New network for farmer-to-farmer approach to innovation

AHDB has launched its first Strategic Farm for the arable sector. EJ Barker and Sons, based at Lodge Farm near Stowmarket in Suffolk and farmed by cousins Brian and Patrick Barker, has provided a base to put levy-funded research findings into the field and for farmers in the East to share and shape innovative ideas.

It’s a core part of AHDB’s Farm Excellence Platform, rolled out earlier this year in its Research and Knowledge Exchange three-year strategy, explains KE director Dr Susannah Bolton. “We want to accelerate that process of innovation, and do that through active knowledge exchange.

“In this current climate where there’s so much change, we need to be looking at the horizon. Strategic Farms are about integrating new knowledge and innovations directly onto farms.”

The launch event at the beginning of Nov brought together over 100 science and research practitioners with local farmers to explore the short and longer-term challenges the farm will address. Among issues discussed were soil health, cover crops and farming without glyphosate.

“One of the interesting areas in innovation is how we can measure things in a new and different way to help inform on-farm decisions. That’s an area we can explore,” notes Susannah.

Measurements have been taken across the whole farm to establish baseline conditions, explains AHDB knowledge transfer manager Emily Smith. “The baseline assessments captured the physical, chemical and biological condition of the fields. The information will be used to monitor changes to the soil as the project progresses.”

The LEAF Sustainable Farming Review tool will be used as part of the efforts to measure the farm’s economic, environmental and social performance. Essex and Suffolk Water will also conduct analyses of rain and drainage water from the farm. A state-of-the art weather station and a soil moisture probe have also been installed.

Research outcomes will be tested in a commercial farm rotation on a field or tramline scale. Each demonstration will have a linked practical message, to facilitate the transfer of knowledge across the wider agricultural industry. Economic analysis of each demonstration is also key to the Strategic Farm programme, continues Emily, using the AHDB Farmbench benchmarking tool.

“The aim is to drive the adoption of innovation. So much research sits in final project reports. There’s a disconnect between research undertaken and its application and we want to bridge that gap.”

That’ll be done through on-farm trials with the support of researchers, experts and new technology. The first demonstrations, which were drilled this autumn, focus on the interaction between rotation and soil quality and ways to boost wheat biomass during the foundation phase.

“We’ll measure the direct and indirect values associated with different crops and management techniques. We hope the work will give growers the tools and information they need to help with their rotational planning.”

The core element of this new approach is the involvement of growers, and in particular host farmer Brian Barker. He believes there are three fundamental aspects to making it work: the innovations themselves, their assessment and sharing the understanding of them.

“This is either science that’s already been demonstrated, or findings from small-scale plot trials brought out into the field. Every time I go out to look at my crops, I take my quadrat to assess plant counts, head counts and other criteria. We can bring in new technology to help us assess in-field variation – there’s so much information we can add in that will tell us what’s going on.”

But it’s the farmer-led, farmer-driven approach that brings it real potential, he says. “We need to open our doors and be honest with other. When that happens, you get a real exchange of ideas – farmers like to learn from farmers. It’s also about engaging with the wider community – this is sometimes where we fall down and lose our credibility.”

• AHDB is establishing around 30 Strategic Farms to inspire industry to improve performance and succeed through knowledge exchange, of which Lodge Farm in Suffolk is the first in the Cereals and Oilseeds sector. There are plans to add two more arable farms to the network, one in 2018 and another in 2019. AHDB is actively looking for the next strategic arable farmer and applications close on 31 Dec – visit ahdb.org.uk/strategicfarm for more.