It can also provide an extra raft of environmental assurance to end customers, as is the case with the oat crops grown by 4 Front Farming Group. Matt Waldie, based at West Gilston, Leven, manages 1,200 hectares of crops grown across four Fife estates. Machinery is shared, including a direct drill capable of sowing straight into standing cover crops.
Oats are direct drilled into a standing cover crop sown the previous May as part of an Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS), which is then sprayed off with glyphosate. John Hutcheson, chairman of SAOS and a director of the 150 member OatCo producer group explained that, the whole establishment process only needs around 6 litres/ha of diesel compared to 80-100 litres/ha used in a conventional system.The cover crop debris disintegrates without affecting the crop and as an added benefit supplies wild bird feed over the winter months. The blanket effect of the debris also appears to keep the soil profile more open thus improving drainage, he said. Typically the oats, which are destined for Quaker at Cupar, will be followed in the rotation by winter wheat and then probably beans. Two cover crops can be included in rotation which in some cases includes potatoes or carrots.
Mr Waldie uses other regenerative methods, including mob grazing a grass break with as many as 300 cattle concentrated on 40ha for a short period. A cereal crop is then direct drilled straight into the grazed sward before spraying off.
Mr Hutcheson said: Matt is showing that there are techniques that arable farmers can use that reduce carbon emissions without reducing margins.
