by Jonathan Holmes | Nov 3, 2023 | Soil
UK agriculture has continuously been striving for higher yields and increased profitability for many decades. But time has shown that a profitable solution does not come in a bottle or a bag. Contrary to received wisdom, growing profitable crops is not solely related...
by Jonathan Holmes | Sep 19, 2023 | Grassland Management, Soil
The £382 per hectare stewardship payment for herbal leys has beckoned many farmers with the promise of financial gain. However, this financial incentive can sometimes obscure important considerations. In this article, we explore the complexities of herbal leys in...
by Jonathan Holmes | Aug 20, 2023 | Grassland Management, Soil
‘Should Robert Rodale’s core principles for regenerative agriculture be the founding principles for the current soil health evolution?’ Jonathan Holmes visited the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania in the US in July 2023 to learn more. For the farmers and...
by Jonathan Holmes | Jan 19, 2023 | Soil
Loss of Ignition compared to the Dumas test when testing for soil organic matter levels, and the implications for soil function and crucially the Carbon to Nitrogen ratios – C:N ratio. Soil organic matter is predominately negatively charged, so as with silt and...
by Jonathan Holmes | Jan 20, 2022 | Soil
Everybody’s talking about ‘carbon capture’ and increasing soil carbon; we say ‘bring on the worms’! A good worm population (10 to 25 worms per square metre) can significantly help redress soil balance in favour of crop production. Worms...
by Jonathan Holmes | Jan 10, 2022 | Grassland Management, Soil
Everyone tells you to grow Ryegrass, yet Cocksfoot is more cost-effective, and weather tolerant, to grow than Ryegrass. Grass is the cheapest source of energy but managing the grassland to optimise nutritional content of the grazing land, or more crucially forage,...
