Lincolnshire farmers share knowledge for healthier soils and healthier profits.
A cross-section of the county’s farming community gathered together for a specialised soil health event at the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Campus.
The event, organised by and for the county’s farming community through the Greater Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture, and hosted by Business Lincolnshire, marked an important milestone in county-wide efforts to build collaborative, long-term strategic approaches to soil management and knowledge sharing.
Farmers, land managers, researchers and industry experts shared insights into soil experiments and trials, with many Lincolnshire-based case studies showing that less intensive farming practices can still produce high yields.
Key themes throughout the event included the role of soil structure, biology and nutrient efficiency in enhancing crop performance, reducing input costs and strengthening farm resilience in the face of rising economic pressures and environmental challenges. Cover cropping, data-driven soil analysis and alternative nutrient applications were highlighted as tools that are already helping some local farms become more profitable and sustainable.
Following discussions, attendees were given practical demonstrations and insights into experiments from the Soils, Plant and Food Analysis Skills and Training Laboratory based at Riseholme, which was recently funded by the UK Food Valley. The four main soil types in Lincolnshire were discussed. Highlighting the challenges and benefits of each, and how they respond differently to cover cropping, different nutrient mixes, and inputs.
Paul Ward, Agriculture and Horticulture Adviser at Business Lincolnshire, and host of the event, said: “Discussions and demonstrations at this event have shown just how transformational better soil understanding can be for farming businesses. Our county’s farmers are helping to lead the way on soil health, and we’ve been fortunate to hear from some of those innovators at this event.
“In sharing what works and encouraging others to adopt practices that improve both soil health and profitability, we can help the whole sector improve its resilience without compromising on yields or profits.”
Matt Riddington, Chairman of the Greater Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture, said: “This event is just the start of our knowledge sharing ambitions on soil health. We’re keen to collaborate with everyone who can help drive better understandings and practices, and we’re actively planning further events to bring these practical learnings to more businesses.
“Going forward, we’re also keen to expand dedicated events into other sectors that are keenly felt by our communities, including reservoirs and water management.
“Our forum is designed to be the voice of the Greater Lincolnshire farming community, and we want to make sure that we’re helping the entire sector with the latest innovations and knowledge.”
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