Charlie’s story
Charlie talks about why she’s focussed on improving the soil health on her farm.
You’re year on year improving the resilience the soil provides. Hopefully that results in better yields, particularly in those dry springs.
Charlie Ennals, arable farmer, Norfolk
Practices such as using herbal leys, grass-legume mixtures or cover crops, reduced tillage and implementing a soil management plan can bring several business benefits:
- Build soil organic matter, improving structure for better water and nutrient retention and increasing resilience to extreme weather events.
- Reduce soil erosion and compaction, lowering reliance on costly artificial inputs.
- Improve crop yields.
- Help to protect soil for the future.
- Increase the duration of the cultivation window.
Each farm is different but healthy soil is essential for food production and can ensure that fields will remain profitable for years to come.
Receive free, expert guidance
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) provides free, impartial and confidential advice to farmers across England to produce food in a way that protects water, air and soil.
It’s a partnership delivered locally through Natural England, and is made up of CSF advisers who work directly with the local landscape and your farm’s individual needs.
Contact Catchment Sensitive Farming: use the CSF advice form and send it to your local team. CSF will reply based on environmental priorities in your area and will arrange one of the following:
- Arrange a one to one consultation with your local CSF advisor
- Invite you to a local event
- Link you to other sources of advice and information
Attend an upcoming event: see here for a series of upcoming, in person events organised by Defra and Natural England, focussing on buffering actions and soil health.
Visit this guidance: Soils resources for farmers from the Farm Advisory Service. Browse resources that inform about soil principles such as soil biodiversity, and a range of actions like reducing tillage that can help to improve your soil quality.