We were absolutely delighted to accept the ‘Low Carbon Leader — Voluntary Sector’ award at the 2025 Cornwall Sustainability Awards on behalf of all our partner organisations — in particular the Rural Business School at Duchy College, with whom we have worked closely for the past five years through the Farm Net Zero project.
Our Farm Advisor Hannah Jones was there on the night in Falmouth to pick up the winning award, recognising not only all of our partners’ work towards Farm Net Zero, but our commitment at FCT to reducing our business footprint.
Together, the Farm Net Zero project partners have supported farmers and growers to turn ambition into real, practical change on the ground. We are proud of our role in this project in helping agricultural and horticultural businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly get on the front foot as they transition to meet the climate and nature challenges ahead.
The final Farm Net Zero conference took place this week at the Royal Cornwall Showground—under a blanket of unexpected snow!
Yet despite the weather, the room was full. Farmers, growers, advisors, researchers, community partners and supporters all gathered to reflect on five years of hard work, collaboration and learning. It felt less like the end of a project and more like the celebration of a community that has quietly reshaped what climate action looks like on real farms.
There was a striking range of delegates in the room. Young and older farmers and growers, a pretty even gender balance, and people representing every part of the agricultural community. But what really stood out was that every presenter brought a different perspective, a unique set of skills and lived experience, and together they created a strong thread of community that ran throughout the entire day. It was genuinely inspirational.
A day rooted in practical progress
We began the day with one of the FNZ Demonstration farmers, Mike Roberts of Blable Farm, who shared how he has changed farming practice to build greater business resilience. His reflections set the tone for the whole event: grounded, honest and focused on what works in the real world. Mike expressed heartfelt thanks to the project team at Duchy College, Farm Carbon Toolkit, Westcountry Rivers Trust, Innovative Farmers, Innovation for Agriculture and Just Farmers—a partnership that has been the backbone of Farm Net Zero since day one.
We then heard from Anthony Ellis of Pensipple Farm, who spoke about the trials he has been undertaking to reduce insecticide and fungicide use. By improving soil health, he has been able to cut fuel use for fieldwork by 10–15%—a meaningful saving both economically and environmentally. During this session, an important point was raised about the “elephant in the room”: who owns the carbon and wider natural capital benefits in a tenanted farming context? It’s an issue that will matter more and more as low-carbon farming evolves.
Malcolm Barrett of Tregooden Farm also reflected on the changes they have made on the farm. Through FNZ, the Barretts have reduced costs significantly by lowering inputs and outwintering cattle, with the biggest gains seen on arable fields—soil organic matter is up by around 3%, thanks to cover crops and min-till. Better soil health has reduced fuel use and enabled them to cut pesticide use, too.
Amelia Lake from the Real Food Garden offered a shout-out to FCT for helping them understand their soils and how best to improve them. Their focus on no-dig systems and continuous compost additions has boosted soil health, and they’ve seen improvements in veg nutrient content, something they believe is closely linked to better soil function.
Nicola and Chris from Heligan Gardens shared how transformational their compost-focused Farm Net Zero field lab has been for their waste management system. By learning how to optimise composting, combining three separate waste streams while ensuring pathogen kill, they have been able to reduce waste, improve soil health and close nutrient loops more effectively.
We also heard from Emma Restorick at the Prideaux Walled Garden, who has been trialling ways to tackle bindweed and reduce carbon footprints through optimised home-grown compost and other nature-friendly techniques. Her work highlights just how adaptable and innovative small horticultural enterprises can be when given structured support and the space to experiment.
Robust data from real farms
The results of the project speak for themselves.
Over the course of the project, farmers carried out an extraordinary amount of monitoring and testing, including digging over 10,000 holes, and soil sampling 107 fields in both 2021 and 2025. This has created one of the richest long-term datasets of any UK farming climate project.
Initial findings show that fields in herbal leys in 2021 and still in herbal leys today sequestered an average of 3.35 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year. Across the project area, herbal ley coverage has increased by nearly 500 hectares, contributing significantly to soil carbon gains.
Habitat-based sequestration also shows clear gains: project farms collectively sequestered an additional 2,640 tCO₂e into on-farm habitats, supported by increases in both hedgerows and woodland. Hedgerow length increased from 607 km in Year 1 to 664 km in Year 5, with associated carbon sequestration rising from –2,338 tCO₂e to –2,854 tCO₂e. Farmers also planted 1,104 additional trees over the project period, reinforcing long-term carbon storage and biodiversity benefits.
