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• Ever wanted to know what it is that makes plants grow strong and in drought?

• Want to know how to convert consolidated soil into friable top soil that doesn’t saturate?

• Like to know how to create the most beneficial environment for crops/stock on your farm?

On this course, lead by Niels Corfield, you will:

• Learn the whys and wherefores of regenerative agriculture and soil health on cropping and mixed farming operations

• Learn how to monitor soil/pasture on your farm.

• Be introduced to new ways of thinking about the "farming problem".

Course Details

Runs for two sessions

Same day, same time, same meeting ID - one week apart.

Session 1: Presentations

- Regenerative agriculture- & soil health principles

Session 2: Workshop/Presentations

- Analysis of soils/pasture on your farm,

- Land under grass

Soilmentor Access

All  particpants given complementary access to a Soilmentor  for use on the  course, for: recording soils observations and sharing data with the  tutor, for feedback and analysis on session 2. Discounts offered for  ongoing use.

Offline Viewing

All sessions will be videoed and made available to you offline, for you to watch again, or to view if you miss the live session

Take-Home

All power point slides

Course handout and principles sheets

Objectives

• Improving soil health / pasture health

• Improving drainage and water holding on your land

• Growing more and better forage/crops

• Reducing reliance on external inputs or contractor services

• Identifying opportunities for out-wintering & season extension

• Getting feedback on-farm: monitoring & data, on-farm trials

• Skills training on using Soilmentor and carrying-out basic tests

Topics

Regenerative Agriculture – The Broader Context

• The imperative

• 4 Ecosystem Processes

Empirical case for good soil management

• How different strategies affect soil structure

• Reducing grade-outs and crop failures

• Minimising moisture stress

Defining soil health

• How it's articulated and how to measure it

Soil Health Principles

• What they are & the processes that underpin them

• Empirical evidence of their application on farm

Evidencing soil health

• Aggregation, spade tests, visual soil inspection

Aggregation and crumb structure

• What creates it, and how to maximise

Nutrient Cycling

• Fostering nitrogen fixation for all crops

One Key Insight

• Microbes Matter

Who is this Training Suitable for?

• Farmers, arable growers & agronomists

• Graziers, herdsmen & shepherds

• Vets and veterinary trainees/students

• Landowners

• Farm & estate managers

• New entrants

• Ecologists & advisors

Tools & Technology

• Field Margin app - https://www.fieldmargin.com/

• Soilmentor app - https://soils.sectormentor.com/

Niels Corfield Biog

Niels  Corfield has been working to deliver truly sustainable food and farming  systems for more than 15 years. He is a researcher, adviser, educator,  designer and tree nurseryman.

He has 12 years’ experience teaching adults and is formally trained in Holistic Management and Regenerative Agriculture Design.

On  a mission to create regenerative landscapes and farms in the UK and  Europe, Niels focuses on agroecological systems that are low maintenance  yet productive.

His clients include:

Southanan Estate,

Fir Farm,

Fosse Tillery Farm,

Devon Wildlife Trust,

Anglian Water,

High Weald AONB,

Catchment Sensitive Farming,

Soil Association Scotland.

This course is not run by GREAT but is being advertised on behalf of an affiliated provider.