Resource: Farmer experience

A practical guide for farmers and growers wanting to get ahead of weeds when establishing pasture, arable and horticultural crops.

Soil Association Scotland webinar discussing how tree hay can be a valuable way to supplement winter forage and support livestock nutrition and welfare.

The final report of an Innovative Farmers field lab in South West England (supported by FWAG) on diverse forage crops, which was formed due to concerns over damage that using winter brassica monocultures for grazing outwintering livestock can have on soil health, water and the wider environment.

Four short films focusing on promoting sustainable agricultural practices being used on the Waddesdon Estate and beyond.

Footage of agroforestry pioneer Stephen Briggs imparting some of his learnings from a now well-established commercial agroforestry system.

Recording of an ORFC 2024 session where members of the Pasture for Life-led, five-year, Innovative Farmers field lab on bale grazing share their insights into their out-wintering strategies.

Session from 2024 Oxford Real Farming Conference featuring grower Iain Tolhurst (Tolly) and “biological nutrition” farmer Tim Parton discussing soil health at scale.

Tree Amble is a podcast which started in June 2023 celebrating the author (Pete Leeson)’s 30 years in conservation, featuring 30 interviews, each about an hour in length.

Footage of Stuart Johnson, 2023 ‘Soil Farmer of the Year’ and dairy farmer Bruce Thompson speaking at Carbon Calling 2023 about farming regeneratively, reducing inputs, keeping the farm business profitable, and all things dung beetle related!

A practical guide to designing, installing and using irrigation systems for market gardeners.

Video of Groundswell 2023 session organised by Agricology with experienced regenerative agriculture practitioners speaking on the challenges of making Regen Ag pay.

Real Wealh Ranching’s ‘condensed steps to gradually wean your land from the high cost of synthetic fertilisers without losing your shirt in the process’.

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.

Footage of a workshop session held at Organic Matters 2022 exploring vegetable landraces, diverse varieties, and the celebration and culture of seed.

Recording of a workshop held at the Organic Growers Alliance (OGA)’s Organic Matters 2022 horticultural conference, focusing on perennial vegetables as crops that can potentially provide some solutions to the many environmental challenges growers are facing

This publication from the Landworkers’ Alliance highlights what pioneers of agroecology in the UK are doing to create a productive and sustainable agriculture.

Organic vegetable farmer Andy Dibben puts forward the case for allowing complex insect ecosystems to develop or be proactively encouraged on farms, describing ways in which this can be done, drawing on his own extensive knowledge and emphasising the many benefits that can be had.

FiBL handbook aiming to create a common toolbox of knowledge-based strategies for organic pig producers and presents best practice examples from across Europe for inspiration.

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 health and reducing tillage using compost, manures and woodchip.

Document created as part of an agroforestry case study of Three Hagges Woodmeadow – exploring the practicalities and benefits of combining woodland and meadows.

A series of Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) case studies which focus on various ways in which farmers are increasing biodiversity on their farm.

Can planting trees on your hen range boost biodiversity as well as benefit your business?

Details of planting designs for 3 contrasting farms in Devon who are taking part in a long-term field lab trial to help justify financial commitment to turn pasture over to silvopasture.

This film, created by the Soil Association through the FABulous Farmers project, explores some of the many benefits that can be experienced from different agroforestry systems.