Looking at changes in overall farm carbon footprints, every farming system involved in the project saw reductions:
Horticulture: 4.3 tCO₂e → –7.54 tCO₂e
Arable: 572.22 tCO₂e → 402.49 tCO₂e
Beef & Sheep: 508.37 tCO₂e → 489.09 tCO₂e
Dairy: 1.25 kg CO₂e/kg FPCM → 0.99
These improvements were largely driven by reductions in input use, particularly feed, fertiliser and fuel, supported by more diverse rotations, improved grazing management, better composting systems and healthier soils.
These were not theoretical models or one-off trials; these were whole-farm shifts, supported by careful measurement and farmer-led experimentation.
Last words
Finally, dairy farmer Andrew Brewer of Ennis Barton highlighted how evidence from Farm Net Zero had given him the confidence to encourage Arla to support farmers in growing herbal leys. As a member of Arla’s Sustainability working Group his takeaway was powerful:
“The integrity and nutrient quality of food starts with farmers and growers.”
What came across loud and clear at the conference was the importance of steadfast and consistent activity, and the power of farmer-to-farmer learning. The project has built a community of farmers and advisers who have been willing to share their successes and failures openly, and this spirit of collaboration has been central to the project’s achievements.
What really made Farm Net Zero work
Beyond the numbers, what came through again and again was the strength of the community that has grown around the project. Demonstration farmers, monitor farms, advisers, researchers, gardeners, and local organisations, all willing to share what worked and what didn’t.
It powerfully demonstrates that progress doesn’t come from one-off interventions. It comes from steadfast, consistent activity—and from supporting farmers to try new things with confidence.
Farmers spoke freely about reducing inputs, changing rotations, experimenting with cover crops, improving composting systems, tackling weeds, integrating livestock, and rethinking their relationship with soil. The willingness to compare notes, challenges, successes and missteps has made this one of the most practical and trusted climate-action projects in UK farming.
So, what next?
This is the question many people asked during and after the conference. Farm Net Zero has clearly delivered:
measurable reductions in emissions
better soil health
stronger business resilience
increased biodiversity and more protective infrastructure (hedges, trees)
greater collaboration across Cornwall’s food and farming community
a five-year dataset that is rare at national level
The challenge now is to build on this success, not let it fade as the formal project period ends. Here are my top three priorities:
1. Share the learning more widely
The results, stories and practical guidance from Farm Net Zero need to reach a far larger audience—in Cornwall and beyond. Farmers elsewhere in the UK face similar challenges, and the FNZ experience can offer a roadmap: low-cost changes, peer-to-peer learning, and practical ways to reduce emissions while improving profitability. We have a responsibility to translate these findings into accessible guidance, workshops, case studies and tools that any farmer can use.
2. Keep the community alive
The strength of FNZ was the trust between participants. Maintaining that network through events, field labs, farm walks, online spaces and continued collaboration will be vital. Farmers expressed a clear desire to keep learning from one another, and we intend to support that wherever possible.
The good news is that some field labs and events will continue over the next few months, and the appetite for ongoing collaboration is strong.
3. Use the data to inform policy and practice
With more than 10,000 soil samples, detailed farm footprints and hundreds of farmer-led trials, FNZ now represents one of the richest real-world datasets on low-carbon farming in the UK.
That evidence can help shape better support schemes, more targeted advice, and more practical pathways for farmers transitioning towards net zero.
A beginning, not the end
At Farm Carbon Toolkit, we’re committed to ensuring these insights don’t sit on a shelf. They should influence how the sector and policymakers think about resilience, emissions reduction, soil health and resource efficiency.
As we wrapped up the conference, the strongest feeling in the room was pride—not only in what’s been achieved, but in how it was achieved. Farmer-led, data-driven and grounded in real practice. Farm Net Zero has shown what’s possible when we trust farmers, support experimentation, and commit to long-term learning rather than short-term initiatives.
We’re looking forward to sharing the full results later this year and helping ensure that the legacy of Farm Net Zero continues to grow. Cornwall has shown what can be done. Now the task is to help others follow.
This is a write-up from a Farm Net Zero event on foliar fertilisers, hosted by Rob and Liz Priest at Scadghill Farm, Bude, on Thursday 9th October 2025.
Addressing the Risks of Conventional Fertiliser
The use of conventional nitrogen fertiliser is associated with several environmental risks. These risks include:
Leaching into watercourses
Acidification of soil
Poor nutrient use efficiency
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from manufacture and volatilisation on ground contact
The Foliar Fertiliser Alternative
An alternative approach is to use foliar fertiliser—liquid fertiliser applied directly to plant leaves.
To better understand this method, the Farm Net Zero project hosted an event at Scadghill Farm in Bude, where farmers met to hear from TerraFarmer about the Tow & Fert system. This event was made possible thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, which has generously funded the Farm Net Zero project.
