The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2019 - Issue 60 | Page 47
APPROACH FARM 47
• DEC/JAN 2019
SALERS WILL MEAT YOUR NEEDS!
SLEEP EASY AND LET SALERS DO THE WORK FOR YOU
Profitable suckler cows need to:
• Mature early so heifers can calve at 2, & without difficulty
• Wean a calf annually which fits market requirements
• Adapt to the resources on the farm, its management
& environment
• Have low annual maintenance costs
• Have a long, productive life (10+ calves weaned)
That will be a Salers then!
MORE BEEF LESS GRIEF
T: 07903 626 249
E: [email protected]
www.salers-cattle-society.co.uk
away sand to heavy clay and in a normal
year will average a wheat yield of around 4
tonnes per acre.’
‘Increasing the organic matter and putting
life into the soil is the key to longer term
sustainability of the land and reducing the
disturbance is one of the most effective
ways of helping nature return the soil to
a good state. Cover crops and changing
the machinery we use and the way we
use it are the way in which we keep what
is termed the soil microbiome in good
order.’
Angus began his new approach at Ap-
proach by moving from ploughing to min-till
in 2008 purchasing a stubble cultivator.
‘The soils started becoming easier to
work by keeping the organic matter in the
upper layers but I wanted to go the next
stage further and bought a Muzuri strip
till drill running it for two and a half years.
That’s when I also began growing cover
crops to further enhance the soil and lock
in carbon to increase the organic matter. As
soon as I had combined and chopped the
straw I was in with oats and radish. Over the
years I’ve tweaked things up and now grow
covers of oilseed radish, sunflowers, spring
oats, vetch and others.’
‘ Our land varies
from blow away sand
to heavy clay and in
a normal year will
average a wheat
yield of around 4
tonnes per acre
EXPERTS IN YOUR FIELD
Raworths is highly rated in the national legal guides Chambers
and Legal 500 for our work with individuals, families, farming
and rural businesses. We are proud to support Approach Farm
on its continued success. For further information, please contact
David Garfitt, Head of Agriculture and Rural Group.
Eton House, 89 Station Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 1HF | 01423 566 666 | raworths.co.uk
’
‘Three years ago I sold the Muzuri and
bought a John Deere disc drill and I now
drill into anything, even a 6 foot high cover
crop. The drill pushes down the cover crop
that is usually about to die and the disc drill
cuts into the soil placing the seed alongside
the disc and closes the slot and that’s it,
leaving most of the soil undisturbed.’
‘Weeds don’t emerge as you haven’t dis-
turbed the soil and they can’t get daylight.
This means the soil harvests the carbon
through the cover crop and that locks down
into the roots increasing the organic matter
and in so doing helping the soil through
increased nutrient and water holding
capacities. It keeps the soil alive through
increased nitrogen.’
Proud suppliers to Angus Gowthorpe wishing him continued success