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 30
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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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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-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 -
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 -
Companion cropping
resource Farmerama Jake Freestone talks about his experiences of growing oilseed rape with buckwheat and vetch and highlights benefits he has observed.Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Markets & food systems, People & skills -
Nutrient Wise Demos
resource Duchy College Farmer focused guidance on managing nutrients on your farm, with information on trials run through the Nutrient Wise project.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Above and below the ground: building resilient, productive and profitable soils
resource Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust This Nuffield Report is the result of arable farmer David Walston's explorations of why some soils are more productive than others and the best ways...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
Forage Legumes: Difficult for Farmers to resist?
resource Cotswold Seeds Video highlighting the benefits of growing and combining legume species and potential effects on your farm soil, livestock, and finances.Type, texture & structure, Grasslands & forage crops -
Working with Soil
resource An article published in Star & Furrow exploring the biodynamic approach to working with soil... “With what and how do we feed this soil life?”Biodynamic farming, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
Using green waste compost as a soil management tool
resource Duchy College A grower’s experience and insights on using green waste compost within a rotational farming system to improve soil structure.Organic matter, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Managing soil biota to deliver ecosystem services: Summary document
resource Newcastle University Research identifying ways your farming practices can enhance the diversity, abundance and function of soil organisms.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Towards farmer principles of health
resource Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research Germany & Humboldt University Berlin & University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Austria Ten statements / principles farmers have developed that make them successful in developing healthy farming systems, as part of the HealthNetworks Project, and used as...Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, 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 -
Transition to agroecological approaches
resource Scottish Natural Heritage / GWCT / ORC / Land Use Policy Group A case study focusing on Douglas Christie, a farmer in Scotland, who has been experimenting with direct drilling and growing cover and companion crops in...Organic matter, Soil biology, Beef cattle & sheep, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Business management, People & skills, Biodiversity -
Cover crops in a no-tillage system
resource AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds One of the AHDB 'Farmer Experience' profiles providing insights into how and why Jake Freestone of Overbury Farms uses cover crops.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building