Mr Ward is looking to see if he can cut establishment costs further, which is especially important given the higher diesel prices. A Simba Freeflow drill has been the one constant over the years. In recent years a shallow disc cultivator has replaced a Simba Solo in some situations. It’s now 20 years since Mr Ward last ploughed a field and over the years, cultivations have progressively become less intensive. “More than 80% of our soil is made up of something difficult to deal with, and you can get slotting at drilling – with open slots and 50% or less germination.”įor the heavy land block, the family farm had historically used tracked machines employing a plough-based system. What makes the heavy soil at Glebe Farm such a challenge is the fact it has a combined silt and clay content of about 80%, albeit in varying degrees. See also: Seaweed extract helps French grower cut costs and improve soilsĪndrew Ward farms 650ha about 16 miles south of Lincoln, comprising light heath land along with heavier clay loam. ![]() However, work continues to find a viable approach for the spring cereal, as experts say increasing organic levels, strategic soil loosening and cover cropping can help offset some of the issues. Successfully direct-drilling spring barley is a tough challenge on heavy soils and for one Lincolnshire grower, a min-till approach delivers the best returns.
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