering your carbon questions and guess what it’s not raining 😎 are there any stands giving away freebie sunglasses?!?!
Packed to the rafters here at the
@FutureFarmerYAS
Breakfast Meeting at
#GYS
, topic of the day ‘building a resilient farm businesses’,
@HalheadPhilip
pointing out “who recharges you” when managing a business and “leadership training will be the hand break on agriculture” 💡
Happy Sunday everyone 🐣 This week has consisted of 5am-9am lambing, 9am-5pm work and 5pm-9:00 ish pm lambing! Appalling weather made all the more bearable by this little chicken 💙
When
@Ditch_83
said we were going to look at BOATS at the
@AHDB_Cereals
Northampton Monitor Farm I dreamt of a 46m Benetti cruising down the med. Needless to say I was equally impressed with this spring oat/bean mix- low input, ⬆️ ground cover, beneficial rich and residual N 😍
Ripon Monitor Farm cover crop trial 🧵Anyone at the open day will remember the state of this field. Two-years in fallow, with some fairly biologically inert & poorly structured soil. To reintroduce some life and improve the productivity of the field we came up with a plan…
Four years and four lives lost from the Harper Adams family, some awful numbers to be looking at and a massive loss to many people. Please get behind this and support these amazing causes
It has gone full circle ⭕️
Delighted to have been asked to speak on a podcast for the
@TheSSFF
-
@HarperAdamsUni
at Groundswell 2024.
Looking forward to sharing my thoughts on all things soils… just a small topic to say the least! 🪱
I thought about👇as I was driving through Yarm past fields that were once farmed, but are now monocultures of brick houses & impermeable surfaces. Local tenant farmers are being denied funding to plant trees & gap hedges due to planning potential.
No wonder nature is crashing.
The last stop for the York benchmarking group on the tour of
@Revesby_Estate
, previously tacky and unworkable, now friable and healthy after 8 years of direct drilling and a focus on feeding the soil. As always, plenty to learn from
@RevesbyFarms
, thank you for having us!
Excuse the radio silence, I’ve had a very busy month. In order, I’ve ran a sub2 half marathon(just), became a mum to triplets, submitted my entry for
#GBBO
, & christened my future partner in crime. Fear not, update 🔜 on the cover crop trial & Joel Williams coming to the NE 🪱
Picture for attention 😜 Join us at Ripon Monitor Farm on Thursday for an organic farming masterclass w/ John Pawsey.
@DrHannahFraser
will also explore does good health start from the ground up, how do farming methods impact the nutrient density of food? Exciting ‼️ Sign up 👇
Great time at Cereals but glad to be out of the dust into this haven. Tonight I looked at organic agroforestry & heard from doctor x farmer Hannah on her
@NuffieldFarming
study into our health & how our food is grown,can we be incentivised to produce/consume nutrient dense foods?
Super excited to be part of this! I’m passionate about the role that cover crops have to play in sustainable food systems, plus they’re mentioned in the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan 5 times, that must mean something… right?! 🫣🥴
Our steering group recently met to set an ambitious agenda for the progression of this independent, farmer-led guide. We hope to forge a nationwide community, rooted in collaboration & knowledge sharing for farmers at every stage of their cover cropping journey
#covercropsguide
Scoping out future wedding venues 🤝 hosting
@IntegratedSoils
for the Ripon Monitor Farm meeting. Already an interesting analogy of the 3 legged stool of soil health(biology, physics, chemistry),if any of the legs are neglected it will become unstable & soil potential will suffer
Same but different. Visiting farms today and there is certainly something special about a view over the wolds with nothing to see but bales and multiple plumes of dust in every direction.
#britishfarming
got to love it.
@AHDB_Cereals
The truth is, below ground the phacelia is allowing fungi to thrive & above ground its providing 6-8 weeks of flowers for pollinators. It may have been terminated but its benefit to nature doesn’t end there. Housing developments cause irreversible & catastrophic damage to nature.
