There are very interesting developments going on in our countryside both where I live in Herefordshire & here in West Oxfordshire & I am more encouraged than I can remember for: farming’s future, the soils they farm & the environment. These silos are full of tonnes of grain. 1/n

2/n Today I tramped over many fields, cropped last year to fill those bins. It would take a few 100s of acres to fill them.
However this year I’d say that half the fields are stubble left from the previous crop, a quarter in winter beans and 1/4 in winter cover crops, see pic.

3/n Cover crops are great at reducing run off, slowing the flow into streams and reducing silt and fertilisers getting into our water courses and poisoning them. These are a mixture and include plants like mustard/radish or similar - in flower , Phacelia and a grass.

4/n the non grass species will have provided some late nectar & pollen for insects & likely provide a lot more in the spring. Great for our pollinators and other insects.
These crops don’t need applications of pesticides or heavy machinery allowing the soil structure to repair.

5/n These cover crops are likely to be temporary, perhaps followed by a spring sown commercial crop or left as a pollinator mix crop. If cut or sprayed off and then ploughed in they will add important organic matter to the soil.

6/n This is important because it will add life to the soil as fungus, worms & insects break it down. Organic matter in soil also makes it act more like a sponge slowing the flow and providing water to next crop. Many soils in continuous arable cropping are low in organic matter.