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Last updated: 01 Oct 2019

Feed Planning for Cattle and Sheep - "The logical way"

Someone I met recently said real farming is all about doing things - ploughing, cutting silage, spreading fertiliser, milking. This seemed right at the time but I soon realised they were quite wrong Read More...

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Last updated: 23 May 2019

BLOG: How often should I test my soil?

Defra's Farm Practices Survey shows 69% of farmers have a soil testing programme and of these holdings almost, all were testing at least some of their fields every five years. Sampling remains key to understanding changes in the health of our soils. Read More...

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Last updated: 08 Feb 2019

BLOG: Elaine Jewkes on reducing ammonia emissions from agriculture

Following Defra's publication of the Clean Air Strategy, Elaine Jewkes, director of British Grassland Society discusses the implications for agriculture. In this blog, Elaine explains the impact of ammonia emissions and how farmers can do their bit. Read More...

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Last updated: 20 Jan 2017

New AHDB Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)

RB209, regarded with affection by some but with fear by others, has a history going back to the 1st edition in 1973. The latest edition (9th) will be launched in May 2017. Read More...

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Last updated: 16 Jan 2017

PAAG leaflet - reliable soil analysis

Soil analysis is incredibly good value. But it does depend on a representative sample so when a results looks odd, first have a good look at how the sample was taken. Read More...

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Last updated: 06 Dec 2016

Soil sampling

Soil sampling is not quite as easy as it sounds if it is to be done properly and to give the correct result. A bit of time in preparation and care in doing it are well worthwhile. Read More...

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Last updated: 05 Dec 2016

No spread zones

When rules are followed, farming and clean water can get along fine. When they aren't, it can be a mess. Read More...

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Last updated: 29 Apr 2016

Managing high soil P indices

The simplest way to run down a high index is to stop applying any phosphate. This will do the trick eventually but it's not the whole story and it's not just a matter of reducing soil available phosphorus by any means possible. Read More...

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Last updated: 13 Apr 2016

Building up soil indices

How much phosphate or potash must be applied to raise an index? How quickly can an index be raised? What is best applied to raise an index? All these questions and more in our latest blog. Read More...

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Last updated: 31 Mar 2016

Acting on soil analysis results

If rough grazing, woodland etc are taken out, there are around 11 million hectares of agricultural land in the UK. So, if land is sampled every four years, this is equivalent to 11 hectares per soil sample, not a great dereliction of duties. Read More...

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Last updated: 16 Feb 2016

Spreading season starts as closed period ends

There are NVZ restrictions on manures in February - no more than 30m3 of slurry or 8 t of poultry manure per hectare at one time with at least three weeks between applications Read More...

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Last updated: 08 Feb 2016

On Farm Planning

Do large farms spend more effort on planning just because they have the resources or does investment in information and planning lead to farm growth? Read More...

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Last updated: 20 Nov 2015

National Spreader Testing Scheme

The spotlight is on fertiliser spreaders with the launch of the National Spreader Testing Scheme Read More...

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Last updated: 25 Sep 2015

Reducing Phosphate loss after maize harvest

Maize has had a bad press through being blamed for soil erosion after harvest and silting of waterways. So it has to be asked if maize can be grown without unacceptable levels of soil erosion. The answer seems to be yes.... Read More...

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Last updated: 27 Jul 2015

Reducing the risk of nitrate loss after harvest

With all the emphasis on NVZs, it's sometimes forgotten that leaching of nitrate is a natural process that will happen whatever we do and on most types of land. We can't stop nitrate leaching but we can influence the amount leached. Read More...

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Last updated: 20 Jul 2015

Accuracy over Precision Farming

In darts, precision could be hitting exactly the same point every time - even if its the edge of the board. Accuracy would be getting close to the bull every time - even if the darts were a bit more widely spaced. Read More...

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Last updated: 15 Jul 2014

Ian's Blog - Striped Crops

What can be the cause of striped crops? The fertiliser? The Spreader? Throw short or too far? Calibration or tray test required. What is the cost v benefit in finding out? Read More...

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Last updated: 08 Jul 2014

Blog - The CLA view of Tried & Tested

One of our partners, CLA, offers their view of Tried & Tested nutrient management planning benefits. Read More...

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Last updated: 30 Dec 2013

Ian's Blog on PAAG report 2013

Ian takes a view of a soil trend report based on soil analysis laboratory findings of 250,000 UK soil samples. This is broken down into arable and grassland and effect on yields Read More...

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Last updated: 29 Nov 2013

Dr George Fisher - Micro and Essential!

Dr George Fisher, our guest blogger, discusses how the imbalance of micro nutrients results in less efficient use of feed and reduced outputs of milk and meat..... Read More...

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