Feeling all emotional about the final Ripon Monitor Farm meeting, it’s been a pleasure to share this experience with
@jonathan_fryatt
. Thanks to all that have supported along the way, your input has been invaluable. Now everyone say “Nutrient Use Efficiency” for the picture! 💙
Summer meeting rush is over, safe to say pulled pork is now a swear word in my house. Growers in the NE if you want to chat about winter meetings, farming or life in general, feel free to contact me, equally I am happy to come sit on the combine for an hour or so(🍦 included)!
Never did I think working for the AHDB would lead to me getting a mention by a vicar in a Sunday service held in central London. It makes you smile being able to help out with these small requests, even if he didn’t appreciate the response of yield to different seed rates graph😜
Kicking off the
@AHDB_Cereals
summer event season with a corker.
Looking forward to seeing you all next week at the Strategic Farm North open day 🪱
I didn’t spend 10 minutes balancing my phone on a rock to film this for nothing!
Be there or be ⏹️
Join us for an insightful day at the Strategic Cereal Farm North Open Day! 🌾
Discover the latest in:
👉Nitrogen use efficiency & disease management 🪱Earthworms, living mulches & soil organic matter💧Field drainage
📍Skelton
📆 4 June
Register now ➡
As you can tell we’re both excited that integrating sheep into arable rotations was discussed at
#NFU22
, Sally is looking forward to more recognition in the future
#regenag
🌾🐑
Late night crop queries Ep 1: Two drills in the field below. Avatar plants seems taller. Same variety, same amount of N but drilled 3 days apart. I know what I think but what other opinions are there on the colour difference? 🚨Free AHDB pen at Cereals for participants 🚨
Brilliant start to the season at Chathill last week, questioning what we can learn from the organic sector- ⬇️ inputs but ⬆️ passes 🤷🏼♀️. This week at Ripon, how can we use financial planning & grain marketing to manage volatility & mitigate risk?💰📈📉 As usual, link below 👇🏻
Applications are now open to become the next
@AHDB_Cereals
monitor farm hosts. We’re recruiting in all regions and if you’re in the NE you get to work with me, a bonus surely?! 😁
Not sure what else I’d want to be doing today, thank you the Chathill MF group who spent their V Day chatting with me about natural capital opportunities for farmers. Next week at Ripon, we will be discussing
@jonathan_fryatt
carbon audit results and much more!!Link ⬇️
#glamorous
If like me, you are a crops nerd & currently in bed reading the summer edition of the RL thinking your life couldn’t get any sadder if you tried well think again …you can now fill out the questionnaire below to improve the RL services. Side note: Netflix suggestions welcome.
Levy payers have rated the
#RL
as 4.2 out of 5 (5 = high importance). Please complete a questionnaire (by 9 September) to help us improve RL services, including variety selection tools, further: (
@_seedinnovation
,
@MagbInfo
,
@uk_flour
)
🚨 Transformation Tuesday 🚨
Initial results from the Ripon CC trial are in. The first picture was taken in June pre-cover and the following this autumn post-cover. But was there one mixture to rule them all? Find out tomorrow with
@IntegratedSoils
and
@jonathan_fryatt
.
A real cross sector effort at
@EastDurhamCol
, showing students the AHDB tools & resources that can be used during their careers. Taking time to speak of the different routes into industry, the diversity of roles & the impact this gen could make on the future of the rural sector!
A practical & relevant Ripon Monitor Farm meeting last week. A local farmer panel sharing how they’re de-risking & stacking with agri-env schemes. Then a model scenario using farm data & business objectives to create an informed SFI plan. Thanks to all involved, KE in action ❤️
I had to rewind to see if I had heard this correctly. Tesco indicating a swap from meat to plant based alternatives may miraculously solve the climate crisis. We’ve all heard it before “British farming standards are top class blah blah” as if we have to keep justifying ourselves.
Sound on 🔊 music to my ears, knowledge exchange in action at the Beverley launch. A huge turnout & great interaction from the group.