Benefits of Foliar Application
Compared to solid, conventional fertilisers, applying liquid fertiliser directly onto the plant’s leaves reduces many of the associated risks.
Crucially, nutrient use efficiency can be improved. Because the fertiliser is applied directly to the leaves, it can be taken up quicker than soil-applied fertiliser. This improved efficiency means reduced quantities of fertiliser may be needed, which could result in saving input costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A Case Study: Scadghill Farm
Rob and Liz Priest run Scadghill Farm, a 220-acre suckler beef and sheep farm, as part of their larger organic farming business. When taking over the conventionally farmed land, Rob and Liz felt the soil performance and biology needed improvement, leading them to consult Tom Tolputt from TerraFarmer.
Tom worked with the Priests to assess their soil nutrient levels and created a bespoke foliar fertiliser mix to address deficiencies and boost soil biology. The mix included organically certified fish hydrolysate and molasses, aiming to provide a “balanced diet” for the soil microbiology.
Introducing the Tow & Fert System
Matt Vellacott, TerraFarmer’s field operative, demonstrated the Tow & Fert machine used for applying the foliar fertiliser.
The Tow & Fert machine used to apply the foliar fertiliser. These trailed machines come in different tank sizes with the example shown at this meeting the smallest option
Mobility: These are trailed machines that come in various tank sizes. The model shown at the event was the smallest option and comes with its own petrol engine, meaning it can be towed behind vehicles without a Power Take-Off (PTO).
Mixing: The tank is equipped with an agitator to allow mixing the fertiliser within the machine. However, for faster refilling, many farmers choose to mix in a separate tank and then decant into the sprayer.
Speed: The model demonstrated can cover up to 4 hectares in half an hour, depending on the application rates. While Matt and Tom concede that foliar applications are slower than conventional fertiliser spinners, they emphasise that the productivity benefits outweigh this difference.
Key Takeaways
Foliar fertiliser can improve the efficiency of nutrient uptake by plants.
Using foliar fertiliser instead of solid fertiliser can lead to emissions reductions.
Last month, a community music festival at Deerpark Farm took place to celebrate the work of monitor and demonstration farms that are part of the Farm Net Zero project in Cornwall. Bringing the wider community together, this was an event to highlight the vital connection between community, the arts, and the future of sustainable agriculture in Cornwall.
Over the summer, Gareth Churcher, Director of the Cornwall Music Services Trust (CMST), met with three farming families who are part of Farm Net Zero, in the Stoke Climsland Parish, to discuss the challenges facing agriculture and farming families, and the innovations these businesses are making to increase sustainability.
‘Treveth Kes Zero’: A Musical Tribute
The event featured the commissioned musical composition, ‘Treveth Kes Zero’ (the Cornish translation of Farm Net Zero). The piece is described by composer Gareth Churcher as:
“A Celebration of Harvest and tribute to Cornish Farming. Composed for brass, percussion and voice, the music aims to be accessible for all participants and carefully fuses some traditional harvest songs with modern original material in a way that reflects some of the approaches that are taken by the farms involved with the Farm Net Zero project.”
The lyrics were created by children of Calstock and Stoke Climsland primary schools. The children explored sustainable farming through the lens of music and art during multiple workshops led by Kari Prince of CMST, who also further supported the event by reading poetry written by the children about farming.
This music was skilfully performed by Camborne Town Band with accompaniment by the children from the primary schools and other singers. It was a moving piece, performed by a talented group and supported by some wonderful singers. The music was further enhanced by the farmers who stood up and explained how they have been adapting their practices to reduce emissions, sequester more carbon, besides other work such as work to reduce flooding risk in the village.
The music starts by establishing its core material, balancing tension and relief with passages that are dissonant, bi-tonal, and others that are more pleasing. This gives way to an old Cornish harvest tune with lyrics developed by Hilary Coleman.
The music concludes with a setting of “We Plough The Fields and Scatter,” using new harmonisation and brass flourishes to emulate the fusion of old and new farming practices seen across the FNZ project.
Special thanks are extended to the Howlett family for hosting the event, and to Bonny, Tim and Jake Lightfoot, Martin Howlett, Pete and Sheila Cox, Gareth Churcher, Kari Prince, Gary Flower, the support vocalists, and the children of Calstock and Stoke Climsland.
Farm Net Zero
Farm Net Zero is a five-year initiative focused on helping Cornish farms work towards zero carbon emissions. The initiative involves practical work, research, and data collection to demonstrate how agriculture can contribute significantly to climate action.
The FNZ team is currently compiling results from the latest footprints and soil sampling in preparation for a Final Conference on Thursday, November 20th, where they will celebrate achievements and look forward to the future.
