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Managing water on your farm – Arran: event summary

17 July 2018

This meeting focused on improving drainage and reducing compaction in soils to improve productivity and efficiency whilst also improving water quality.

A small but enthusiastic group of farmers turned out on a lovely summer evening to hear about soil improvements from guest speakers Seamus Donnelly (SAC Consulting) & Lucy Filby (Farming & Water Scotland).

Seamus began with an indoor presentation, highlighting the principles of drainage and compaction.  You can read his presentation slides using thiFarming & Water Scotland stand in a grassland field with a representative discussing Springback fencing, with a demonstration section of it in the backgrounds link.   The meeting then moved outdoors to a nearby grassland field where Farming & Water Scotland were set up with some demonstration kit.

Here, Lucy Filby gave an overview of alternative watering options and demonstrated Springback fencing – a type of fencing that is of particular use along watercourses and river banks that may be prone to flooding.

Finally, Seamus dug some holes to look at soil structure and compaction before and after a sward lifter was used on an area of the field. However he did stress the importance of digging a hA sward lifterole to see where, if any problem is within your soil structure before carrying out any compaction alleviation or drainage work; without knowing what problem you are trying to fix, you cannot know which piece of machinery or plan of action will solve the problem.

 

Information available to take away and related documents can be downloaded from the links below.

 

Related Downloads
Farming For A Better Climate: Practical Guide – Field Drainage
Topics: Soils and Water Management
Farming For A Better Climate: Practical Guide – Improving Soil Quality
This Practical Guide concentrates on how we can improve soil quality to help us to adapt to climate change.
Topics: Soils
Farming For A Better Climate: Practical Guide – Soil Management
Topics: Soils
Farming For A Better Climate: Practical Guide – Alleviating Soil Compaction
This Practical Guide gives some ideas on how to alleviate soil compaction.
Topics: Soils
Technical Note (TN665) – Alternative watering for field grazed livestock I – Abstraction systems
Topics: Water Management
Technical Note (TN666) – Alternative Watering for Field Grazed Livestock II – Pumping Systems
Topics: Water Management
Valuing Your Soils – Practical Guidance for Scottish Farmers
This brochure includes useful information about Scotland's agricultural soils and practical advice outlining the upfront financial savings and business benefits of better soil management and the efficient use of resources. Action and problem-specific 'field-sheets' are designed for busy farmers with limited time for reading.
Topics: Climate Change, Soils, Water Management and Crops and Soils
Managing water on your farm – Arran: presentation slides
These are the presentation slides used by Seamus Donnelly during the Managing water on your farm event held on Arran during July 2018
Topics: Water Management
Farming and Water Scotland at the Arran soil & drainage event

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