Hereford Monitor Farm meeting: What lies beneath? Digging up the dirt on soil health

Farmers are increasingly looking to improve the resilience of their soils to weather extremes, as unpredictable seasons become more frequent. 

With a focus on biomass above ground, how much more can we learn about optimising what is happening below ground? 

Join us to hear the science behind the conversation in these important areas of soils with Prof. Karl Ritz, University of Nottingham and Liz Stockdale, NIAB who will offer scientific views alongside a practical approach.  

Programme

13:00 Registration and lunch 

13:20 Welcome and introduction 

Richard Meredith, AHDB 

13:30 Farm update  

Rob Beaumont, Jack Hopkins, Martin Carr & Adam Lewis, Hereford Monitor Farmers 

13:45 Soil health – What do we know? What can we do?  

Liz Stockdale, Head of Farming Systems at NIAB TAG 

14:15 Soil health on the Herefordshire Monitor Farms  

Liz Stockdale, Head of Farming Systems at NIAB TAG 

• Visual assessment of soil structure  
• Earthworm counts  
• P, K, Mg, pH, organic matter and CO2-C respiration burst 

• Nutrient management  
• Organic matter utilisation  
• Cover crops 
• Pest mitigation 

14:45 Refreshment break  

15:00 What lies beneath? Crop rooting and soil health   

Karl Ritz, University of Nottingham  

16:00 Meeting close    

For more information: 

Please contact Richard Meredith by e-mail richard.meredith@ahdb.org.uk or call 07717 493015.