AN event exploring regenerative farming took place in April.
Farmers, industry experts and environmental advocates headed to East Farm in Warminster, Wiltshire, for the Wiltshire Regen Day.
Organised by Farm Farmers and Agreena, the day was hosted by Josh Stratton of J M Stratton & Co. A diverse line-up of speakers explored innovative and achievable solutions for a more sustainable and resilient landscape.
Established in 1914, J M Stratton & Co is a family-owned estate located within the Cranbourne Chase AONB in Wiltshire. Arable combinable crops are central to their farming business, growing a rotation of wheat, barley, oats, peas, and OSR across 1,800ha.
Josh, who is managing partner, commissioned an anaerobic digestion plant that is fed on food waste and produces enough energy to power 3,700 homes in 2014. The bi-product of this process produces enough PAS110 digestate to fertilise their arable crops, and generates enough heat to warm their glasshouse.
During his talk, Josh spoke about his fields being his 'factory floor'. This ethos underpins everything Josh does on his farm, from direct drilling, digestate and straw chopping, to his AD plant, solar farm, and hedgerow planting.
‘We have a holistic approach to business, and enjoy farming sustainably and working with our tenants and contract farming clients,” Josh added.
“We are constantly trying to improve our agricultural practices, and have committed 300 acres to a Helix trials site. We are also part of the Wyley Valley Cluster Group, a group with 34 members covering over 12,000 hectares, where we initiate and devise our own conservation plans in line with local environmental priorities.”
Other speakers during the day included Tom Tolputt, founder and consultancy director at Terrafarmer; Tom Sadan, Agricarbon business development manager; Ian Gould, director of Oakbank Game & Conservation and Matt Smith from Amazone.
Fram Farmers announced its partnership with Agreena in 2022.
Andrew Knowles, Farm Farmers chief executive, said: “By partnering with Agreena to provide in-person events, we aim to help members fully understand how they can make a more sustainable approach to farming work for them, and maximise the value of their efforts.
“With the changes taking place around SFI, we believe arable farming is going to alter considerably, and there is opportunity for the modern farmer to evolve with and benefit from this."
The Wiltshire Regen Day took the form of a farm walk.
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