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 34
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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 -
Including diverse leys in arable rotations
resource Organic Reseach Centre Practice abstract created as part of the DiverIMPACTS project outlining some of the many advantages to more complex mixtures of leguminous leys and some of...Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Pasture-fed production - findings from the SEEGSLIP project
resource UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology The video is an output from the 'Sustainable economic and ecological grazing systems- learning from innovative practitioners' (SEEGSLIP) project and seeks to explain the project,...Soil biology, Animal health & welfare, Dairy cattle, Beef cattle & sheep, Grasslands & forage crops, People & skills, Biodiversity -
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Farm Level The Go-To Guide
resource Produced by Innovation for Agriculture in association with Eunomia Research and Consulting on behalf of the WWF/Tesco partnership Practical, easy-to-use guidance to help farmers reduce their greenhouse gas footprint. Offering actions for all UK agricultural sectors, it aims to be both environmentally and...Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Animal health & welfare, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Buildings & machinery, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Biodiversity, Climate -
No-till with living mulches - the holy grail for arable?
resource Northern Real Farming Conference / Soil Association This webinar (part of the 2021 Northern Real Farming Conference and hosted by the Soil Association) explores growing a low growing permanent cover crop such...Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Buildings & machinery, People & skills, Biodiversity -
How can agroforestry contribute towards biodiversity conservation?
resource Recording of a workshop hosted by the Organic Research Centre online that set out to explore how agroforestry could contribute towards the conservation and restoration...Agroforestry, Organic matter, Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
DIVERSify Guide for Farmers and Agronomists
resource Organic Research Centre & the DIVERSify project consortium The DIVERSify project Guide for Farmers and Agronomists - summarising key results from the intercropping research carried out in an easily digestible way, dividing information...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Biodiversity, Climate -
DIVERSify's Recommendations
resource Taskscape (Diversify Consortium Partner for Communication Knowledge Exchange and Participation) Last in a series of mini-documentary films; this presents recommendations from the DIVERSify project and asks what have we learnt in DIVERSify that will help...Compaction & cultivation, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Markets & food systems, Buildings & machinery, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, 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 -
Diversification of silage maize cultivation by using winter cover crops enabled by ultra-early maize varieties
resource Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Abstract created as part of the DiverIMPACTS project based on a long-term Dutch field trial, outlining practical recommendations, advantages, and challenges of combining winter cover...Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, 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 -
Designing strip intercropping systems
resource Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Abstract created as part of the DiverIMPACTS project, outlining outcomes from strip cropping experiments and practical recommendations for designing and managing effective strip systems.Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Buildings & machinery, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
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 -
Herbal Leys Virtual Field Day: Parts 1 & 2
resource This is part 1 and 2 of a collaborative 2-part series of virtual events exploring establishment, management, soil health, grazing and ensiling in relation to herbal leys.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, 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 -
Climate change and UK horticulture: What is to come and how to build resilience
resource Oxford Real Farming Conference Footage recorded at ORFC 2020 of a workshop organised by the OGA and Agricology. Rosemary Collier of Warwick Crop Centre talks about some of the...Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Soil biology, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate -
Working with an outdoor pig unit to reduce soil & water pollution
resource Norfolk Rivers Trust A case study describing important work undertaken as part of the Water Sensitive Farming Initiative to help capture and slow down polluted run-off.Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Pigs, Natural resources & waste, Biodiversity, Climate -
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 -
Integrating leys in arable rotations
resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques Integrating leys in arable rotations can provide multiple benefits including weed management, soil health and pollinator habitat provision.Integrated farming, Rotations, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Feeding livestock on pasture-based diets
resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques This resource looks at the practicalities of introducing pasture-fed livestock systems, the benefits and draw-backs of adoption with case studies and linksRotations, Animal health & welfare, Dairy cattle, Beef cattle & sheep, Pigs, Poultry, Grasslands & forage crops, Natural resources & waste, Biodiversity -
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 -
Integrated slug control
resource Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Know your enemy - an integrated approach to slug control is more effective than using chemical slug pellets aloneIntegrated farming, Compaction & cultivation, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture, Biodiversity, People & skills -
The Benefits of Sheep in Arable Rotations
resource The National Sheep Association How incorporating sheep within arable farming systems can rejuvenate soils, reduce problem weeds, improve biodiversity, & improve yields from following crops.Integrated farming, Type, texture & structure, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Animal health & welfare, Beef cattle & sheep, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Biodiversity -
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 -
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 -
Soils and biodiversity
resource Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Information on the importance of biodiversity of soil organisms, the services they provide and agricultural practices that promote them.Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Soil biology, Biodiversity -
Diverse legume leys: pollinator benefits
resource Organic Research Centre The important role of legumes as a food resource for pollinators and species that can help provide the forage reserves throughout the year.Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Sowing and Management of Multi-species Leys to Encourage Pollinators
resource Institute of Organic Training & Advice (IOTA) Guidance on selecting species and managing leys to benefit pollinators, linking to the LegLink project and Countryside Stewardship options.Organic matter, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Markets & food systems, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity