Hampshire farmers interested in increasing their farm's profitability and sustainability can do so at a free event taking place at Basingstoke farm this February.
Attendees will see first-hand how one local farm has used cover crops to capture nitrogen and improve soil structure, ultimately improving the quality of the water in the chalk aquifer beneath the land.
Natural England’s Senior Advisor, Harold Makant, will be on hand to explain how farmers can access new government Environmental Land Management (ELM) funding, as well as the Countryside Stewardship scheme which runs until 2024.Frontier Agriculture's Will Moynan will also be present to share the science behind recent advances in cover cropping.
For six years, South East Water, which supplies fresh drinking water to 2.2 million customers, has worked in partnership with Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) South East to boost the sustainability of local farming practices.
Through its innovative partnership with Natural England, the water company provides grants for new equipment and farm infrastructure, facilitates expert advice by organisations such as environmental consultancy ADAS and organises trials to improve nitrogen retention within the soil.
Speaking about his involvement in last year’s cover crop trials, Ian Margetts from Malshanger Estate, explains:
We’re sat on an aquifer here, so we’re very conscious of water quality.
Ultimately, we’re trying to reduce our reliance on bought-in nitrogen.
Cover crops are a key way to do this, and the support from the likes of South East Water has been extremely helpful.
There is no doubt in my mind that what we do here is incredibly important for water quality - after all, we all drink it!
Mark Slater, Catchment Advisor at South East Water, said :
Cover crops play an essential role in keeping nitrogen within the soil and preventing it from reaching the underground aquifer, the source of our drinking water.
Although we can and do remove harmful substances during the extensive water treatment process, it’s much better for the environment, and more economical, to stop these substances reaching the groundwater in the first place.
The workshop will take place from 10am on Tuesday 8 February at Blandy’s Farm, Malshanger Estate, west of Basingstoke.
To find out more about our cover crop trials and sign up for the free workshop, visit southeastwater.co.uk/covercrops.
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