Profit from soil: The Understanding Ag Soil Academy
Regenerate Outcomes are proud to work with Understanding Ag to help farmers maximise profits through improved soil health.
The is why we are excited to announce the Understanding Ag Soil Academy in May.
The academy is free to attend for Regenerate Outcomes member farms and £125 for other farmers.
Expect two days of interactive field walks and classroom sessions, led by experienced regenerative farmers combining practical knowledge with scientific expertise.
The academy will cover:
The six Principles of Soil Health and the three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship that drive the four Ecosystem Processes to build more resilient and profitable farms
How to improve field observational skills to improve your soil health
How to integrate regenerative practices in the ever-changing world of government programmes and subsidies
In-field demonstrations including shovel tests and soil interpretation, observations of grazing management, slake tests and rainfall simulation
An introduction to the Soilmentor app that helps farms track their regenerative progress with creator Abby Rose
“The academy is designed to inform and inspire you, wherever you are in your soil health story,” says Kyle Richardville, from Understanding Ag, who will be one of the team leading the academy.
“Whether you’re a lifelong farmer, a landowner or just a conscious consumer, the academy will provide an array of regenerative agriculture information and resources in a convenient, easy-to-understand format to help you make better decisions on your regenerative journey.”
Each academy will feature specific activities and guest speakers.
Oxfordshire Soil Academy
At FarmED, in Oxfordshire, will be joined by Ian Gould, of Oakbank Game and Conservation, who will discuss the pros and cons of cover crops, how to choose the right mixes for defined objectives, their establishment, financial implications and grazing management.
We will also conduct a tour of FarmED to learn more about its diverse mix of low input arable, temporary grass and permanent pasture.
The site also has trial plots, including sainfoin, herbal ley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops.
The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep and cattle, while other features include a natural flood management scheme, Countryside Stewardship Scheme options, heritage orchard, wildflower margins and an apiary.
Cotswold farmer and regenerative educator, Jonty Brunyee, former Head of Sustainable Farming and Food Systems at FarmED will offer local context, summarise the FarmED story and support our farm-based activities.
He will also introduce the range of regenerative initiatives currently running in the Cotswolds region, including the Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme, Pasture for Life mentoring scheme, work being undertaken by the North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster and the Emergent Generation network.
Northumberland Soil Academy
At Nafferton Farm, in Northumberland, we will be joined by vet Lee-Anne Oliver, director of Fold Farm Vets, in Hexham, who will discuss livestock health in relation to soil health and grazing practices, exploring topics such as parasites, contagious lameness, trace elements and general wellbeing and immune system function.
We will also undertake a tour of Nafferton Farm to discuss its specific context and ongoing projects.
Meet the mentors:
Stuart Johnson
Profitability and resilience were the key drivers for Stuart Johnson to begin reducing inputs and focusing on soil health on his farm in Northumberland.
Over the last 10 years he has moved to a no-till and mob grazing system, bringing financial resilience while eliminating the use of insecticide and fungicide. Stuart was recently named 2023 Soil Farmer of the Year.
Kyle Richardville
Kyle grew up on a 2000 hectare arable, fruit and vegetable farm in the “corn belt” in Indiana and caught the “soil bug” while studying soil microbiology and food nutrition.
He is now a soil health consultant helping farmers across the UK develop tailored soil health plans.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones runs a family farm in Illinois with the purpose of improving the land to create a long-term, viable business for future generations.
He has expertise in all aspects of cropping and livestock operations, and works across the United States and beyond as a consultant for Understanding Ag.
Ian Gould
Ian is a director of Oakbank Game and Conservation.
Oakbank has built a great reputation working with farmers and landowners to make the best use of agri-environment schemes to improve wildlife habitats whilst farming profitably.
Ian is particularly interested in how plants can be used to solve problems in soils.
Abby Rose
Abby Rose is co-founder of Vidacycle, which helps build ecology and profitability on farms around the world.
Vidacycle has created the Soilmentor app which Regenerate Outcomes’ member farms use as part of the programme. The app supports farmers to learn what healthy soils and flourishing biodiversity look like in different contexts with a set of simple in-field tests.
Lee-Anne Oliver
Lee-Anne graduated from Edinburgh in 2007 and has worked as a farm vet in Hexham since 2008.
She holds Advanced Practitioner status for both cattle and sheep and is the co-author of The Veterinary Book for Beef Farmers.
Lee-Anne likes nothing more than to be out on farm working alongside farmers with a combined aim of ‘making a difference’.
Join the Understanding Ag Soil Academy
Understanding Ag Academy, Oxfordshire
Where: Farm ED, Station Rd, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Chipping Norton, OX7 6BJ
When: 13 & 14 May 2024, 9am to 5pm each day
Understanding Ag Academy, Northumberland
Where: Nafferton Farm, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7XD
When: 16 & 17 May 2024, 9am to 5pm each day
• Lunch and hot drinks will be provided throughout the day at both events
• The Understanding Ag Soil Academy is free for Regenerate Outcomes members.
• Tickets for non-member farmers are available for £125 or £300 for non-farmers.