Publications

In this Dairy Insight we explore the role of sulphur for maximising grass yields, for cutting and grazing.

Soil is the foundation of any farm and investing time in understanding how healthy your soil is will always pay dividends. This Dairy Insight explores the soil health checks that can be easily carried out on farm.

With an estimated 4,000 to 50,000 species of micro-organisms per gram, soils are considered to be one of the most diverse habitats on earth.

This workbook brings together the technical concepts introduced in the following insight publications: • Boost Your Soil's Power: Understanding Cation Exchange Capacity. • Beyond pH: The Role of Base Saturation in Soil Health Cation Exchange • Soil pH and Liming – it's not all about Calcium! and provides a practical guide to choosing the right liming product and applying it at the correct rate for your soil.

Recognising the connection between soil, crops, and animals is essential for achieving successful and sustainable agriculture. This Dairy Insight explores the parameters of the Broad Spectrum Soil Health Analysis and provides information on interpreting the results of this analysis.

The pH status of a soil plays a hugely important role with plant growth and the nutrient content of the plant. Incorrect pH will affect the availability of soil nutrients. This can result in lower crop or forage yield, poorer quality forage and potentially reduced intakes, leading to increased feed costs. This Dairy Insight explores soil pH and the factors that influence it. It aims to challenge current practices and offer new perspectives on achieving optimal nutrient levels in grassland soils.

Soil chemistry plays a critical role in soil health by influencing nutrient availability, pH balance, and the overall environment for micro-organisms, which are essential for maintaining soil structure and biology. For dairy farmers, understanding and managing soil chemistry in conjunction with soil structure and biology is vital for sustaining soil fertility, optimising forage production, and ultimately enhancing farm profitability and long-term sustainability. This Dairy Insight explores the concept of base saturation, its importance in soil health, and how it complements and enhances your understanding of soil pH.

Soil is the most valuable resource on your farm. However, it's often overlooked and underappreciated. By taking the time to better understand your soil, you can adjust your management practices and enjoy the benefits of more productive land. This not only benefits the environment by reducing runoff and nutrient leaching, but it also improves the efficiency and effectiveness of your farm. Healthy soil is characterised by vibrant microbiological activity, having a good physical structure and by being well balanced in nutrients. This Dairy Insight introduces you to nutrient availability and cation exchange capacity and how it impacts your soil health.

In 2018, the Farming Rules for Water, also known as the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) regulations 2018, was introduced in England, its aim was that farmers who carefully planned manure and fertiliser applications (not exceeding crop and soil requirements), could prevent diffuse pollution following application. This Dairy Insight serves as a guide for you to get the full value from both your soils and fertilisers. Additionally, it provides an overview of the rules and helps you understand how to comply with them.

Soils are arguably the most valuable resource on farm – but often taken for granted. Without healthy soils farming is neither profitable nor sustainable. Healthy soils combined with sound forage/crop management are essential in all livestock production systems. By prioritising soil health and implementing appropriate soil management practices, dairy farmers can ensure the long-term productivity and sustainability of their operations while safeguarding the environment.

Dung beetles could be saving the UK cattle industry around £367 million per year and protecting them on your farm could save you another £4.36 per cow. This insight explores why dung beetles are in decline, how to survey for them and how to increase dung beetles on your grassland.

In February the Government announced they were adding 6 new SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) Standards during 2023. A Hedgerow Standard has been included in the scheme which aims to help the government progress towards their environment and climate goals. This insight explores the government aims for hedgerows, the grants available under Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the new SFI Hedgerow Standard and what they could mean for your hedgerow management.