In line with the forthcoming harvest, I managed to submit my piece for “Farm Gate” early. A week early compared to the 2 weeks that this harvest seems to be.

I have just returned from an agronomy meeting which forms part of the H3 project. This is quite an academic project involving the universities in Sheffield, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Newcastle and City. It has quite a ambitious target. It is looking into and seeking links between healthy soils, healthy food and healthy people.

There are 2 geographic areas where the research is being done. In Wiltshire and in the “Cambridgeshire west hundreds”. There are about 12 farms in the west hundreds that are involved. These are so called re-generative farms, farms converting to re-gen agriculture and farms (as my neighbour put it) who are going to carry on “striping it bare”.

The project is looking at differences that range anywhere from a micro-environment all the way through to landscape changes. The funding for the H3 project is an eye watering £45m!!

I don’t think I have ever seen quite so many people coming on the farm to measure and survey virtually every aspect of the soil, the farm, the hedgerows, the insects, birds and mammals on the farm. On one day I had 2 people taking soil samples from a 10ha field. They were there all day!! My hedgerows and fields have been sampled for insects, good and bad. My pollinators have been counted. Worryingly, at this most recent meeting there was a social scientist, so I think I am probably being surveyed too!!

The number of mammals on the farm is hopefully on the slide a little, as Bartek (from Camgrain's Finance Team) frequently visits and puts the deer population under a little pressure. This benefits my freezer and my appetite for venison. Locally produced food always has the lowest carbon footprint.

On the farming front. All is ready. The combine has benefitted from a £9k dealer service. It stands fully fuelled, greased and ready to roll. The grain trailer has been pressure washed, as too the handling bucket. The grain paid is pristine and sparkly. I have returned my Harvest Declaration form. The tractor and combine cabs are being steam cleaned, hoovered, and polished whilst I type this. However, the winter barley will have to wait a little longer though. I have a busy weekend planned, please do bring a picnic to our garden party on Sunday afternoon (SG19 3BP), a farm visit on Monday and a ticket for the 5th day of the test match in at Edgbaston, should the game last that long. So, harvest will not start on Fullers Hill before next Wednesday at the earliest.

The picture is of my barley, hopefully heading into store next week!!

Have a good, safe and enjoyable harvest.

John Jefferies