We are starting an ADOPT project with four farmers in Yorkshire to explore how we can make better crop nutrition decisions. Working with ADAS and the High Mowthorpe Farming Association and other local groups we are looking to engage more widely to gather and test ideas and experiences.
Help us identify useful tech for making better crop nutrition decisions, and share your experiences. We'll be selecting promising systems to test in field in 2026 and 2027.
We'll update this page with plans and progress through the project.
Add suggestions in comments below, or join us at ARC Innovators - www.thearc.farm/innovators.
ADAS provides ideas, specialist knowledge and solutions to secure our food and enhance the environment. We understand food production and the challenges and opportunities faced by organisations operating in the natural environment
Nitrogen is required annually by most crops (except pulses) to achieve yield and quality. Judging how much N to apply is a key part of nutrient management.
Nitrogen Use Efficiency is a widely used term increasingly discussed across industry and between farmers. However it can mean different things to different people, and is best defined with care.
Plants need around 12 essential mineral nutrients to grow: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B) and Molybdenum (Mo).
Farmers, advisors and researchers working together to understand and improve crop nutrition on-farm
The agri-tech sector is vibrant and growing, with many exciting companies, organisations and networks are working to develop agri-tech solutions.
On Farm Experimentation (OFE) is increasingly being recognised as having transformative power in improving performance in agricultural systems across the world.
Decision Support Systems (DSS) in agriculture are computer-based tools designed to assist farmers, agricultural managers, and other stakeholders in making informed decisions related to various aspects of agricultural production and management.
Understanding what works on farm through Explanations, Evidence, Experimentation and Exchange. We are developing a community that supports knowledge generation and sharing of 'what works' on-farm, bringing together people, tools and resources - Do you want to be part of it? For any one looking to test agronomic solutions for the ADOPT program we can support projects as facilitators, contractors or project partners.
Many technologies now exist to monitor land at a range from scales, from hand-held sensors and simple cameras, through tractor mounted sensors, drones, aeroplanes through to satellites.
ADAS has developed YEN Nutrition to support growers in evaluating the effectiveness of their crop nutrition management plan.
With support from Defra the YEN database was analysed to investigate Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) metrics and how the variation in these metrics are influenced by parameters such as soil, crop performance and crop management.
Many of the most telling innovations that make a difference on-farm come from farmers themselves, or from close collaboration between farmers, advisors, industry and researchers
On-farm research consultancy supporting the understanding of what works on-farm, through experimentation, evidence and exchange. Also by developing shared distilled explanations, utilising this FarmPEP.net platform to get to the key knowledge nuggets for any topic or issue.
Supporting on-farm research to understand what works on-farm, through explanations, evidence, experimentation and exchange
How we manage our farms and fields is not only important for the nutrition of crops and livestock, but also for the quality and nutritive value of the food we eat.
The Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) helps you make the most of organic materials and balance the benefits of fertiliser use against the costs – both economic and environmental.
ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) is a funding competition designed to support farmer-led, on-farm trials and experiments. Funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and delivered by Innovate UK, it aims to generate, test, and demonstrate innovative solutions to challenges in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.
ARC Innovators is a new community from the Agronomy Research Circle of engaged farmers who are interested in testing new products & ideas and who like to get involved in projects and opportunities. Farmers can sign up https://in.thearc.farm. Agtech partners can join to offer opportunities.
