Exploring the secret life of worms
Earthworms can dramatically alter soil structure, water movement, nutrient dynamics, and plant growth.
Tillage Technology News
News and analysis for the tillage and agricultural industry
Top Tips for choosing your variety
Going out and talking with farmers who use similar management techniques and with similar soils is often is a good first step and can help you make a head start, says the former Nuffield scholar who grows corn for ethanol, soya beans for oil and a good food/flour quality winter wheat for export.
Measuring and monitoring field and financial performance
Multi-layer technology has been developed to bring together information from yield-potential maps with financial information. This will lead to more meaningful agronomic answers to questions farmers make concerning key agronomic decisions.
Getting to grips with the benefits and pitfalls of vertical tillage regimes
Vertical Tillage (VT) tools can run in wet soil and can help warm up cold soil for faster seed emergence - an important benefit in climates with a short growing season, says Mr Pitt. There are other benefits too; the elimination of the soil layers allows roots to probe deeper and access moisture
Soil, the all-important moisture reservoir
Water is the limiting factor holding crop yields back, Mr Conlan finds; but he does not recommend irrigating to take yields to their genetic potential as it adds in a risk factor that the return on investment might not be good enough.
No room for error in Formula 1 Farming
Growing in the fast lane leaves no room for error and no second chances, says Colin Hinchley, who manages farms 450 km south of Moscow.
Soil loses out from wheelings and tramlines
Compaction from wheelings and tramlines can impact on crop yields, warns senior ADAS soil scientist Dr Martyn Silgram who has been undertaking in-depth studies in this area over the past ten years.
Using the right tillage equipment for the job
“Growers all know that seed to soil contact is the foundation of getting a good crop, so the choice of tillage tools is critical to success,” says David Pitt, President of cultivation equipment specialists Ralph McKay, part of the McKay-Empire-Wiese Group.
Getting the most from your potato harvesting machinery
Although modern potato harvesters are both speedy and efficient, careful work can really pay dividends, says Barry Baker of Grimme UK Ltd. At harvesting, two factors are of paramount importance: getting the crop out of the ground and minimising tuber damage.
Spider venom - a natural born insect killer
“Spiders are the ‘quintessential insect predator’ with a venom that is rich in insecticidal neurotoxins, so it makes sense to explore the reasons why their venom remains so potent,” he says.