Monitor Farm meeting: Saltash

About the farm

Ashley Jones runs the mixed 190ha Smeaton Farm, which is part of the Duchy of Cornwall estate. In partnership with his family, he farms 100ha cereals with maize and potatoes in the rotation, and has 200 head of beef and 200 ewes. Diversification activities on the farm include a bed and breakfast, maize maze, Christmas trees and agricultural contracting. During the three years of the Monitor Farm programme, Ashley wants to try new ideas, experiment and learn from others in the industry.

About the meeting

The second Saltash Monitor Farm meeting of the winter will discuss everything about managing for yield.

Sarah Kendal will be joining us to detail the results from several years of the ADAS YEN programme.

What findings can be applied in the South West? Theoretically with light, temperature and rainfall, the region should be achieving higher average yields. Why is this not happening? What are the components of yield?

What management and crop nutrition strategies can SW arable farmers employ to strive for higher yields while at the same time getting a return on inputs for an acceptable margin? Is yield still king?