This July update from Backboath is a short one to look at the use of green manures on the farm.

As part of an SRDP AECS scheme, Hugh has sown a field of green manure mix. At the start of July this crop has been mown down to feed the soil; improve the nutrient status in the top profile layers, increase the organic matter and help sequester carbon.  NB:  Backboath is currently taking part in a green manure trial which has allowed a dispensation to allow the crop to be mulched earlier than normal.  Under the SRDP AECS scheme most green manure crops cannot be mulched until later in the summer.

We have more information on growing cover crops, including  meeting notes from a previous farm event held by the Castlemains Climate Change Focus Farm project on the links below:

• Practical Guide: Cover crops (632.04 KB, PDF)
• SFAS Information Note: Cover Crops (5.77 MB, PDF)
• Castlemains: Cover Cropping & No-Till in Practice - November 2016 (4.51 MB PDF)