Ahead of World Soils Day next month, the NFU joined forces with LEAF and GWCT to host an event to focus on new approaches to grassland management, soils and sustainable faming.

Around 70 farmers, academics and industry representatives attended the day, sponsored by Pearce Seeds and Mole Valley Farmers, at Rothamsted Research’s North Wyke Centre which included specialist talks, farm walks and panel discussions.

NFU Deputy President Minette Batters, who chaired the event, said: “The event provided a rare opportunity for farmers, scientists, industry advisers and policy makers to come together to celebrate soil management practices currently used by farmers and to discuss the future challenges. A key question we must all ask ourselves is - how do we make the work at Rothamsted and similar research stations more available to farmers and farm advisers?”

Robert Orr, Manager of the North Wyke Farm Platform, outlined some of key research being undertaken at the centre including the ‘9million data entries generated from the three farmlets totalling 21 hectares’. Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of LEAF, highlighted how the Integrated Farm Management Tool can help to simultaneously deliver environmental and wildlife benefits with profitable farming.

Minette Batters added: “Healthy soils means healthy nutrition and a healthy environment. We are looking forward to events like this continuing into next year and beyond in regions across the country.”