A Norfolk farmer has revealed the key lessons learned from four years of trials and scrutiny as part of the Monitor Farm network.
Rookery Farm, at Wortham, near Diss, is nearing the end of its term as the Diss Monitor Farm, part of the national initiative run by the AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board).
The scheme shares industry knowledge by bringing farmers into a real-world setting to view trials on cropping and cultivations, to discuss both successes and failures, and to analyse the impact on costs, productivity, the environment and profits.
Farm manager Richard Ling said the process acted as a focal point for addressing the industry's many recent challenges - including the Covid pandemic, which prolonged the usual three-year duration of the project.
And although sharing data on new ideas had been "daunting", it had generated some valuable lessons which he hopes others can now benefit from.
"It has been daunting and exhilarating, all at the same time," he said. "It has taken me out of my comfort zone, but in a good way.
"It has made us more resilient as a business and made me more resourceful, because I have had to adapt.
"Where we have found the most benefit is where things that have not gone as we thought they should, but that then got these great discussions going.
"It was lots of little things rather than one big one. We all get hung up on wanting to find the big thing that's going to make a difference. But actually it is the 1pc gains that we have made in lots of different areas that have made the biggest difference."
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Mr Ling highlighted five key lessons from the Diss Monitor Farm trials.
- Headland try-out: A caterpillar-tracked machine was found to be causing yield-limiting soil compaction at 150mm deep driving in a straight line.
- Integrated pest management (IPM): To combat flea beetle pests in oilseed rape, the farm learned about the potential of parasitic wasps, which then created a good discussion on companion crops.
- Labour and machinery costs: The farm used software to fully understanding its true cost of production, identifying strengths and weaknesses and engaging with its peers "to help each other learn, adapt and overcome on farm challenges".
- Measurement and analysis: The project highlighted the importance of taking measurements to manage farm variables, such as grain nutrient analysis, catch and cover crops biomass, soil health scorecards and learning how to do a visual evaluation of soil structure.
- Mindset: Mr Ling said the experience had changed his personal mindset on how he approaches and handles farming and life challenges.
On the changing mindset, Mr Ling added: "Over the last four years, who would have thought we would have had so much to deal with?
"I would say they must have been some of the most challenging set of circumstances to have happened in such close proximity. Being an agri-leader during this period has been tough and rewarding all at the same time.
"I am clear now though one of the best strategies we can use in our businesses, especially a farming business, is to take the emotion out and look at the facts."
Mr Ling will host Diss Monitor Farm's final meeting and summer farm walk later this month.
The event, from 9.30am-1pm on Tuesday, June 20, will look at cropping for harvest 2023 as well as discussing novel wheat nutrition trials, pest management and break crop options.
The event is free to attend, but registration is required via the AHDB website.
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