Regenerative farming is focus for BASE UK

Experts will discuss top tips to balance innovative farming practices which improve productivity with the need to look after the environment.

Soils and environmental stewardship will both be discussed by the regenerative farming network BASE-UK. An important starting point for anyone looking to make changes to their system is looking at the health of their soils.

Significant impact

“If you haven’t already, begin making some records to get a baseline of your starting point,” says the network’s Rebecca Goodwin. “This includes pH, soil organic matter levels and nutrient status.

“All these factors together can have a significant impact on productivity levels. Also, talk to other farmers who have already started on the regen ‘journey’ as they will have made mistakes that you can avoid.”

The farmer-led BASE UK network is set to discuss key soil and agri-environment topics as part of its Regen Conference, sponsored by Tees Law, at this year’s Cereals event.

A good attendance is expected at these events, with sessions focusing on these topics include enterprise stacking – whether it is sensible to diversify and robust soils for robust farms.

“Without our soil there is very little to farm, so this is where we need to look to ensure that improvements can be made, and sustainability can be achieved,” explains Ms Goodwin.

Knowing your numbers ‘more important than ever’

With over 5km of walkways between exhibitors, a day at Cereals means you’ll spend at least one hour walking the site – and that’s without distractions.

Add in time for catching up with friends, suppliers and eating lunch – and a six-hour visit will disappear faster than a free coffee. Planning your day to get the most out of it is essential – just like planning ahead for your farm. In today’s climate, that means focusing on what you can control, rather than worrying about what you can’t.

Take back control

With volatility in inputs and outputs, and ongoing upheaval at the policy level, much about farming today feels outside your control. Gone are the days when weather was the only unpredictable factor impacting your operation.

It’s harder than ever to make calculated investments or future-proof your farm with confidence. That’s why knowing your numbers is more important than ever, says Emily Padfield, senior agricultural expert at Yagro.

“Having an accurate understanding of your farm numbers is essential — not just for benchmarking performance and protecting your bottom line, but also for managing risk.”

“Setting realistic budgets, tracking in-season costs and making properly informed, data-led decisions is the surest route forward.”

Profitability today demands keen attention to detail and a flexible approach. Monitoring costs at crop, variety and field level gives you granular insights, says Emily –and small, incremental changes can drive big results.

If you’re unable to pinpoint field-level performance or the impact of varietal decisions, there may be gaps in your decision-making — and missed opportunities to tighten margins.

Treating each field as its own profit centre, and maximising returns on every input and investment through detailed analysis, must now be standard practice.

Fortunately, there are tools that can handle this workload for you, without adding hours to your day, says Emily.

“It’s about having access to the right data at the right time, so you can make the right decision for your business.

“Presenting that data clearly is what Yagro specialises in — giving you confidence in your decision-making and helping you control what’s controllable.”

See it in action

The old adage “what gets measured gets managed” still rings true – but new challenges call for new tools. Often, the solutions already exist within your farm data.

At Cereals, Emily will be hosting the BASIS Trail on Yagro Stand 1040, where the team will demonstrate how digital tools and data analysis can help manage risk, drive efficiency and optimise production.

This will include a free crop margins calculator, touchscreen demonstrations of Yagro tools, free barista-made coffee and the chance to win a 20-litre can opener.

A day at Cereals only contains so many hours. Make them count.