Mike and Sam Roberts run Blable Farm in North Cornwall. On their 530 acres, they were running 180 suckler cows plus followers, but found themselves trapped in something of a cycle of pushing production of the land to feed more cows to generate more income. But the bills kept rising, margins were tight, the land was struggling, and they had a sense that something was fundamentally not working right.
In 2020, they started moving to a different type of system, moving to rotational grazing, introducing herbal leys, and moving away from arable cropping. Mike comments on how quickly they noticed some of the changes: “We had 25 acres of arable land, which we turned into herbal leys. Within six weeks, after the cattle had done a full rotation or two, we noticed that the grass had grown back without any fertiliser addition.”
Their journey has led them to a place where they are eliminating artificial fertilisers and pesticides, resulting in reduced costs, a smaller carbon footprint, and improved health of the system. “We found with all of the changes that we don’t have the big bills, and we do not miss them!”
Fact File: Blable Farm
Date of Case Study
September 2025
Location
Wadebridge, Cornwall
Enterprise
Beef (140 stabiliser x pedigree stabiliser suckler cows)
Size
215 hectares (530 acres – 480 acres grassland)
Actions Taken
– Introduced herbal leys into pasture – Introduced rotational grazing with the help of – Precision Grazing Ltd. – Use green waste compost for bedding and subsequent spread as organic fertiliser – Use minimal cultivation – Cut out artificial fertilisers and sprays (since 2022)
Impact on Business
– Longer grazing season – Improved profitability with a smaller herd – Reduced requirement for artificial inputs – Bought in cereal feeds reduced by 70% – No mineral feeds bought in – Stopped blanket wormers of cattle (except slower growing stock)
Impact on Carbon Footprint
– Large reduction in fertiliser-associated emissions and sprays – Reduction in cattle number = less methane – Improved soil carbon sequestration
Change brings many benefits
The interesting thing about the change to this farming system was how it was done in a systems-based way, and the changes led to multiple different benefits. The herd size dropped from 180 to 140 suckler cows (plus followers), but the changes also included:
Rotational grazing
Herbal leys
More legumes
Change of mindset
This has led to significant benefits to the farm and the business:
Improved soil health and organic matter levels
Much reduced bought-in feed
No artificial fertiliser or pesticides used
Better meat quality
Reduced costs and improved profitability
Easier system to manage
Lower carbon footprint per hectare
Improved biodiversity
Cattle in an overwinter cover crop
Managing change and advice to others
Mike acknowledges that significant changes in farming systems can take a while to bed in, and everyone learns on the journey. At Blable Farm, they are still learning about which species do better in the herbal leys and the longevity of each species in the pasture. He recommends that any farm wanting to try herbal leys make a start with 5% of their land and see what happens.
“It did take a bit of time to get the new system established, for example, with the fencing for paddocks and extra water troughs, but now it is up and running, it is a much easier system overall. There are fewer potential problems, fewer big bills associated with fertilisers and a smaller herd, so fewer staff are required. There is just less expenditure overall, plus an injection of cash from the reduction of the suckler herd, which helped with the transition.”
Mike Roberts
Mike at one of the open days at Blable Farm, sharing knowledge and ideas with other farmers
Mike also stresses the importance of conversations with other farmers: “We have a lot of conversations which really help. You can talk to others who are further along in their regenerative farming journey, and that gives you the confidence you need.”
Blable Farm is one of the three Demo Farms in Farm Net Zero, a major project that has supported farmers and growers in Cornwall to transition towards net zero carbon. As part of this project, we produced this video about Blable Farm:
For more resources to help inform, enable and inspire other farmers and growers, please visit our Toolkit.
By Hannah Jones, FCT Senior Soil and Carbon Advisor
What is composting?
Let’s take a step back and consider composting. A process that can convert ‘waste’ organic materials, which may contain weed seeds and pathogens, into a highly valued resource for farmers, growers and gardeners. There is no universal strategy to handle compost, but we know that compost is good. Any handling, movement or change in conditions of the compost pile will influence what microbes are present.
Composting techniques
The means of compost waste handling needs to be designed based on what you want to achieve in addition to the time and resources available. There are multiple books available which provide details on the multiple composting techniques available. However, very simplistically bacterial-dominated compost is achieved with frequent turning of pile which generates a lot of heat from bacterial activity. A blend of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ material provides the balance of relatively low carbon to nitrogen food sources for microbes. This form of composting produces usable compost within months.
However, if you wish to have a compost dominated by fungi, don’t turn it and use a higher amount of ‘brown’ fraction thus increasing the carbon to nitrogen ratio. Fungi can break down waste with less available nitrogen than bacteria, which is why wood-dominated waste left in a heap will break down even when there is no manure or higher nitrogen waste in it. The fungal hyphae need to stay intact and turning will destroy the mycelial network.
