Agricology Blog

Soil analysis is an important, perhaps essential management tool in organic and agroecological farming. It supports the primary means of assessing soil, which include walking the field, digging pits, smelling and looking. Analysis provides recommendations on management, including manuring, soil structure and the need for any mineral fertilisers. However it is widely recognised that the […]

The challenges facing farmers today are huge, with uncertainty around changes to CAP payments and questions about how farming will be valued in generations to come. Climate change and extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and soil erosion, cheap imports and rising costs are all threatening the viability of UK farming in the future, leading to […]

We need to understand the drivers and constraints on growing crops in rotation, especially predicting the future impacts of climate change on crop rotations. What influences your decision-making around crop rotations and management and how might you reduce the impacts of climate change? Arable crops are probably the most versatile component of farming because they […]

In this short vlog, Richard Smith, Farms Manager at Daylesford Organic, discusses why he feels that good breeding can reduce the need for additional inputs when housing sheep. He also covers how he prepares the ewes for lambing and how he manages their diet accordingly.

Agricology kick-started 2019 with the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) on 3rd – 4th January, along with over 1000 organic and conventional farmers, food producers and researchers (plus 600 hopefuls on the waiting list). Established initially to provide an alternative to the Oxford Farming Conference, which attracts large scale farming industry and agri-businesses and takes […]

When I talk to farmers often it is a case of too much rain, or not enough. Recent experience suggests they might be right – as weather extremes begin to bite it is likely that farmers will be amongst the first to notice. So it is no surprise that there is an increased interest in […]

If you search for ‘diamondback’ in the social media then you will find posts about bicycles, guns, terrapins, snakes and several other weird and wonderful things. These will be interspersed with comments about the diamond-back moth, probably the most damaging and widespread pest of brassica crops. It’s quite a small brownish moth with a diamond […]

In December’s vlog, Richard Smith, Farms Manager for Daylesford Organic, discusses strategies that he employs when choosing a bull (Daylesford stock pedigree registered Aberdeen Angus and South Devon). Strategies include analysing an EBV (estimated breeding value) of a bull to assess lineage and breeding potential, and using good stockmanship to assess gait and movement. He stresses […]

Farmer clusters are a bit of a ‘buzzword’ amongst those involved with conservation of wildlife and protection of resources on farmland. The idea of neighbouring farmers working together might have caused us to sputter over our tea initially – but it has captured the imagination of many and the concept has been a flyaway success. […]

Agricology's editor Janie Caldbeck attended the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham. The theme ‘Your Farm, Your Future’ provided fodder for considering how to progress farm businesses in the coming years...

Soil is your most important resource as a farmer, but do you really understand it and know how to improve it? This month we challenge you to do 3 simple but key soil tests on your land. It takes just one day and is essential to understanding your soil health and how to manage it. […]

In this months Agricology mini vlog, Richard Smith, Farms Manager for Daylesford Organic, discusses ploughing up a red clover ley in preparation to sow a new crop of organic winter oats and vetch. He discusses why they plough, when to plough, and why it is best to drill later in an organic system.