8 new cover crop champions to provide practical trial info
© Tim Scrivener A network of cover crop champions co-ordinated by the AHDB has been set up to showcase the various impacts of cover crops and provide practical advice to fellow farmers.
Eight farmers from across the UK will trial a range of cover crop approaches ahead of harvest 2025 and document the effect of variety selection, establishment, growth and destruction.
All trials will include assessments of nitrogen in both the soil and crop to help determine the influence of cover crops on nutrient dynamics.
How to estimate the availability of nitrogen to the following cash crop is a key question many of the farmers involved are eager to answer.
See also: How winter cover crops affect soil nitrogen supply
Soil improvements
Following the wet 2023-24 growing season, soil condition was relatively poor at many of the commercial sites when the cover crops were established in autumn 2024.
The initiative provides a good opportunity to measure how cover crops help soils recover compared with the no-cover-crop controls.
Ana Reynolds, head of sustainable farming and research at the AHDB, explains: “Cover crops can have many environmental, soil, crop and economic benefits.”
The best approach will depend on the farm’s objectives and how well the cover crop fits into the system.
“By sharing successes and failures, we want to help other farmers on their cover crop journey and inform the development of decision support tools.”
The AHDB cover crop champions are:
Scotland: David Fuller-Shapcott, Sweethope Farm, Scottish Borders
David will test if a biostimulant seed treatment (based on endophytes) can improve the germination and establishment of two simple cover crop mixes.
Northern Ireland: Chris Gill, Caledon Estate, County Tyrone
Chris will use sheep to graze a hybrid kale cover crop at two grazing intensities (high and low, with the option for a second graze on the latter).
North East: Robbie Stephenson, Crawleas Farming, County Durham
Robbie will test a bespoke cover crop mix to boost biomass for sheep grazing ahead of planting potatoes (it will be compared with the farm’s traditional mix and a no-cover area).
East Midlands: Ian Matts, Brixworth Farming, Northamptonshire
Ian is using sensors to track soil nutrients and moisture to assess the impact of cover crops (such as how well legumes fix nitrogen and buckwheat scavenges phosphorus).
East Anglia: Jonathan and Jane Clarke, Bury Farm, Great Canfield, Essex
Relatively new to cover cropping, the Clarkes will explore various establishment techniques to identify the best approach for their farm.
South East: Rob Waterston, Welford Estate, Newbury
Rob will use a multi-species mix to deliver diverse root architecture and strong biomass (with potential for grazing), with the ambition to reduce artificial nitrogen inputs in his spring malting barley.
South West: Bob King, Lower Baynton Farm, Wiltshire
Bob will use a multispecies cover crop for grazing by sheep during winter before direct drilling spring crops (oats, barley or beans).
The trial will quantify the wider benefits, including to soil health and nutrient availability.
North West: Charlie Copley, Reaseheath College Farm, Cheshire
Charlie will use various cover crop mixes and compare them with overwinter stubble.
The trial will underpin discussions with students about the use of cover crops to improve soil health after a maize crop.
See videos by each champion and other resources here: ahdb.org.uk/cover-crop-champions
