This year our Annual Field Day will take place on Thursday 26 September 2024 in Herefordshire.
A day for farmers, by farmers, sharing experiences for improving performance and resilience in a challenging environment. The focus of this year’s event will be the value of mixed farming.
We are grateful to Billy Lewis for kindly hosting this event at Boycefield Farm, Herefordshire.
During the day we will showcase the ways in which farmers are already changing their farming practices to respond to the need to reduce GHG emissions and build on-farm carbon, within resilient businesses. Sessions will cover the following topics:
- Soil management: the importance of soil management as the starting point for resilient farming systems, including a soil pit.
- Livestock: the value of livestock as a mechanism to drive soil health, biodiversity and habitat management (or something similar)
- Arable: adapting arable systems to build fertility and resilience in a changing climate
- The economic and climate impact of regenerative farming systems
Throughout the day we will hear from farmers and share our insights about how farmers are reducing GHG emissions and building soil health and business resilience.
Carbon Farmer of the Year Awards
The winners of the Carbon Farmer of the Year competition will also be announced. To find out more about the competition and information on how you can apply or nominate someone, visit this page.
Confirmed speakers include:
More confirmed speakers to follow!
- Billy Lewis – Our host and 2022 Soil Farmer of the Year whose approach of integrating livestock and herbal leys into a previously intensive arable system has rejuvenated soil health and drastically reduced fertiliser and feed inputs and boosted profitability.
- Ed Horton – Large-scale mixed farmer and Soil Farmer of the Year 2024 finalist whose ‘hybrid’ farming system has livestock integration at its heart, benefitting soil health, water quality, biodiversity and the bottom line.
- Angus Gowthorpe – mixed farmer and Soil Farmer of the Year 2018 finalist Angus has been at the forefront of the regenerative transition in the UK and continues to push the envelope for what defines a sustainable farming system.
- Eddy Gent – Father of Thomas Gent, Carbon Farmer of the Year 2023 finalist and regenerative arable farmer who continues the legacy of his father and grandfather who through straw for muck (via AD) deals has proven an innovative way of integrating livestock into his system in an area where traditional livestock integration has proven challenging.
- Tom Burge – Upland beef and sheep farmer whose move to a regenerative, grazing-based system has helped to eliminate inputs and transform the finances on his challenging Exmoor farm
- Niels Corfield – Regenerative agriculture advisor, educator and researcher whose mission is to create regenerative farms and landscapes in the UK and Europe.
- James Daniel – Founder of Precision Grazing, whose primary objective is to optimise performance from pasture, James works across the UK helping farmers to implement and manage their grazing systems. He has experience across a wide range of soil types, enterprises and business structures and brings an understanding of pasture-based livestock systems to all work from business planning to regenerative farming systems
- Nick Down – Nick is the Head of Sustainability for Velcourt Ltd. Velcourt directly manage 57,000 hectares and provide advice in both the arable and dairy sectors across the UK. With over 20 years of farm management experience, Nick also oversees the farming operation of the Yattendon Estate in West Berkshire. The farm is going through a transition to a more sustainable farming system, incorporating more space for nature and enhancing carbon sequestration under an ambitious environmental delivery program. The farm business forms part of the LEAF demonstration farm network.
Programme
Please see the full programme here
To book (and further information)
To book your place (numbers are limited) and to find out more about the Field Day please follow this link.
The price includes tea/coffee and lunch.
Photography
Please note that photographs will be taken throughout the day. Please let us know if you do not wish to be photographed by contacting Rachel Hucker at [email protected].
Lift sharing
Interested in lift sharing? Head here.
We look forward to seeing you there!