Next week, foliar nutrition & diverse covers at Ripon. Followed by the intricacies of no-till & GS4 options w/ Philip Wright at Chathill Link ⬇️
I think yesterday’s
@IAgrM
conference came at impeccable timing. Following an intense couple of weeks (months/ years/ lifetimes) to be a farmer, it was reassuring to hear the optimism amongst the speakers regarding the future of British agriculture.
#dontgiveup
@bentd76
@Kingscrops
@jonathan_fryatt
Soil and leaf samples already done. This will be terminated & drilled with winter wheat, where we will monitor the impact on the following crop & the soil. But for now, listen to those bees!!!🐝 (any advice on what you think would be interesting to measure is welcome!)
This week I attended a farmer led focus group which was held on behalf of HSE. This morning I read that another life has been tragically lost on farm. One suggestion made during the meeting was to make these articles free to read.
#farmsafety
We need to normalise speaking about mental health and asking for help, there is always someone who is willing to listen. Having attended this training, whether you’re suffering yourself or know someone who is, this day was beyond valuable in giving you the tools to help💛
Note to self: never do your dissertation trial in a greenhouse in your back garden ever again. It will cause you unnessary stress and is certain to resort you to tears at least 3x a day.
Now, I couldn’t help but think I had seen the
@XeedAg
Agbot elsewhere when I visited the demo site yesterday. Futuristic, yes but unrealistic, no. Still questions on who checks for sheer bolts going but an intelligent piece of kit nonetheless..
Really excited to have been asked to help with the management of this progressive group of Yorkshire farmers. There’s lots coming up this year including
@Groundswellaguk
bursaries, mentoring, and big plans for the
@greatyorkshow
breakfast meeting 👀
#getinvolved
with the link ⬇️
Join
@hanslope
,
@SouthFrodfarmer
et al tomorrow at 11:30 as we dive into the world of alternative break crops. What functional, reliable and profitable breaks are farmers growing, and is the industry ready for them?! 🌱
Every arable farmer in the UK right now 😂 Our Strategic Farm North Host
@blacker_david
talking us through the NUE & disease trial which we’ll be visiting as one of the three stations at the open day on the 4th June (sign up 👇🏻) Watch until the end for a cheeky surprise 🤭
The second open day for Strategic Farm North and
@blacker_david
will be held this Wednesday 12-4pm. Big conversations to be had around the on-farm trials looking at drainage, rooting, data, and NUE 🌱💧💻
Sign up below 👇
Looking for a farmer to speak on Integrated Weed Management, could even be a farmer & agronomist duo. Needs to be taking a considered approach to cultural & chemical control. Preferably NE based but not a deal breaker. Does anyone spring to mind?
I’m excited to be a small part of an interesting project on how different establishment methods, locations and mixtures of wildflowers impact the abundance and diversity of beneficials🪳🐞🪲 All important for gaining confidence in IPM practices.
Stick traps all gathered, now the last set of pitfall trap pots to empty for the first stage of the
@IFarmers
beneficials field lab. Repeat in 4 weeks.
@AHDB_Cereals
@Izzyeames1
Cancel all your plans for next Thursday, we’ve got you sorted…
1️⃣ Ripon Monitor Farm with
@LinesMartin
&
@RevesbyFarms
2️⃣
@FutureFarmerYAS
Autumn debate (book on to laugh with me or at me😬)
3️⃣
@bentd76
will be at Darlo mart doing what he does best!
At least this might turn the beacons off in the field! Jokes aside, 8t and 160hp, a current working width of 3m but operating 24hr a day, no requirements for driver comfort and better headland management.. My thoughts: slightly skeptical but v intrigued 🤷🏼♀️ opinions?
#fadorfuture
?
