Sustainable Food Trust

JANUARY 14, 2025

As news of weed killer resistant plants hits the headlines, Patrick Holden reflects on discussions at the latest Oxford Real Farming Conference, highlighting why the plough may not be the worst option when it comes to nature-friendly cultivation. The theme was how ploughing and cultivation can be good for soil health.

Ploughing 59

Ploughing Cultivation Pesticide Farming 59

Farming Secrets

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

This is critical distinction as to the effect of leaving land exposed of deforestation of overgrazing and the use of the plough and industrialised chemical farming has alter vast amounts of the earths land surface, as the amount of heat reradiated from the surface is = to the surface temperature to the power of 4!

Greenhouse 98

Greenhouse Pasture Crop Arable Land 98

Sustainable Food Trust

JUNE 14, 2023

But will the current trend away from ploughing towards direct drilling and the accompanying use of glyphosate bring the benefits advocates claim, or could this make matters even worse? Richard Young follows on from his article, Speed the plough or the direct drill and sprayer?

Ploughing 52

Ploughing Crop Yield Farming 52

Sustainable Food Trust

JUNE 14, 2023

Instead, deep ploughing to create intensive cropland tore up the native grass cover, leaving soils exposed and friable. In many areas, particularly in those with a long history of continuous cultivation , the outlook is poor to very poor. Fast forward to the present day, some 90 years later, and how are our agricultural soils faring?

Farming 52

Farming Farming Food Production 52