Conference sets out practical steps for farmers to boost soil health and water quality
Steps to help farmers boost soil health and water quality were set out at an annual conference in Shropshire.
The Soil and Water conference at Harper Adams University examined a diverse range of topics, including climate change, drainage, and soil health and resilience.
Running both in-person and online, it welcomed researchers from institutions, organisations and universities across the UK as well as farmers and industry representatives,.
Conference Chair and Visiting Professor in Agricultural Engineering Dick Godwin, said: “The Soil and Water Management Centre planned this conference to inform participants on measures for enhancing soil health and water quality for generations to come.
“This is a particularly critical topic when climate change and economic pressures are impacting upon our soils and where the management of the thin surface layer of soil is critical for maintaining food production in an environmentally sustainable manner by minimising run off, flooding and erosion.
“The presenters were selected to provide a balanced blend of researchers, farmers, advisors, contractors and manufacturers, all with the aim of maintaining and improving soil conditions.
“They discussed the impacts of climate change, the benefit of effective land drainage, the mitigation of soil compaction for soil resilience, the Sustainable Farming Incentive and the effect of the commoditised food market.”
Professor Godwin added: “Very positive feedback has been received from participants who attended both in the conference room and on-line."
During the day Crop Science researcher and Lecturer Dr Edward Dickin and Senior lecturer in Soil and Water Management Dr Paula Misiewicz held a session where they launched The Farmers Guide, a series of practical take-home points and opportunities for farmers based on the long-term Traffic and Tillage project, which has been running at Harper Adams for more than a decade.
The Guide, found at https://cdn.harper-adams.ac.uk/document/event/241203-A-Guide-to-Reducing-Soil-Compaction-455641.pdf, takes more than ten years of research and distils it into documents which farmers can use to help boost their own soil health.
