Soils and cultivations: Downpatrick

Philip Wright (Independent Consultant, Wright Resolutions) will be joining us to go out into the fields on the Monitor Farm in order to discuss and ascertain the efficiency and effectiveness of the cultivation and drilling strategies with regards to promoting good soil structure and health. Creating and maintaining a good soil structure relies on knowledgeable and careful management. With the various tillage and drilling systems we operate, this meeting aims to make you question the operations you routinely undertake so to ensure they are effectively and economically promoting your soil structures and your crop establishment.

About the farm

Richard Orr farms with his father at Meadow Farm in Downpatrick. He grows winter wheat and spring and winter barley on 75 arable ha and the rotation also includes potatoes, turnips and grass. The soil is a dry, free-draining medium, stony loam with good organic matter. Richard has previously hosted AHDB winter barley variety trials for the Recommended Lists. His aim is to grow the business while becoming more efficient, and to add value by marketing produce more directly to the end user, such as with his potatoes which he sells in the farm shop. During the three years of the Monitor Farm programme Richard hopes to share learning with fellow farmers and challenge his thinking, to ultimately become a better farmer.