Resources
Browse our library of the best technical guides, research papers and videos on sustainable agriculture below. You can also filter by topic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47
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Living Mulches Final Report
resource The final report for Innovative Farmers field lab trials which aimed to determine the impacts of living mulches on cash crop yields and weed composition.Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
It’s not just about the bees
resource Organic vegetable farmer Andy Dibben puts forward the case of allowing complex insect ecosystems to develop or be proactively encouraged on farms, describing ways in...Compaction & cultivation, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Organic Amendments
resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) Video footage of a session that formed part of the Organic Growers Alliance's Organic Matters conference held in October 2021. It focuses on improving soil...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Climate -
Healthy Farm Systems - John Pawsey
resource John Pawsey gives some insights into the principles of how he achieves health on his mixed organic farm in East Anglia, following his participation in...Soil biology, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Animal health & welfare, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Markets & food systems, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Nutrition & public health, Communities & education -
Trees on hen ranges are a haven for wildlife
resource Woodland Trust & Cumbria Farm Environment Partnership Can planting trees on your hen range boost biodiversity as well as benefit your business?Agroforestry, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Pests & diseases, Animal health & welfare, Poultry, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate -
Agroforestry in the UK
resource Soil Association This film, created by the Soil Association through their involvement in the FABulous Farmers project, explores some of the many benefits that can be experienced...Agroforestry, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Animal health & welfare, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Communities & education -
CFE Virtual Workshop - Water, Soils, Wildlife & Profit
resource Recording of an online workshop organised by CFE on water, soils, wildlife, and on-farm profit and featuring Phil Jarvis, Farm Manager at the GWCT Allerton...Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Beef cattle & sheep, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Farmeco Today Episode 3 - Agroforestry
resource PodBean David Rose, farmer and co-founder of Home Farm Ecocentre in Nottinghamshire talks about his silvoarable agroforestry system and research being carried out in one of...Agroforestry, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture, Business management, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Nutrition & public health, Communities & education -
Incredible vegetables - perennial vegetables and future food crops
resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) This article, aimed at smaller scale farmers and market gardeners, describes some perenial leafy greens, roots and alliums, including guidelines for growing and different ways...Drainage, Organic matter, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, Biodiversity, Climate, Nutrition & public health -
The four principles of weed control in organic growing
resource Oxford Real Farming Conference Footage recorded at the ORFC 2020 session on 'The future of agroecological weed management.' Mike Mallett of Maple Farm Kelsale shares insights into approaches to...Organic farming, Compaction & cultivation, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, People & skills, Climate -
Mulch systems and rotational no-till in vegetable farming
resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) Organic Grower article explaining a system German grower Johannes Storch created using cover crops, grass and silage as mulch and the MulchTec planter he and...Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Buildings & machinery, People & skills -
Film: Three farmers come together to research no till and cover crops
resource Innovative Farmers One of a series of Innovative Farmers films shining a light on a field lab - this one focuses on no till and cover crop...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services -
Agroecology in Action
resource Landworkers' Alliance This publication from the Landworkers' Alliance highlights what pioneers of agroecology in the UK are doing to create a productive and sustainable agriculture. The case...Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Agroforestry, Permaculture, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Animal health & welfare, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Markets & food systems, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Communities & education -
AFINET - Agroforestry in the UK
resource A video produced for the AFINET project exploring some of the practical considerations for agroforestry systems and potential benefits.Agroforestry, Type, texture & structure, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture, Business management, Buildings & machinery, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services -
Know your Soils #9: The plate meter
resource Soilmentor app Alex Heffron uses a plate meter to monitor the volume of forage available in fields across his farm allowing him to improve grass growth and...Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Permaculture, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Know your soils #8: 3 key soil tests to understand your soil health
resource Soilmentor app Spring and autumn are the best times to do soil tests. Try the three most important and easy soil tests you can do yourself on...Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Permaculture, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Livestock on diverse leys: a return to the past for a promising future
resource Organic Research Centre ORC Bulletin article reporting on farmers that have been combining diverse leys with livestock and some of the pros and cons of this practice revealed...Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services -
The animal welfare and environmental benefits of Pasture for Life farming - interim findings
resource Pasture-Fed Livestock Association Pasture for Life (PfL) standards can result in improved animal welfare, ecosystem resilience, healthier soils, and increased biodiversity.Drainage, Animal health & welfare, Dairy cattle, Beef cattle & sheep, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Biodiversity -
Policy, practice and organic matter
resource Farmerama Farmerama podcast that includes ADAS soil scientist Lizzie Sagoo talking about soil health and soil organic matter at the Agricology Field Day in January.Biodynamic farming, Organic matter -
Why are soil minerals so important and how can we use biofertilisers to remineralise our land?
resource Organic Growers Alliance Insights into biofertiliser production emerging as an important tool in the remineralisation of soils.Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Good Green Manures
resource Soil Association A field lab report comparing four green manure mixes; investigating their effect on soil structure and quality, benefits to the following crop, and their value.People & skills, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter -
Shelterbelts can protect soil against erosion
resource Woodland Trust A Woodland Trust case study highlighting how trees and shrubs can be vital for arable farms, helping to protect topsoil against erosion from wind and...Agroforestry, Drainage, Organic matter -
Digging the Dirt on Curlew Call Farm
resource Soil Association Invest in your soil & reap the returns; an arable farmer’s endeavours in improving soil health through using green manures & grass leys.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Digging the Dirt on Honeydale Farm
resource Soil Association Insights into Ian Wilkinson's quest to create a system of mixed farming with diverse cropping and livestock, reducing external inputs and adding value to commodity...Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Weeds -
No-dig techniques & soil management to suppress weeds & unexpected results aerating the soil
resource Farmerama No-dig market garden expert Charles Dowding tells of his findings over the years, experimenting with digging and not digging his soils.Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Biodiversity -
No-till and mob-grazing
resource Farmerama John Cherry talks about his experiences of converting to no-till and mob grazing - with regard to managing black-grass and renewed fertility in the soil.Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Weeds, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
The basic low-cost infrastructure for mob-grazing cattle on 900 acres in Scotland
resource Farmerama Podcast looking at simple low-cost tools to support moving cattle in a mob-grazing system.Rotations, Beef cattle & sheep -
Digging the Dirt on Lower Smite Farm
resource Soil Association Improving soil health and enhancing wildlife on a mixed organic farm through using sustainable natural inputs and innovative cropping.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Pollinators & ecological services -
Soil Saviours
resource The Oxford Farming Conference A short must-watch video highlighting the importance of protecting and enhancing our topsoil and featuring a couple of inspirational farmers.Natural resources & waste, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Biodiversity, Climate -
The Spade Test
resource Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) as part of the Fertilcrop project A useful video with a detailed description of how to take a soil sample and interpret it using the spade test.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Soil biology