The Johnson-Su composting technique is a classic method for creating this type of compost. However, it should be noted that mycorrhizae fungi, which are the nutrient and water harvesting symbionts of a range of plant species, will only thrive when attached to a root. Composting will not increase mycorrhizae directly but non-disturbed soil, which is rich in organic matter, will favour them in the presence of a diverse range of plant species.
Dealing with weeds and pathogens
Some organic waste material may contain persistent weeds and pathogens. Composting can be carried out to create a bacterial furnace that can easily reach temperatures of 60℃ or more. Frequent turning stimulates bacterial activity, and the heat-releasing degradation process warms the compost and effectively kills weeds and pathogens.
When compost reaches 60C pathogens and weed seeds will be broken down
At Heligan Gardens in Cornwall, as part of the compost Innovative Farmers FieldLab with Farm Net Zero project, waste streams can now be managed where no docks, oxalis, bind weed or vegetable diseases survive the composting process. Weekly turning of the compost piles over multiple months generated the heat to deal with pests and diseases. Careful turning is needed to make sure all compost gets heated in the middle of the pile over the composing process. Beneficial microbes are then able to re-infest the cooling compost to create a stable product.
Compost bays at the Lost Garden of Heligan. Piles are turned weekly with new waste entering the stream on the right hand side.
Compost is commonly used as a soil conditioner, providing a water retentive mulch as well as a food source for soil microbes. The quality of lettuces was maintained for longer in the Heligan field lab trials during a period of drought.
Greenhouse gases from compost
Uncovered and turned compost can release considerable amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous gases. Bokashi composting, a technique not dissimilar to making silage, which uses lactic acid bacteria as an inoculum, can conserve 99% of carbon compared to just 25% in standard composting. Furthermore, in the same experiment 93% of the nitrogen was retained compared to 38% of the control3. This compost is dominated by lactic acid bacteria as a consequence of the oxygen-free environment and so is a process for preserving nutrients rather than specifically aimed at multiplication of desirable organisms. Application of bokashi to the soil will supply the nutrients, but the influx of more non-harmful bacteria can stimulate the soil food web as the lactic-acid producing species are consumed.
Experts of soil microbes advise inoculating seed with your desirable microbes rather than the soil. Based on the 10 billion/gram estimate in one gram of soil, the seed surface is relatively free of competition for your inoculant. Therefore, your inoculum may be one of the first to colonise an emerging root and from then on multiply.
Use compost to condition your soil
Recent findings from the Compost FieldLab at Prideaux Gardens has found a significant reduction in bindweed infestation with a combination of compost, the use of a broadfork (to ease surface compaction) and cover crops. The control also contained cover crops but no soil conditioning. Charles Walters4 highlights bindweed thrives where soil structure is poor and organic matter breakdown retarded. Thus double digging is not as desirable as plentiful compost mulching to feed soil shifters such as the earthworm community.
Trial lay out at Prideaux with deep compost over broadforked soil to improve soil conditions. There was some mild surface compaction.
It is important to recognise that major shifts in soil biology are unlikely to take place purely from compost addition. It is now well established that soil microbiology is driven by living plant diversity. Management can also have positive or catastrophic effects on soil diversity particularly if multiple ‘stresses’ take place at the same time such as drought and salinisation1. However, the incorporation of composting into your overall soil management can have major benefits for soil nutrients, structure and carbon storage.
In summary, handle your waste organic material as a valuable resource. Determine what you want from it, but at the same time make sure you manage the compost to control weed seeds and pathogens. Your compost is unique to your farm, your soil and your waste.
FCT offers advice
FCT works with farmers and growers on a daily basis, helping them to farm better by looking after their soils, build resilience, manage carbon and increase productivity. For more on what we do, and how we could help you, please see our Services page. We look forward to working with you!
References
1 Rodríguez del Río, Á., Scheu, S. & Rillig, M.C. Soil microbial responses to multiple global change factors as assessed by metagenomics. Nat Commun16, 5058 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60390-4
2 Torsvik, V. and Øvreås, L., 2002. Microbial diversity and function in soil: from genes to ecosystems. Current opinion in microbiology, 5(3), pp.240-245.
3 Chavez-Rico, V.S., Bodelier, P.L., van Eekert, M., Sechi, V., Veeken, A. and Buisman, C., 2022. Producing organic amendments: Physicochemical changes in biowaste used in anaerobic digestion, composting, and fermentation. Waste Management, 149, pp.177-185.
4 Walters, C (1991) Weeds control without poisons Publishers: Acres UK
Farm Net Zero is a major project from the farming community in Cornwall to show the contribution that agriculture can make to achieving net zero. Here’s content from the latest newsletter, sent the farmers, growers and the wider community this project supports.
