My first Farmers Weekly column… How exciting! Hopefully, this opportunity will provide some informative food for thought; or at least give you confidence that someone else out there is making mistakes.

I’m a firm believer that continual learning is key to continual improvement. How better to learn than through trial and error?

Until four years ago, I would have termed myself a “conventional farmer”, following advice and making crop decisions based on a bag or bottle. It was a narrow vision, I now realise.

See also: How to companion crop successfully in winter wheat

About the author

Anthony Becvar

Anthony Becvar is a third-generation farmer of an 80ha mixed farm in East Sussex on heavy Weald Clay. Crops include spring beans, winter wheat and spring barley, alongside diversification projects which include two breweries and an agricultural mechanic.

Read more articles by Anthony Becvar

I watched parts of our “best land” erode, crops fail and occasionally no window to drill without hefty compromises.

This led to owning up to the big mistake I had been making; not looking after my soil.

I discovered a group of farmers on Twitter, all using amazing approaches that could offer solutions to problems I was facing with my soil.

The answer wasn’t going to come in a bag or bottle this time. The answer was to come from changing my thinking and overall approach.

And so began my annual pilgrimage to Groundswell, to put myself among a great collective of soil intellect.

I now have a Groundswell agronomist, who pushes me to think further outside the box than I ever have (I think we’re currently on “option J” for this autumn’s planting). If you haven’t been, I would urge you to go next year.

I’ve taken part in the AHDB cover crop champion trials this year. I’m trialling two year-long cover mixes, which gives me the flexibility to add other treatments in as time moves along, such as spring nutrition, reseeding and summer destruction.

The crops are up and away, and both are looking good. Obviously, being a trial, I get to make mistakes and call them “data”.

I’m not one for labels, regen/conservation/biological agriculture, etc. They often all mean different things to different people.

Try to come up with what exactly makes an “artisan baker” or a “craft beer”, and I think you’ll realise my point.

However, if I had to wear a badge, it would probably read, “soil-first farmer”.