Reducing inputs and increasing payment potential on-farm – Farmers Guardian

How can the options on offer be most easily integrated into your farm system to help bridge the gap in loss of the Basic Payment Scheme? Are your soils cycling nutrients effectively to allow you to reduce fertiliser applications? What is the most effective way to work your clay soils in an agroecological farming system?

According to agronomy firm Hutchinsons, these are some of the most challenging topics in UK arable farming, and growers across the country are looking for solutions that fit their farm businesses.

The company plans to provide discussions from industry-leading experts on any or all the above questions, as well as offer an insight into what services and technologies are available to address these.

Hutchinsons believes it is important for farmers to remember that success in any agri-environment scheme comes from fitting the scheme around the farm rather than the farm around the scheme, and being realistic with desired outcomes.

Soil health is widely recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable farming systems. However, it is key that growers understand their soil before making any significant structural or operational changes or reducing input, says Hutchinsons.

Two years into trialling and testing agroecological farming practices at the Helix Agroecology farm, there are many learnings about how these practices may be adopted on-farm in a practical but also profitable and sustainable way, and Hutchinsons plans to explore this information and provide guidance.

The Omnia Digital Farming platform aims to help farmers use farm data more profitably and has continued to evolve. The company offers a range of services using farm data, such as cost of production and yield performance mapping, TerraMap, carbon mapping, E-Seed and, most recently, the business performance planning module.