🏡A bit of a long shot but twitter can be a useful place for these sort of things. I am looking to rent a property with 2 bedrooms minimum in or around Market Weighton, East Yorks. Please DM if you know of anything & RT, Thank you! Surely a post on Yorkshire Day is a good omen?🤞🏻
Ripon Monitor Farm meeting tomorrow, covering no-till costings, cover crops mixes for diverse rotations, ⬇️ N trial and much more. 10am start with bacon and 1pm finish with burger.. uniform: loose trousers with adjustable belts.
@AHDB_Cereals
Link to book ⬇️
A late finish for the North East winter Monitor Farm events, but going out with a 💥. Thanks to
@SouthFrodfarmer
for hosting, hats off for sharing your successes & challenges when changing system, it’s your honesty that allows us all to learn.
Winter OSR this time last year (52 ha failed) vs this year 😱 no one year is the same in farming and it’s amazing what a little moisture and
@dekalb_osr
extremus can do. So far dodging the flea beetle... touch wood 🤞🏻
@dekalb_osr
#osr
#ukagriculture
Who springs to mind when you think of someone who has an understanding/ is growing an array of profitable combinable break crops? Looking for a speaker on the agronomy, marketing, rotational benefits etc of some of the more niche crops grown in this country. HELP!!!
@JoeWStanley
Very concerning, EU N fertiliser emissions are 3x lower than those produced in China but at what cost to UK growers… real worry about sustainable sourcing of fertiliser in the future.
Overhead costs are a key driver of profitability, with top 25% farmers working towards reducing overheads but still feeling the squeeze in 2023. How can we take control of these costs? Find out at the Beverley Monitor Farm labour & machinery review
#GMO23
A bit of cross sector fun today with
@AHDB_Dairy
hosted at
@PhilipMetcalfe1
‘s and ran by
@AHDBMcfadzean
.
Dr Amy Jackson- “We must find a middle ground with the public, and take responsibility of protecting our reputation” rings true across all sectors 🐄 🐥🐑🌾🐖
Fantastic opportunity for two people to attend this unique two day festival for FREE.
@Groundswellaguk
encourages conversations surrounding regenerative farming, facilitated by fantastic speakers sessions and chats in the beer tent 🎪🌻🌾🐝
Groundswell Bursary Deadline Approaching!
WIN fully funded places to
@Groundswellaguk
28 & 29 June. Deadline is 31 March-send a simple email explaining why you should go, to futurefarmers
@yas
.co.uk
Be like 2022 winners
@farmertomwilko
&
@1stGenDairyFarm
😀
One of those if I didn’t love my job I would jump at this opportunities! This would suit an ambitious person who wants make a real contribution to the running of a farm 🐂🐝🐛🐥
First day of
@UnderstandingAg
@RegenerateOutco
Soil Health Academy. A mix of insightful indoor sessions & practical outdoor sessions 👀 at regenerative soil indicators, biology bridges& grazing management.
“You only lose the best you’ve got”
It’s all starting to make sense💡
My newsfeed is quiet atm, seems as though everyone is either in Oxford or in bed with flu from hell, both resulting in some sort of sore head I’m sure. Take a break and signup to this months NE events, a line up to rival OFC/OFRC…Links below ⬇️
@Ashby6Mike
good times in the 828!
🎟️FREE TICKETS 2 GLASTONBURY🎟️
(Disclaimer: This is to look around the modern mixed farming system the festival rents ground from, AHDB will not be liable for false accusations😜)
📅13th June
📍 Pilton, Somerset
⏰ 3:30-6:30pm
🍔 BBQ to finish
👉🏻
Driffield Agric Society ‘Countryside Careers Event’
🥛 Linking farming & nature to human health
🌾Raw materials & their end uses
🧑🎓 Routes into the agricultural sector for children from all backgrounds
Tell me are things like this happening elsewhere across the country?!🙏🏻
A special thanks to Andrew and Gary, also to everyone who attended today’s meeting. All were well fed and sent home with plenty to think about and possible phone calls to make 📉🤷🏼♀️
1️⃣ Strong stable businesses pay tax
2️⃣ We should be taking appropriate measures to lock in margin