Groundswell
It was lovely to see some of the FNZ farmers and project staff enjoying Groundswell this year. Well done to those who spoke at various sessions throughout the conference. We were also pleased to provide tickets for a group of new agriculture graduates from Duchy College to attend.
Duchy College graduates at Groundswell
Maize Field Lab featured at Groundswell
The FNZ Maize Field Lab was featured at Groundswell in the “Beneath the Surface” session to an audience of roughly 80 people. FNZ farmer Malcolm Barrett talked about his farm trials, looking at different maize establishment practices (comparing light discing with direct drilling against strip tilling).
He explained that his overall aim to move away from ploughing is to produce a good crop with fewer inputs, and explained how they’d already reduced their fertiliser use by 65% as a result. His motivation for taking part in the field lab: “We wanted reassurance that what we’re doing is working for the farm and for the soil”.
Professor Will Blake of the University of Plymouth (the field lab researchers) explained how useful the trial has been for informing their research into soil: “It’s been fantastic for us to collaborate as it’s enhanced our understanding of how these sensors work”. The final report for the trial will be available soon on the Innovative Farmers and FNZ website.
Monitor Farm Update
We are getting stuck into the final set of FNZ soil sampling and carbon footprinting. It is very exciting to see the changes on farms since the start of the project back in 2021, both above and below ground. It has also been heartening to hear how many of the project farmers are keen to carry on with the project in some form.
Please make sure you have arranged a visit with your FNZ contact and can provide the carbon footprint data during August.
Events
It has been an action-packed time for events over the last couple of months, with some excellent, well-attended events on a range of topics:
Royal Cornwall Show 5-7th June 2025
We were pleased to be at the Royal Cornwall Show again this year, sharing a stand with the Agri Carbon Kernow project at the Cornwall Council’s Farming, Food & Nature Hub.
It was a great opportunity for us to meet with farmers, other organisations and the public, to share our knowledge and experiences gathered through the course of the project. A big thank you to everyone who supported on the stand. It was great to see so many monitor farmers drop in to the Hub and well done to those who spoke on the panel sessions.
Treway Herbal Ley Revisit 12th June 2025
We returned to Treway Farm, courtesy of FNZ monitor farmers Will and Kate Martin, to visit the Farming in Protected Landscapes “Herbal Ley Enhancement Network” trial plots as they become more established. It was interesting to see that the best establishment was in plots where either there was greater soil disturbance or the existing sward was sprayed out.
A fascinating meeting at Arbor Farm, St Columb on the benefits of trees on farms. The hot weather made it abundantly clear that trees will provide valuable shade and shelter for livestock, maintaining their health and welfare. Steve Evans of Arbor Farm led a practical discussion on how to integrate trees on the farm, with lots of useful tips on successful establishment, including the importance of hedge laying.
An opportunity to visit FNZ Demo Farmer, Anthony Ellis, at Pensipple Farm, and learn about his ongoing experiments with biological inputs on cereals. We had excellent discussions with microbiologists from the University of Exeter, who provided insight into the function of biological products which Anthony has been using instead of conventional sprays. The purpose of this trial is to reduce inputs and costs whilst maintaining a healthy plant, supported by healthy soil.
We also heard how Anthony is integrating sheep into the system by grazing the wheat crop in late winter to successfully remove diseased leaves and how willow is being used as a sheep feed supplement.
The Role of Habitats in Farm Carbon Footprinting at Duchy College, Stoke Climsland 18th July 2025
As part of our programme of events for professionals that support farmers, we held a well-attended day for ecologists on the positive contribution that farm habitats can play in improving a farm’s carbon balance.
Alex Bebbington provided an overview of carbon footprinting. Anthony Ellis gave a farmers’ perspective, with data from his farm. While Stefan Marks from FCT used the college farm to demonstrate the sequestration potential of natural capital. RBS director Robin Jackson demonstrated some of the important considerations when planning and implementing the natural capital developments at the college. After lunch, Gemma Eales (Duchy College) and Zoë Smith (WRT) gave an excellent guided tour of the college’s tree planting programme and network of leaky dams.
Joel Williams at Prideaux Walled Garden 22nd July 2025
We were extremely fortunate to host internationally renowned plant and soil health educator Joel Williams for an evening meeting and dinner at Prideaux Walled Gardens, courtesy of FNZ monitor farmers Martha Prideaux-Brune and Emma Restorick.
Joel gave a fascinating presentation about different soil organic matter fractions, their role in carbon storage and the mechanisms by which carbon is sequestered into the soil. Many thanks to FNZ demo farmer Mike Roberts for inviting and hosting Joel and for making the event happen. We will be producing a factsheet full of information garnered from Joel during the evening.
