On 2 November 2016 farmers, advisors and researchers met for the first time to discuss farmer-led ideas on investigating alternative techniques for terminating cover crops.
 
The meeting was set up as part of the Innovative Farmers network and run by Anglia Farmers.
 
This first meeting to look at cover crop termination was a coming together of some of the most forward thinking arable farmers in the country, including several Nuffield Scholars. The group shared concerns about the possible withdrawal of glyphosate and increasing herbicide resistance in arable farming, as well as comparing methods for cover crop termination. Discussion focused around creating a new on-farm ‘field lab’ to investigate how farmers can destroy cover crops to enable successful establishment of a cash crop afterwards.
 
John Pawsey of Shimpling Park Farms in Suffolk hosted the Innovative Farmers meeting. He said, “Many of the farmers here have different methods for making their farms viable. Whether organic or conventional, this is about us learning from each other and sharing ideas.”
 
All of the attendees were asked to share their experience of using cover crops. Paul Wortley farm manager at OW Wortley & Sons of Methwold, South Norfolk added, “I want to avoid working the soil in the winter months. This year we started to desiccate a few fields with glyphosate but I’m concerned about its residual levels and the soil health. I’m also grazing more this year. Normally I would leave the crop over winter after lightly chopping with a disk and leaving as a green manure.
 
“I’m very excited to join Innovative Farmers and this field lab to run a trial on my farm. I’m interested in finding out about other techniques and the different challenges with different cover crops.”
 
Liz Bowles, head of farming at the Soil Association, which works with the Innovative Farmers Network, alongside Waitrose and The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation, commented, “Following the meeting, everybody who wants to be involved in the group will be linked via the Innovative Farmers portal and we will be able to physically plan the next step for creating a robust field lab. These discussions were the first step towards all farmers working together to find techniques that will work for them, and enable them to maintain and improve viability on their farm. The level of interest in this topic was just fantastic and we’re hoping that more farmers will be able to learn from this pioneering on farm research.”
 
The group is being co-ordinated by Lara Clabburn of Anglia Farmers, and members have been asked to join the Innovative Farmers network and sign up to the field lab. The next meeting will confirm the field lab design and research parameters.  It is still possible for other farmers to join the group. For more information, or to join, visit the Innovative Farmers website, here.
  
The key measurements outlined for the field lab are:

• Termination success
• Cash crop establishment
• Cover crop establishment
• Crop Margin

 
As well as discussion about cover crop termination, attendees went on a farm walk at Shimpling Park Farm where they saw the sheep John Pawsey is using as part of his arable rotations.