Regenerate Outcomes Soil Health Workshop: Cotswold Farm Park, England

Regenerate Outcomes

Learn to reduce farm input costs,  improve crop and livestock performance and grow profits with regenerative farming pioneer Allen Williams

Cotswold Farm Park

<h3>Join regenerative agriculture pioneer Dr Allen Williams, 2023 Soil Farmer of the Year Stuart Johnson and brilliant soil microbiologist Kyle Richardville for two days of practical insights into how to reap the benefits of building healthy soil.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>The Soil Health Workshop - hosted at Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park - is free to attend for Regenerate Outcomes members. Please contact our team for a discount code.</h3> Tickets include lunch and refreshments on both days and a BBQ dinner on the first evening. Not yet a member of the Regenerate Outcomes programme? If you attend the Soil Health Workshop and subsequently join our programme, we'll refund the cost of your ticket. Soil Health Workshops are also taking place in Scotland and Wales. Find out more about the Wales event <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1235819081139?aff=oddtdtcreator" title="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1235819081139?aff=oddtdtcreator">here</a> and the Scotland event <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1236283941549?aff=oddtdtcreator" title="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1236283941549?aff=oddtdtcreator">here</a>. The Soil Health Workshop will be led by:World-renowned regenerative farmer Dr Allen Williams A sixth generation farmer from South Carolina, Allen is one of the biggest names in the regenerative farming movement, having featured in films including Kiss the Ground, Soil Carbon Cowboys and, most recently, the documentary Roots so Deep. Allen is one of the founding members of Understanding Ag alongside regenerative farming pioneer Gabe Brown - the author of Dirt to Soil . The Understanding Ag team consults across over 35 million acres of farmland, covering all farming systems, soil types and climate zones. Soil Farmer of the Year 2023 Stuart Johnson Fifth generation farmer Stuart began using strip tillage on West Wharmley Farm, near Hexham, 10 years ago in a drive to cut costs.It was the beginning of a transition to regenerative farming practices which has seen a reduction in the farm’s reliance on fertiliser, chemicals and other external inputs, while increasing its resilience to fluctuations in the weather and economy.Stuart now works with farmers across the UK to grow profits and increase crop and livestock performance. Soil health consultant Kyle Richardville Kyle grew up on a 2000 hectare arable, fruit and vegetable farm in the “corn belt” in Indiana and caught the “soil bug” while studying soil microbiology and food nutrition. He is now a soil health consultant helping farmers across the UK develop tailored soil health plans. Wiltshire farmer George Hosier George farms 625 hectares on Wexcombe Farm, near Marlborough, Wiltshire, with a beef suckler herd and arable crops including wheat, barley, oats, linseed, peas and oilseed rape. He has been adopting regenerative practices and focusing on improving soil health for the last decade.

About Cotswold Farm ParkAdam Henson and Duncan Andrews run Cotswold Farm Park. Adam is one of the best known faces in British farming, combining agriculture with his TV presenting career on BBC’s Countryfile. He also hosts a popular YouTube channel and is the author of five books. He took on the tenancy for the farm from his father in 1999. He now runs the 650 hectare estate, which incorporates the farm park, alongside Duncan and his family. They focus on farming in an environmentally sensitive way, which also maximises the quality of the food they produce and the output from the farm. Cotswold Farm Park also attracts over 180,000 visitors each year, as well as welcoming guests to its camping and glamping accommodation.

Agenda

Day 1 - Monday 9th June

Welcome

An introduction to the 6 principles of soil health, the 3 rules of adaptive stewardship and the 4 ecosystem processes. The mentoring team will explain how to apply this regenerative agriculture framework to your context to build farm resilience and profits.

Understanding the 6-3-4 approach to soil health 

Coffee break

Host farmers Duncan Andrews and Adam Henson in dialogue with the mentoring team 

Improving soil health at Cotswold Farm Park - challenges and opportunities

George Hosier discusses his regenerative farming journey and shares advice to improve soil health on a mixed farming operation.

George Hosier's regenerative journey

Lunch

Field sessions covering:
Crop rotation strategies and the benefits of multi species crops in arable systems
- Different crop establishment and termination methods
- The benefits which livestock integration can offer to an arable operation

Practical field sessions

We'll gather questions and ideas for breakout sessions on day 2

Question gathering ahead of day two

Drinks and BBQ

Day 2 - Tuesday 10th June

Q&A and breakout sessions on topics that were raised during day 1

Q&A and breakout session

Exploring soil and plant tests and how to interpret them, including rainfall simulation, slake tests and Brix tests.

Understanding soil and plant tests

Dr Allen Williams on  the importance of fungi to your farming operation

How to select and establish cover and companion cropping to suit your context and meet your farming goals. 

Effective use of cover and companion cropping

Field sessions covering key field observation skills, tips on grazing management and infrastructure and in-field testing.

Closing comments and farewell

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