Citizen Workshop: An Introduction to Ecology and Nature Recovery in the Westcountry 2nd July 2025
As part of the community outreach programme, the Westcountry Rivers Trust hosted a workshop at Woodland Valley Farm near Truro, attended by 23 people keen to learn about ecological processes, nature recovery and farming’s role in restoring biodiversity.
Budding Nature explained the importance of food webs and how gardeners and consumers can help ‘re-nature’ green spaces. Chris Jones then led a tour showing how agro-forestry and mob grazing have boosted grassland diversity, with abundant butterflies, dragonflies and other wildlife thriving alongside the beef herd.
The visit concluded with a walk through the beaver enclosure, where wetlands created by the animals support rich biodiversity and enhance the farm’s water resilience. A successful and inspiring event.
Our work has also reached wider audiences: Innovative Farmers has shared films of FNZ research driven by farmers’ questions, while Andrew Brewer of Ennis Barton is contributing to the Future of Food exhibit at the National Science Museum, with his role fully recognised in shaping the vision for food.
And coming soon, Emma Restorick and Martha Prideaux-Brune will appear on Gardeners’ World to share their work on regenerating a walled garden, composting and soil health. We don’t yet know when it will air, so keep an eye out!
Resources
New resources are always being added to our resources page, with some of the most recent here below:
Field Labs: to read more about the wide range of topics covered by farmer Field Labs, visit the Innovative Farmers Knowledge Hub.
What Next?
We have several events coming up, including:
12th September – Calf Rearing at Trendeal Vean near Truro
9th October – Scadghill Farm, North Cornwall, incl Tow and Fert
TBC October – Change Makers Event at Deer Park Farm
And of course, our events this year culminate in our Final Conference in November where we will celebrate the results of five years’ of Farm Net Zero. All welcome!
We’re excited to share highlights from our recent Farm Net Zero event at the FNZ demo farm, Pensipple Farm, where host farmer Anthony Ellis opened the gates to show how diversity and efficiency are shaping their carbon journey. Visitors saw first-hand how integrating livestock with a wide range of crops can build resilience, while careful use of data is helping Anthony balance productivity with lower inputs. It was an inspiring day of practical learning and honest discussion about what net zero looks like in practice.
Date of event: Wednesday 16th July 2025
Anthony Ellis farms at Pensipple with his parents and brother, on a 200-acre mixed arable and sheep farm. Pensipple has become the third FNZ Demo Farm, and Anthony Ellis led a farm tour encompassing the cereal trials and sheep integration. The main crops are wheat for livestock feed and oats for biscuit-making, with herbal leys and winter cover crops added to the rotation for fertility-building and sheep grazing. This event was made possible with thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund who fund the Farm Net Zero project.
Septoria is a particularly important disease for SouthWest wheat producers. Anthony explained the trial that he has undertaken this growing season to tackle septoria with reduced chemical inputs. This involved a field split in half between a single wheat variety (Graham) and a mix of nine varieties, the theory being that septoria would spread slower through a mixture of varieties than one single variety. At ninety degrees, the field was split between a conventional fungicide regime and a mineral and biological treatment regime. In the middle of the field, Anthony grazed the wheat with sheep in late winter to remove diseased leaves.
The trial field received 25 tonnes/ha of farmyard manure, lightly cultivated into the soil, and was drilled with a Sumo DTS strip till drill. The field had a post-emergence herbicide and 175kg/ha of nitrogen was applied. In future, Anthony aims to reduce this to 150kg/ha with the last application as liquid fertiliser to improve plant uptake directly from the leaves.
There were two theories behind the mineral and biological treatments:
to improve the mineral content of the plants so they produce tougher leaves more resilient to infection.
to plaster the leaves with “good” bacteria that would prevent septoria colonisation.
Results from disease assessments through the growing season suggest that a combination of the cereal variety mixture, conventional fungicide and sheep grazing reduced disease leaves by an estimated 33%. The greatest single effect on reducing diseased leaf area was grazing with sheep. Harvest data will be the final determinant of treatment success, but ear counts hint at the grazed, biologically treated mixture having a higher yield. Detailed results from this trial are available in a factsheet on the FNZ Project Resources webpage.
We were fortunate to be joined by microbiologists from the University of Exeter Penryn; discussions with them may help to inform why the biological treatments were less effective than first hoped. They explained that there is debate over whether applied bacteria can survive once released into the wider environment – the native bacteria are already well-established and may outcompete introductions (particularly in diverse environments with a healthy ecosystem). It is often better to brew up bought-in bacteria before application, as this helps to culture more of them and can kickstart their survival. It may be better still to feed and encourage the farm’s existing bacteria than add new.
