Tractor spraying field

Wasted energy

Reading Time: 2 minutes

We are borrowing non-renewable resources from past and future generations to support this one. That is the very opposite of sustainable agriculture.

Bank coins and notes

Evidence of the economic advantages of working with Trace & Save

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Farmers do not gain economic advantages because they make use of the Trace & Save tools. Farmers improve because they manage their farms better – the tools help them to do this.

Dairy cows in field

Eight years of dairy farm carbon footprints

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Climate change is a huge challenge facing society, and dairy farms are often pointed at as having a large carbon footprint.

Pastures

Case study: Growing cheaper pastures

Reading Time: 6 minutes

The take-away challenge is for farmers to assess whether their fertiliser costs are decreasing per pasture produced. Are you growing cheaper pastures?

Man planting plant

Soil restoration principles

Reading Time: 5 minutes

The goal is to restore agricultural soils to a healthy state – every farm is different, but the principles always apply.

Cows grazing lucerne pastures

Case study: Improving nitrogen fertiliser efficiency

Reading Time: 8 minutes

I hope this case study encourages farmers who are in the process of adapting their management in order to achieve greater nitrogen fertiliser efficiency.

Farm cover - multi-species pastures

Grazing management – the importance of farm cover

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Sufficient, good quality pasture is fundamental to sustainable pasture-based dairy farming, hence the importance of optimal grazing management.

Finding the water sweet spot

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The relationship between plants and water is delicate. Too little water can lead to plant stress, resulting in wilting. Too much can lead to risk of pathogen infection and loss of nutrients supporting the plant via leaching.

Paying back the carbon debt

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Rebecca Burgess, founder of the Fibershed project says that, “our soils have a carbon debt; the atmosphere is gushing with carbon. The carbon over our heads is literally in the wrong place” and this couldn’t be truer.

Change in direction

We need a major shift to regenerative farming

Reading Time: 5 minutes

True sustainable, regenerative agriculture will reverse the negative impact of conventional agriculture and result in sustainable food production.