The main motivation behind this trial was to reduce production costs, especially with wheat at £160/tonne. Anthony costs the conventional fungicide at £30/ha and plant growth regulator (PGR) at £15/ha, plus the fuel, machinery and labour cost of applying these products. In comparison, the biological and mineral treatments are £25/ha (although this could be reduced as Anthony starts to brew them on-farm) and there are financial benefits to grazing the wheat as it provides a feed value to sheep and reduces the requirement for PGR and potentially fertiliser.
Key takeaways
The most effective fungicide was grazing with sheep.
Biological applications may help, but care should be taken to optimise efficacy.
On a very warm evening in July, a group of farmers met at Arbor Farm near Indian Queens to hear from forester Steve Evans about the benefits that trees can provide. This event was made possible thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund who fund the Farm Net Zero project.
Arbor Farm is a two-acre tree nursery on a Cornwall Council farm. The field is very wet and was previously grassland. Steve Evans has a twenty-year tenancy that began in 2021. He planted a kilometre of tree alleys (mostly willow, alder and poplar) soon after arriving, and these are now well established. In theory, Steve must remove the trees at the end of the tenancy, and he is confident that the trees will have improved the soil conditions throughout the tenancy.
Steve led a useful discussion on how to integrate trees into agriculture, both as a crop (fruit or timber) and as infrastructure (boundaries and shelter). Steve’s main advice was to ensure that trees have the best chance of establishment. This should primarily be achieved by keeping the trees free of competing vegetation. Steve recommends cutting and inverting the turf around each tree, then mulching to prevent regrowth (either with woollen mulch mats, waste wool or wood chip). Steve added that when establishing a new hedge, it’s not always necessary to use the recommended five stems per metre, it’s possible to use two good-sized stems and lay them. In addition, stakes and guards are not always needed, as exposure to wind can help to strengthen trees.
Tree species selection depends on the site, but Steve favours willow, alder and poplar for livestock farms. All of these are edible by livestock, with some research suggesting that alder leaves are 15% protein and poplar 24% protein. Willow is well known for its mineral content, as well as containing salicin which is the natural precursor to aspirin, with different willow varieties containing varying levels. These species also grow vigorously, so respond well to livestock browsing. This vigorous growth also assists the establishment of the trees, so that they can more quickly provide benefits to the farm. On-going maintenance, including coppicing and pollarding was discussed, which can be particularly useful if there any concerns over potential competition between the trees and neighbouring crops, as this can help to control root growth. Steve added that leafy growth can be cut, chipped and fed to livestock, alternatively cuttings from willow can be easily propagated by planting directly into soil to increase your tree stock.
The hot weather that evening provided a valuable demonstration of the power trees have to create microclimates across farms. The shade cast by the trees made for much more comfortable conditions within Arbor Farm; this is something that is important for farmed livestock, as discussed in a previous FNZ event with Lindsay Whistance in 2023. Improving the health and welfare of livestock is a critical responsibility of farmers but also helps to maintain their productivity. Improving the productive efficiency of livestock helps to lower the carbon footprint per kilo of product. Combined with the carbon sequestered directly into the trees themselves, the case for agroforestry as a climate solution continues to grow.
Key takeaways
Trees create a microclimate which improves livestock health and welfare, and therefore increases productivity.
When planting trees, it is vital to control weeds. Planting is easy. Don’t neglect watering and weeding.
Farm Carbon Toolkit (FCT) advisor, Hannah Jones, was delighted to join James Daniel from Precision Grazing and hosts Mike and Sam Roberts at Blable Farm near Wadebridge to welcome Rt Hon Steve Reed MP to the farm today.
The Minister was keen to learn more about innovations that can take place across the agricultural community that can simultaneously improve farm economics, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in the soil, boost biodiversity, and strengthen business resilience for today’s farmers and future generations. Emphasis was placed on the need to provide transition support for farmers through discussion groups and community networks, such as Lottery-funded Farm Net Zero project.
We discussed the vital role of well-managed integrated ruminant livestock, particularly in pasture-based systems, in building soil health with diverse cropping, alongside practices like minimum tillage, herbal leys, compost application, and grazing strategies such as paddock grazing.
We also explored the urgent need for UK agriculture and horticulture to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change, alongside rising concerns around long-term food security in the face of environmental and geopolitical instability. We emphasised the importance of reliable public funding to support a fair and economically viable transition to planet-friendly farming, particularly in a market that too often fails to pay farmers a fair price.
The Minister was clearly engaged, asking thoughtful and challenging questions throughout. We’re grateful for the opportunity to speak openly with him and his team.
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